FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Interstat) — Braden Atkinson threw five touchdown passes, Jesse Legree caught three of them and Oregon State defeated Colorado State 56-26 on Saturday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Canvas Stadium. The Beavers improved to 3-2, while the Rams dropped to 2-3.

Oregon State set the tone early. Atkinson connected with Legree on a 50-yard touchdown on a deep right pass with 12:20 left in the first quarter. Caleb Ojeda’s extra point made it 7-0. Later in the opening quarter, Gabe Milbourn scored on a 2-yard run with 1:03 remaining, and Ojeda again kicked the extra point. The Beavers led 21-7 after the first quarter. Oregon State scored 21 points in the first quarter, seven in the second, 14 in the third and 14 in the fourth. Colorado State scored seven points in the first quarter, six in the second, six in the third and seven in the fourth.

The Beavers added to their advantage in the second quarter and carried a 28-13 lead into halftime. Oregon State stretched the margin in the third quarter when Atkinson found Eric Olsen on a short-left pass for an 8-yard touchdown with 7:26 remaining. The play was reviewed after the runner broke the plane, and the call was upheld. Ojeda’s kick was good, giving Oregon State a 42-19 cushion through three quarters.

Atkinson, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback from Rolesville, N.C., completed 30 of 33 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns and added four rushes for 26 yards. Legree finished with five receptions for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Olsen, a 6-5, 230-pound tight end, caught nine passes for 65 yards and two scores. DeCorion Temple, a 6-5, 230-pound tight end, added five catches for 69 yards. Aaron Butler, a 6-0, 170-pound receiver, contributed a 30-yard run, three receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown.

AJ Newberry, a 6-1, 197-pound running back, rushed 15 times for 90 yards and caught five passes for 26 yards. Cornell Hatcher Jr., a 5-11, 214-pound running back, ran seven times for 51 yards and a touchdown, scoring on an 11-yard run with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter. Jake Reichle, a 6-1, 199-pound running back, had three rushes for 16 yards and one reception for 23 yards. Jackson Bowers, a 6-5, 255-pound tight end, caught a 22-yard pass. Aeryn Hampton and Cynai Thomas each had a 9-yard reception. Xayvion Noland, a 5-6, 160-pound receiver, returned a kickoff 10 yards. Tre Garrison carried three times for 12 yards. Gabe Milbourn, a 6-4, 246-pound tight end, also had one rush for 2 yards and a touchdown.

Colorado State moved the ball at times but could not keep pace. K’saan Farrar, a 6-3, 215-pound quarterback, completed 17 of 26 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown and added a 1-yard rushing touchdown. RJ Vick, a 6-3, 185-pound receiver, caught five passes for 99 yards. Tommy Maher, a 5-10, 170-pound receiver, had four receptions for 29 yards. Juice Vereen, a 6-4, 214-pound tight end, caught one pass for 12 yards. Nader Chirchi, a 6-7, 265-pound tight end, had a 7-yard touchdown reception. Jaivyn Moore added a 4-yard catch. Cavan Craig, a 5-11, 190-pound kicker, punted three times for 111 yards. Kali Nguma also handled kicking duties for the Rams.

Oregon State’s defense made enough stops and limited Colorado State’s scoring chances. Aiden Sullivan, a 6-1, 228-pound linebacker, led the Beavers with nine tackles. Gyriece Goodman, a 6-1, 214-pound linebacker, had eight tackles. Takari Hickle, a 6-3, 267-pound defensive lineman, recorded six tackles and one quarterback hurry. Dylan Layne, a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker, added five tackles. Tevita Pome’e, a 6-2, 328-pound defensive lineman, Niklas Fisher, a 6-4, 258-pound defensive lineman, and TJ Crandall, a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back, each had four tackles. Tyler Bailey finished with three tackles and three quarterback hurries. Kord Shaw, a 6-3, 233-pound linebacker, made three tackles. Drake Vickers, a 6-3, 193-pound defensive back, registered two tackles and an interception. Will Haverland, a 6-5, 241-pound linebacker, and Jaheim Patterson, a 6-4, 204-pound defensive back, each had two tackles. Sailasa Vadrawale III, a 6-0, 180-pound defensive back, also had two tackles. Isaiah Houi, Tyree Blake, Raesjon Davis, Blake Thompson and Jadyn Oh each made one tackle. Daniel Matagi, a 6-0, 285-pound tackle, had one quarterback hurry.

Colorado State’s defense was led by Oumar Diomande, a 6-0, 210-pound linebacker, who made 14 tackles. Tre’Shawn Moore, a 6-1, 190-pound safety, added 10 tackles. Marc Pretto, a 6-2, 215-pound linebacker, had seven tackles. Jordan Lessard and CJ Blocker, a 6-0, 181-pound cornerback, each recorded six tackles. D’Mon Brinson, a 5-9, 187-pound defensive back, made five tackles. Kenyon Agurs, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive lineman, had four tackles and one sack. The Rams also received tackles from multiple defenders as they tried to slow Oregon State’s offense.

Oregon State entered Saturday after a 33-7 win at UTEP. Earlier this season, the Beavers beat Montana 52-17, lost to Texas Tech 35-24 and fell at Houston 33-20. Atkinson had recently completed 24 of 34 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns against UTEP while rushing for 8 yards. Colorado State had beaten Wyoming 35-13 and Southern Utah 58-24 before losses to BYU and Texas-San Antonio. The Rams lost 41-23 to BYU and 59-45 at Texas-San Antonio.

Oregon State next hosts San Diego State and Washington State before road games at Fresno State and Boise State. Colorado State next visits Texas State, hosts San Diego State and travels to Utah State. The Beavers will also host Texas State and Utah State later in the season, while the Rams will host Boise State and visit Washington State and Fresno State. Oregon State’s remaining schedule includes San Diego State, Washington State, Fresno State, Boise State, Texas State and Utah State. Colorado State’s remaining schedule includes Texas State, San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, Washington State and Fresno State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Colorado State 40, Oregon State 34. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Colorado State with a 53.2 percent probability to win. Colorado State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7. The total score of 82 went under the over/under line of 62.5.