Colorado @ Colorado State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2009 ) Colorado State 23, Colorado 17

If not for a budget shortfall in the athletic department, Colorado might have dumped coach Dan Hawkins already. The university simply could not afford his buyout.

So as Hawkins enters his fifth season in Boulder, toting an ugly 16-33 overall record, he’s under enormous pressure. Only a major turnaround will do following last season’s 3-9 debacle, when the Buffaloes finished last in total offense in the high-flying Big 12.

All of which makes Saturday’s rivalry game at Invesco Field at Mile High a must-win for Hawkins. The Buffaloes are 59-20-2 all-time against Colorado State, but Hawkins is just 2-2 after last year’s 23-17 loss. He’d better get to 3-2 given the schedule that lies ahead, including a trip to California and a visit from Georgia.

Hawkins picked Tyler Hansen over his son, Cody Hawkins, to start at quarterback, preempting another nepotism debate. Running back Rodney Stewart (804 yards, nine TDs) and reliable wideout Scott McKnight return, along with an experienced offensive line. Michigan transfer Toney Clemons, a 6-2, 210-pound deep threat at receiver, could make a major impact.

Nine starters return on offense, seven on defense. The time is now for Colorado.

Like the Buffaloes, the Rams finished 3-9 last year. Coach Steve Fairchild plans to play up to seven true freshmen, including starting quarterback Pete Thomas. He threw for more than 5,500 yards and 52 touchdowns at Valhalla High in Cajon, Calif., before enrolling early at Colorado State.

While he’s highly touted, Thomas will work behind an offensive line that lost four players to the NFL. It doesn’t help that leading rusher Leonard Mason has been slowed by a hamstring injury. Did we mention the wide receiving corps has a total of 48 career catches? Points won’t come easy.

In the past decade, the Buffaloes have avenged every defeat in this rivalry the following year.