Live updates: Colorado State football team plays at UNLV

LAS VEGAS — Another big swing game in a roller coaster season.

That's what Saturday feels like for the Colorado State football team.

The Rams are coming off one of the best comebacks in Mountain West history when they scored 21 points in 4:01 to beat Boise State on a final-play Hail Mary.

Can CSU keep the good luck rolling in Las Vegas? The Rams play at UNLV at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21.

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

How it happened

A look at the insane final 4 minutes and how UNLV won it late:

More: Colorado State football stunned by last-second field goal winner by UNLV

UNLV wins

UNLV puts together a huge final drive and the Rebels kick a 27-yard field goal as time expires to win 25-23.

Colorado State re-takes lead

Wow what a game!

CSU drives to UNLV's 38 and opts for a very long field goal and Jordan Noyes nails it.

His 55-yard kick gives CSU a 23-22 lead with 44 seconds to go. UNLV still has two timeouts left. This one is far from over.

UNLV re-takes lead

Jose Pizano hits a 46-yard field goal and UNLV takes a 22-20 lead with 1:27 to go.

Rams have one timeout left. Field goal wins it.

UNLV driving

UNLV quickly moves the ball and has it inside CSU's 35 with less than 2 minutes to go...

Colorado State re-takes lead

Justus Ross-Simmons with a 20-yard TD reception from Fowler-Nicolosi and the Rams are up 20-19 with 3:49 to go.

Offense finally comes alive. Ross-Simmons had a 35-yard catch earlier in the drive and drew a pass interference (on a questionable call). It's again coming down to the wire.

UNLV adds a field goal

Pizano with yet another field goal, this a 34-yarder and UNLV leads 19-13 with 7:36 to go in the game.

End third quarter

UNLV 16, CSU 13.

Rams are outscored 13-0 in the quarter. UNLV has a 1st and 5 at its own 11 to begin the fourth quarter. Huge 15 minutes coming up.

UNLV takes the lead

It's been a disaster third-quarter for CSU. UNLV's Donavyn Lester runs in from 11 yards out and the Rebels quickly take advantage of the interception.

Rams have had a terrible third quarter so far and now UNLV leads 16-13 with 3:06 left in the quarter.

UNLV interception

Everything going UNLV's way. On second play of CSU's second drive of half Rams try a trick play with a Tory Horton pass play, but his deep shot down the sideline for Dallin Holker is picked off.

It's UNLV ball at its own 34 and CSU's four-point lead feels very tenuous.

Another UNLV field goal

CSU goes 3-and-out on its first drive of third quarter and UNLV returns the punt to CSU's 26, but the Ram defense holds.

Pizano with a 25-yard FG for his third of the game. CSU lead down to 13-9 with 6:05 left in third quarter. CSU's defense has been on the field most the third quarter. Offense needs to get something going.

UNLV field goal

UNLV has a solid drive to start the third quarter, but CSU had a chance at an interception on a 3rd and 10 at its own defensive 25. Rams couldn't snag it and Pizano hits a 43-yard field goal.

CSU lead is 13-6 with 11:10 to go in third quarter. It was a 36-yard drive in 12 plays, mostly via the passing game.

Halftime

Colorado State 13, UNLV 3.

Rams will kickoff to start the second half.

CSU is out-gaining UNLV 225-175 and, most surprisingly, Rams lead 124-48 in rushing.

Colorado State field goal

Rams have a big pass play for 34 yards from Fowler-Nicolosi to Holker to get to UNLV's 11 but stall there, including a curious run call on 3rd and 8 from the 9.

Noyes hits a 27-yard field goal and CSU leads 13-3 with 53 seconds until half.

Colorado State touchdown

Maybe an unlikely pairing, but Vann Schield and Avery Morrow have CSU's run game cooking. Schield busts a huge 52-yard run and then helps Rams get inside the 10.

Avery Morrow finishes it off with a 2-yard TD run.

CSU leads UNLV 10-3 with 3:58 until half. Rams have 110 total rush yards (118 if you take out sack yardage).

CSU field goal

Colorado State 3, UNLV 3.

Jordan Noyes hits a 33-yard field goal attempt to tie the game. Rams converted a fourth down and two third-and-longs on the drive but stalled in the red zone.

CSU went 59 yards in 15 plays.

UNLV scores first

UNLV's Jose Pizano hits a 42-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter. UNLV goes up 3-0 with 14:15 until half.

It was a nine-play, 26-yard drive for UNLV.

End first quarter

It's 0-0.

UNLV has a 3rd and 4 at CSU's 24 to begin the second quarter.

CSU offense slow start again

Once again CSU's offense has started slow. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has been just off on some timing and the Rams have punts on all three drives. CSU has 16 yards on 11 offensive plays.

CSU forces turnover

CSU goes 3-and-out on first offensive possession and UNLV drives to Rams' 30, but then James Mitchell blows up a run in the backfield. Then on 3rd-and-long Matt Thomas gets a sack and fumble and Mitchell falls on it.

UNLV is best in the MW in turnover margin, so big play there. CSU ball at own 40.

Kickoff time

It's a big stadium, making a smallish crowd feel smaller. A decent group of CSU fans in one corner.

UNLV wins toss and defers. CSU will get the ball first.

UNLV wearing pink

UNLV is wearing black jerseys with pink numbers and decals on the helmets for breast cancer awareness.

Ayden Hector, Nuer Gatkuoth out for CSU

We learned early this week that CSU running back Kobe Johnson is out for the season. Also missing longterm is nickel Ayden Hector.

He didn't play last week and CSU coach Jay Norvell said “I don’t know when he’ll be back at this point."

A surprise injury update from Allegiant Stadium is the absence of defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth. He's on the trip but in sweats during warmups.

Allegiant Stadium is lives up to the hype

Not a surprise, but Allegiant Stadium is as nice as you would expect it to be. This is sure a different vibe from when UNLV played at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Pregame reading

While you wait for the CSU-UNLV game, here are some stories to get you ready:

How does CSU win? Keys for the Rams to pull off the upset

Reader mailbag: Packed with questions on records, bowl watch and much more

SuperVann: How a former walk-on safety stabilized CSU's run game

Key injury updates: Significant injury updates to CSU's running backs room

How to watch: Gameday guide, including how to stream the game

A rare NFL stadium game

For most of the CSU football team, this will be a first college game inside an NFL stadium for them.

CSU hasn't played in an NFL stadium since the 2019 Rocky Mountain Showdown at Mile High.

Jay Norvell happy for Las Vegas trip

While the matchup hasn't happened in a long time for CSU, it's one coach Jay Norvell is familiar with. When coaching at Nevada this was the big rivalry matchup as the two schools battled for the Fremont Cannon.

Norvell went 3-2 vs. UNLV at Nevada, including a win in the first college game at Allegiant Stadium. Norvell also always speaks fondly of the Raiders, a franchise he worked for from 2002-03, including a Super Bowl appearance.

The Raiders were in Oakland then, but he still feels the connection to the franchise and late owner Al Davis.

"I love playing in Vegas," Norvell said.

"I love playing in Allegiant Stadium. I have a history with the Raiders and I know a lot of people there and I know Coach Al (Davis) would have loved that place."

Another homecoming game for CSU

This will be the fourth game in the last five for CSU to be playing in a homecoming game.

Sept. 23 at Middle Tennessee, Oct. 7 at Utah State and now Oct. 21 at UNLV are all homecoming games for the hosts. CSU's Oct. 14 home game against Boise State was homecoming for the Rams.

A rare indoor game

Football in a dome is rare in college football and this is CSU's first indoor game since 2015 when the Rams faced UTSA at the Alamodome.

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

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Live updates: Colorado State football team plays at UNLV