Live updates: Colorado State football battles No. 19 Air Force in snow game

A snow-globe game might be on tap Saturday in Fort Collins.

The Colorado State football team hosts Air Force in the battle for the Ram-Falcon Trophy and there's a high probability of snow.

Air Force is undefeated and ranked No. 19 in the nation.

Kickoff is at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Follow along here for notes and live updates throughout Saturday's game.

Final

No. 19 Air Force 30, Colorado State 13

3 takeaways: Snowball penalty, big second-half shift and No. 19 Air Force football beats CSU

Air Force in control

We're now down under 5 minutes and Air Force is salting the game away.

Falcons will move to 8-0.

Air Force touchdown

Emmanuel Michel scores a 5-yard TD and now Air Force is in total control, leading 30-13 with 8:51 to go.

CSU turnover on downs

Down 10, CSU likely had to go for it but Rams turn it over on downs at own 35 after missing on a 4th and 7.

Air Force ball with less than 11 minutes to go, up 23-13.

Welcome, Hidetora Hanada!

CSU's defensive lineman from Japan has seen his first college action. Hidetora Hanada entered the field early in the game.

End third quarter

Air Force 23, CSU 13.

Falcons have a first-and-10 from their own 44.

CSU cannot allow a TD this drive.

Air Force field goal

Air Force's Emmanuel Michel hits a 53-yard run to put Air Force in CSU's red zone. Rams hold, but Matthew Dapore hits a 29-yard field goal.

Air Force lead is now 23-13 with 2:03 left in the third quarter.

Fells like CSU's offense needs a response this drive.

Tory Horton injured

Horton was clearly uncomfortable in warmups, left the game briefly after his first catch of the game and now his first catch in the third quarter and he leaves the field very slowly. He appears to have some hip or side problem.

He very slowly limped to the locker room. Huge news and one to watch, not just now but for upcoming games.

Air Force touchdown

Falcons march right down the field and Zac Larrier scores on a 1-yard sneak. Aided by the snowball penalty, a very efficient drive from Air Force.

It's 20-13 with 8:58 left in the quarter. It was a 10-play, 75-yard drive in 6:02.

CSU hit with snowball penalty

The referee had made two warnings and CSU's PA had made several more about snowballs from the stands potentially costing a 15-yard penalty. After first play of second half, CSU is indeed hit with a 15-yard penalty due to snowballs from the stands.

Embarrassing from a select group of fans. Not the majority, but costly.

Halftime

No. 19 Air Force 13, Colorado State 13.

CSU is out-gaining Air Force 226-100, but the strip-sack of Fowler-Nicolosi helped Falcons with a big score. Jordan Noyes with field goals of 49 and 40 yards is player of the game so far.

Jordan Noyes from deep

What a game Jordan Noyes is having! He hits a 49-yard field goal in a driving snow. What a kick. It capped an eight-play, 44-yard drive in 3:15.

CSU and Air Force tied 13-13 with 45 seconds until half.

Air Force touchdown

Air Force takes advantage of the turnover and on a 3rd and 9 from the 10, John Lee Eldridge III takes the pitch, cuts upfield and scores. Air Force misses the PAT.

It's 13-10 Air Force with 4 minutes until half.

Air Force picks up fumble

Potential huge swing here. CSU playing well, but Air Force plucks the ball right out of the hand of Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and recovers at CSU's 11.

CSU defense playing well

CSU's defense has now forced three consecutive stops.

Rams get the ball at their own 32 with 5:43 until half, up 10-7. Jack Howell and Chase Wilson have six tackles already for CSU. Air Force averaging 3 yards per carry.

Colorado State field goal

Jordan Noyes hits a 40-yard field goal for CSU, which is a pretty darn good kick in these conditions.

CSU takes a 10-7 lead on No. 19 Air Force with 7:15 until half. It was a 12-play, 67-yard drive in 3:44.

Colorado State touchdown

CSU strikes fast, on the first play after the punt Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi hits Justus Ross-Simmons with a perfect deep ball.

JRS races for a 61-yard TD. It's 7-7 with 14:38 left in the half.

CSU defense forces stop

CSU forces a stop early in second quarter on Air Force's second drive.

An interesting defensive wrinkle: Defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth is playing standing up as an extra linebacker with four other defensive linemen on the field. Basically, using him instead of a nickelback against the option.

End first quarter

Air Force 7, CSU 0.

A typically fast quarter with Air Force playing. CSU had two drives, Air Force is just two plays into its second drive.

A big third down (and 8) for Air Force at its own 17 to begin second.

Air Force touchdown

Air Force converts a fourth-and-1 on the drive and hits CSU on a 3rd-and-5 playaction as Zac Larrier connects with Dane Kinamon on a 9-yard TD.

It's 7-0 Air Force with 5:03 left in the first quarter. It was a 12-play, 54-yard drive that ate up 6 minutes, 44 seconds.

CSU turnover on downs first drive

CSU picks up a couple first downs on initial drive, but Rams face a 4th and 1 at Air Force's 46. CSU runs a QB sneak but gets no push and is stopped short.

AFA takes over at own 45.

CSU has ball first

CSU will receive the opening kickoff. Rams will be looking for a better start than last two weeks.

Joey Porter in the house

CSU and Steelers legend Joey Porter is in the house and on-field for warmups, where he shared a hug with CSU's current sackmaster: Mo Kamara.

Snow-globe game

The weather prediction is looking like it will be accurate. It's snowing hard in Fort Collins and snow is expected through most of the game.

Plows were clearing the field at Canvas Stadium a little over two hours before kickoff.

'Fight Like A Ram' game

Saturday is CSU's "Fight Like A Ram" game, where the team honors those who battle cancer.

Some members of the team will be wearing the names of those close to them who have fought cancer on their helmets.

Trying to reverse trophy game trend

For a long time, the CSU football team has been bad in rivalry trophy games.

The Rams are 1-16 in rivalry games (Colorado, Air Force and Wyoming) dating through the 2016 season. The only win came in an empty-stadium 2020 game against Wyoming.

The rivalry losing streak was one of the top factors in Mike Bobo's firing.

CSU is 0-1 this season with a double-overtime loss to Colorado.

Star-studded Ram Walk, including Joey Porter

CSU hosts the team "Ram Walk" before every game (different from the Ram Walk where the team enters the stadium on game day) where former players come and speak to the team on the field where the game will be played the next day.

Friday's edition was a who's who of Ram legends. Joey Porter, Bradlee Van Pelt, Weston Richburg, Adrian Ross, Joel Dreessen and more.

Keys to the game

How does CSU topple Air Force? How much impact will the snow have?

A look at those and more in keys to the game:

Keys to the game: How can Colorado State football upset No. 19 Air Force?

'State pride' game

Colorado State will be wearing white jerseys with blue trim and a Colorado flag themed helmet. The "state pride" jerseys made their debut in 2017 and are now used across sports at CSU.

CSU football is 2-2 all-time in the uniforms. The Rams lost in the debut to Boise State in 2017 and to Nevada (led by Jay Norvell) in 2021. CSU beat UNLV in 2019 and Hawaii in 2022.

The uniforms were originally intended as a one-time use and weren't worn in 2018 before being brought back in 2019. They weren't worn in the shortened 2020 COVID season.

How do you prepare to face Air Force's triple option?

It's an unlike any other that CSU will face during the season, so how do the Rams prepare? It takes a lot of attention to detail for the scout team.

The group is led by walk-on Brig Hartson. A look at his story and how the pregame prep works:

More: How a walk-on QB is leading Colorado State football's preparation for Air Force

CSU looking to break long streak vs. top-25 opponents

It's the second time this season for CSU to face a ranked in-state opponent. Colorado was ranked No. 18/21 when the Rams went to Boulder and almost (and should have) pulled the upset, but CU won 43-35 in double-overtime.

CSU has now lost 25 games in a row against ranked foes. The last win was 2002 against No. 6/7 CU.

The last time CSU beat a top-25 team at home was all the way back in 1993 against No. 23 Fresno State. This is also the first time CSU will face multiple top-25 teams in a season season 2011.

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

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Snow game live updates: Colorado State football plays Air Force football