With the start of the collegiate football season this weekend, The Daily Texan talked with Damon Cook, sports editor for The Rocky Mountain Collegian, about what he expects from Colorado State in the game.

DT: How do the team and the fans feel about playing UT in their season opener? 

Cook: “(Head coach) Jay Norvell and a couple of players just had a preview press conference today, and I would say they’re excited. This is a team that came off a 5–7 record last year, they were one win away from a bowl game, and this year they returned a lot of veteran players, and they’re expecting to go out and be a competitive team in a lot of the games they’re playing. When I asked Jay Norvell his dream scenario about playing Texas, he just said ‘We want to go out there, we want to execute, we want to follow our game plan.’ I would say they’re excited and really looking forward to getting out there and hitting some guys that aren’t their own.”

DT: Coming off of that 5–7 season, how is the team adjusting this season to perform better and maybe get to that bowl game?

Cook: “(Quarterback) Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is going to come into his second year as a redshirt sophomore. Last year, he flashed. He led the Mountain West in passing yards, but also in interceptions. So he had an up-and-down year last year. He threw some interceptions in some key moments that really hurt CSU, but also he was a really big part in that huge comeback they had against Boise State. He’s really taken everything he’s done last year, honed it in, and is going to go out there and try to play to those heights we saw last year, but throw a lot less interceptions. The other thing that (Norvell) has mentioned is really getting the running game going. Last year, CSU dealt with a lot of injuries in the backfield, but now they have a lot more depth. (Running back) Justin Marshall could go out there and be really good for them out of the backfield. Just really try and complement that air raid-style offense with the run game as well.”

DT: What would you say are the strengths of this Colorado State team? 

Cook: “The strengths are absolutely the wide receiver room. You look at Tory Horton, who might be the leading receiver in all of Mountain West history. He looks to be a future NFL player. He should be playing on Sundays, and he’s one of the best wide receivers in all (group of five) schools, not just Mountain West. And then you have guys like Donovan Ollie (who) are there. Caleb Goodie has had a really good camp. But the CSU wide receiver corps is really good, and that is by far the biggest strength for them. The other thing on offense is their offensive line. Jacob Gardner, the center, has played the most snaps out of anyone else in the Mountain West. He’s very experienced. You have Saveyon Henderson and Drew Moss, left tackles who were here last year. The CSU offensive line had a really big step from the year prior to last year, and they are looking to have a similar step this year. And I think that’ll be another big thing on the defense. I think you look at our safeties, Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn, they are all Mountain West talents. They should be really good. And then Chase Wilson as well, as the preseason All-Mountain West player and the middle linebacker. So you look at the linebackers and the safeties, it’s probably one of the big advantages CSU has on their team overall.”

DT: What would you say would be the biggest key to victory for Colorado State?

Cook: “I have to say, luck. Texas is a 32 or 33 and a half point favorite. Texas was a playoff team a year ago. Quinn Ewers is back, and that’s a really good school. I think (Colorado State would) have to be lucky. I think Texas might have to put the ball on the ground a couple of times, maybe Quinn Ewers is having a bad day and throws some interceptions, but something has to come out of that defense and they have to force turnovers. I think that’d probably be the biggest key to victory there.”