The Colorado State University Rams have had a rough stretch. They have not won more than 8 games in a single season since 2014 under Jim McElwain. Mike Bobo led them to three straight 7-6 seasons, but it took six straight losing seasons before Jay Norvell won 8 games in 2024. Unfortunately despite playing in a bowl game, they lost to Arizona, extending their streak to four bowl game losses in a row, with their last win coming in 2013.
This decade-long stretch has cost three Head Coaches their jobs and resulted in CSU opening up the checkbook to hire a prominent coach, Jim Mora Jr. Coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons with UConn, Jim Mora Jr. takes over a school that had not managed nine wins in over a decade. He previously helped rebuild UCLA quickly turning them into a contender each season.
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Jim Mora Jr., Rebuilding the Rams
Jim Mora Jr. now inherits a program that just one season ago won 8 games. His first order of business will be to fix a defense that was badly outplayed on several occasions last season. Allowing 29 points per game, teams were averaging 194.8 rushing yards per game, AND 231 passing yards per game over 420 yards of offense allowed per week.
Limiting the big play was nearly impossible for CSU this season. Allowing 6.3 yards per play on the season shows just how much work there is to be done. CSU’s defense failed to pressure quarterbacks producing only 15 sacks, 8 interceptions, and 12 fumbles. Not only were they allowing big plays, but they were not able to create big plays as a unit, forcing the offense into positions where they were playing from behind exacerbating the problems on offense as well.
Jim Mora Jr. oversaw a defensive unit that allowed 25.8 points per game. They also produced 36 sacks, 11 interceptions, and recovered 5 fumbles. Allowing just a 35.1% conversion rate on 3rd down. They were also particularly stout in the red zone. In 41 trips the opposing offense scored 36 times but only 26 were touchdowns. They forced 5 turnovers, and 10 field goals within the 20-yard line.
Traditionally, Jim Mora Jr. has coached defensive backs in his past, and CSU can expect that he will take an extra bit of pride in rebuilding the position that helped him climb the coaching ranks. Spending nearly 15 years coaching defensive backs in the NFL, Jim Mora Jr. has helped coach countless players to the heights of their career. Now he looks to rebuild a unit that saw an exodos of players over the past few seasons.
Offense is Not Immune to the Issues
A close second in the order of business will be sorting out the quarterback position. Scoring just over 18 points per game in 2025, quarterback may be the starting point but it certainly is not the only position in need of help.
The run game failed to help the quarterbacks out in 2025 averaging 117 yards per game, and 3.6 yards per carry as a team. Nearly a 2-1 pass-to-run ratio essentially choreographed to the defense what they were doing on every play. Due to the lack of a run game, their quarterbacks were often forced to take check-downs or utilize the short passing game as an extension of the run game. This was directly reflected in the fact that as a team they averaged just 6.3 yards per pass attempt.
This limited the explosiveness of the offense something they had not lacked in 2024. UConn had a rather robust staff, and we could see several assistants join the Rams for 2026. CSU fans should be hoping some of the offensive staff join him. Last season UConn’s passing game combined for 30 touchdowns and just 1 interception.
They averaged 36.9 points per game and were buoyed by a defensive unit that allowed 25.8 points per game. They also produced 36 sacks, 11 interceptions, and recovered 5 fumbles. Allowing just a 35.1% conversion rate on 3rd down. They were also particularly stout in the red zone. In 41 trips the opposing offense scored 36 times but only 26 were touchdowns. They forced 5 turnovers, and 10 field goals within the 20-yard line.
Colorado State Fans have a lot to be excited about in 2026 and beyond.
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