Expect weird: A recent history of odd happenings in Colorado State-Utah State football matchups

Get ready for something wonky to happen.

The Colorado State and Utah State football teams have been playing each other since 1902 and the recent history is pretty bonkers, with a number of odd happenings. The latest meeting will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, in Logan, Utah.

Crazy stuff happens between these two teams. Each year seems to bring something new and unique.

Here's a look at some of the most recent examples:

2022: Battle of backup quarterbacks

Utah State 17, CSU 13

CSU started Giles Pooler at QB, the third starting QB in three weeks for the Rams due to injury. Two Utah State quarterbacks were hurt in the game and the Aggies also had to turn to their third-stringer for his college debut. Not surprisingly, offenses struggled in this one and Utah State scraped together just enough points to win.

2021: Steve Addazio's field goal disaster

Utah State 26, CSU 24

The Rams were down two scores before an impressive comeback and efficient final-minute drive to get in range to kick a game-winning field goal. Rams have a first down (clock temporarily stopped) with 11 seconds left. Instead of spiking the ball to allow a calm FG setup, the kicking unit is rushed on and the kick shanked. Who's to blame? For CSU coach Steve Addazio, it's all on the players as special teams cost him a third game out of 11 games in charge at this point in his tenure. "No one sent them in, but they took off on the field," said the head coach, who ran special teams.

The game-management blunder went viral and started a six-game losing streak that ended Addazio's brief tenure at CSU.

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2020: Utah State protest

No game

The 2020 season wasn't short on odd cancellations, but this one was unexpected. Shortly before Utah State was supposed to travel to face the Rams, players decided to opt out of the game in a protest as players voiced concerns about religious discrimination during the search for a new football coach.

2019: Fumbles in the rain

Utah State 34, CSU 24

The teams combined for seven total turnovers (plus a blocked kick) and five total fumbles in a downpour in Logan. CSU was plus-four in turnovers at one point before the Rams began to cough the ball up on their own, leading to Utah State taking control. CSU was incensed by a Marvin Kinsey fumble that sealed the loss when he was held up at the line of scrimmage and the ball ripped away, in CSU's viewpoint, long after forward momentum was stopped.

2018: The Hail Mary that wasn't

Utah State 29, CSU 24

It was supposed to be a no-contest game as a poor CSU team played out the thread against No. 14/13 Utah State. It didn't play out that way on a frigid, snowy day. A seesaw final couple minutes saw CSU take the lead, only to go down less than a minute later. The Rams drove and a 34-yard Hail Mary connected to Preston Williams for the win! Or not. Refs threw a flag for Williams stepping out of bounds during his route, negating what would have been a wild win for CSU.

2016: The second-half comeback

CSU 31, Utah State 24

CSU allowed Utah State to score 17 consecutive points and take a 14-point lead into halftime before the Rams came storming back. CSU won the second half 21-0 to pull off the unlikely win. Kevin Davis sealed the win with a late interception. Nick Stevens came in relief to lead the win after freshmen Collin Hill went down with a torn ACL.

2014: The walk-off winner

CSU 16, Utah State 13

In a season where CSU pulled off a lot of close victories this might have been the most dramatic. A sold-out homecoming crowd saw the teams battle in a tight game before Jared Roberts hit a walk-off 46-yard field goal as time expired. Roberts also hit a 52-yard field goal in the game. CSU hit a 46-yard pass late to set up the winner.

2011: The 2OT winner

CSU 35, Utah State 34

This ended up being the final win of the Steve Fairchild era, but it was a wild one. Chris Nwoke scored a late TD and CSU converted the two-point conversion after a penalty to force overtime. CSU led by seven after opening the second OT with a touchdown. Utah State scored and opted to go for a two-pointer and the win. Utah State's strong-running, 5-foot-10, 216-pound running back Robert Turbin barreled toward the pylon only to be rebuffed by 185-pound DB Momo Thomas to secure the win for the Rams.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State football and Utah State play weird games