FORT COLLINS (Interstat) — Colorado State scored on its first two possessions and never let up Saturday, beating Southern Utah 58-24 at Canvas Stadium in a Football Bowl Subdivision game. The Rams improved to 2-0. The Thunderbirds fell to 1-2. Hauss Hejny powered the Colorado State offense with four touchdown passes and a long rushing score, and the Rams turned a quick early lead into a runaway before a home crowd. Colorado State’s defense also protected the advantage after halftime. Southern Utah had moments, including a pair of rushing touchdowns by Floyd Chalk, but could not keep pace with the Rams’ early scoring burst. The game was played on Sept. 12, 2026.

Colorado State needed little time to establish control. On the game’s opening drive, Hejny connected with C. Ross on a short middle pass that turned into a 68-yard touchdown at the 14:13 mark of the first quarter. K. Nguma’s extra point made it 7-0. The Rams struck again less than a minute later when Hejny found T. Smith deep on the right side for a 38-yard score with 13:21 remaining. Nguma kicked true again, pushing the lead to 14-0. Southern Utah responded with its best drive of the opening period. Will Burns completed a short left pass to David Spjut, who took it 18 yards for a touchdown with 9:10 left. Jayden Rogers added the extra point. Colorado State closed the first-quarter scoring on Nguma’s 40-yard field goal with 4:54 remaining, sending the Rams into the second quarter with a 17-7 advantage.

The second quarter became a track meet. Colorado State extended its lead at 12:58 when M. Brown rushed middle for 1 yard and a touchdown. Nguma’s kick made it 24-7. Southern Utah answered through Floyd Chalk, who broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run at 9:57. Rogers converted the extra point. Chalk scored again at 4:12, this time on a 3-yard run to the left, and Rogers’ kick trimmed the Colorado State lead to 24-21. The Rams regained momentum immediately. M. Brown exploded for a 73-yard touchdown run on a rush to the right with 3:24 remaining, and Nguma’s extra point made it 31-21.

Colorado State kept pouring it on before halftime. Hejny found J. Harper on a short right pass that went 17 yards for a touchdown with 1:54 remaining. Nguma’s kick made it 38-21. Then Hejny hit T. Smith deep right for a 33-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the half. Nguma again converted, extending the margin to 45-21. On the final play of the second quarter, Nguma drilled a 51-yard field goal to send the Rams into the locker room with a 48-21 lead.

The third quarter was quieter, but Colorado State still added to its cushion. Nguma made a 23-yard field goal with 5:25 remaining in the period, capping a methodical drive and giving the Rams a 51-21 lead. Southern Utah could not generate points in the third quarter. The Thunderbirds’ offense found some room through the air and on the ground earlier in the game, but Colorado State’s defense tightened after halftime. Colorado State’s front seven, including linebackers Marc Pretto and Oumar Diomande, helped limit Southern Utah’s chances, while defensive backs Elijah Mc-Cantos, Elijah Brown and Tre’Shawn Moore helped keep the Thunderbirds from breaking off the big plays they needed to close the gap. The Rams carried a 30-point advantage into the final period.

Southern Utah finally scored again in the fourth quarter. Jayden Rogers connected on a 37-yard field goal with 12:44 remaining, making it 51-24. Any hope of a late comeback vanished on the next Colorado State possession. Hejny took a middle rush 75 yards for a touchdown with 12:31 left, and Nguma added the extra point to complete the scoring at 58-24. Hejny’s day included touchdown passes of 68, 38, 17 and 33 yards, plus the 75-yard scoring run. The Rams finished with a dominant advantage in explosive plays, a product of Hejny’s arm, M. Brown’s two rushing touchdowns and a steady kicking game from Nguma. Colorado State’s special teams also delivered with three field goals, including a 51-yarder before halftime.

Southern Utah’s offense had stretches of effectiveness. Burns guided the Thunderbirds to an early touchdown and finished the game with a touchdown pass to Spjut. Chalk provided the biggest spark, scoring on runs of 58 and 3 yards in the second quarter. Rogers made a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and converted extra points after each Southern Utah touchdown. The Thunderbirds also received contributions from Chance Arbon, Jonathan Landry, Kaden Williams, Myles Amey, Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner, Jesse Garza, Parker Vance, Tim Christian, Amarion York, Mason Stromstad, Mark Bails, Talmage Brown, David Spjut, Niko Alailefaleula, Hubert Thomas, Jackson Stevens, Lee Norman-Lester and Parker Andrus, among others. The visitors moved the ball well at times but could not match Colorado State’s scoring pace. The loss dropped Southern Utah to 1-2.

Colorado State’s key performers included Hejny, who directed the offense from start to finish, and K’saan Farrar, who was listed among the Rams’ quarterbacks. Tight end Pearce Spurlin III, running back TaVeon Robinson, linebacker Marc Pretto, defensive backs Elijah Mc-Cantos, Elijah Brown and Tre’Shawn Moore and linebacker Oumar Diomande were among the Colorado State players who appeared. The Rams’ offensive line protected Hejny and opened lanes for M. Brown and Hejny on the ground. Colorado State improved to 2-0 with the win and remained unbeaten ahead of its next game. Southern Utah fell to 1-2 and will look to regroup on the road. The Rams’ victory came in nonconference play and gave them a second straight win to open the season after a previous victory over Wyoming.

Southern Utah’s previous results this season included a 47-42 home win over Weber State on Sept. 5 and a 28-21 loss at Montana on Aug. 29. Colorado State opened the season with a 35-13 home win over Wyoming on Sept. 5. The Thunderbirds are scheduled to visit Saint Thomas on Sept. 19 before returning home to face Idaho State on Sept. 26. Colorado State is set to host BYU on Sept. 19 and then visit Texas-San Antonio on Sept. 26. The Rams also have upcoming games against Oregon State, Texas State, San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, Washington State and Fresno State. Southern Utah’s remaining schedule includes games against Utah Tech, UC Davis, Idaho, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State and Chicago State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Colorado State 39, Southern Utah 31 before kickoff. Interstat’s ELO system gave Colorado State a 58.7 percent probability to win. Colorado State scored 58 points and Southern Utah scored 24 in the actual game.