Live updates: Colorado State football team opens Mountain West play at Utah State

LOGAN, Utah — It should be a beautiful day in Cache County.

The leaves are turning and a crisp cool settles in at night in northern Utah. That can only mean one thing: Mountain West football time!

It's Utah State's homecoming Saturday, Oct. 7 as the Aggies host Colorado State at 6 p.m. MT.

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

Final

Utah State 44, Colorado State 24

Read more:

4 takeaways: Colorado State football collapses in 20-point loss after taking quick 17-0 lead

Utah State touchdown

Davon Booth goes for a 48-yard TD.

That's now 44-24 for Utah State with 4:58 to go.

Colorado State TD

CSU's offense finally drives downfield for a score.

Kobe Johnson runs it in from 11 yards out and it's now 37-24 Utah State with 8:55 to go.

Utah State TD

CSU does not take advantage of the turnover, turning it over on downs themselves.

Utah State follows with a 19-yard TD pass from Legas to Micah Davis. USU misses extra point.

Utah State has score 37 in a row and leads 37-17 with 11:38 to go.

CSU forces turnover

Utah State driving for game-sealing score but CSU DE Marshon Oxley gets a strip-sack and Jack Howell recovers.

If Rams can score here it's game back on again.

End third quarter

CSU has a disaster third quarter. Utah State scores two TDs, Mo Kamara is injured and Holker fumbles inside the Utah State 10.

It's 31-17 Utah State.

Colorado State costly fumble

CSU is driving with a chance to get back in the game when Dallin Holker fumbles inside the 10 and Utah State recovers at own 8.

Inside final minute of third quarter. Big play and turn.

Mohamed Kamara injured

CSU star DE Mohamed Kamara gets a sack but is injured on the play. Hope it's not serious.

He gingerly walks off under his own power with 8:54 left in third quarter.

Another Utah State TD

CSU's third quarter start is as bad as Utah State's first quarter start was.

Legas hits Royals wide open for a 51-yard TD. CSU's secondary is a mess.

It's 31-17 Utah State with 11:53 left in 3Q.

Tory Horton appears out

Tory Horton was sandwiched on a big hit in the second quarter and hasn't returned to the field.

He's not out there for the start of the second half. Everything going wrong for CSU.

Utah State TD

A terrible start to the second half for CSU.

On 3rd and 11 Cooper Legas hits Terrell Vaughn with a 76-yard deep ball. It's now 24-17 Utah State after 24 unanswered points.

Halftime

Colorado State 17, Utah State 17.

Utah State misses a 41-yard field goal attempt in final minute of half.

Weird 30 minutes. CSU jumped out 17-0 in less than 6 minutes but has been terrible on offense.

Utah State ties it

This game has totally flipped upside down. CSU's 17-0 lead is gone after a 24-yard TD pass from Cooper Legas and a great catch from star wideout Jaylen Royals.

It's 17-17 with 3:50 until half.

New ballgame, as they say.

Another Utah State interception

Fowler-Nicolosi and the offense are disjointed and he throws a pick while scrambling trying to find Holker deep.

Utah State's Ike Larsen again and Utah State gets it at own 46.

Utah State scores

Finally the Utah State offense gets going as you expected it would happen at some point.

Davon Booth runs in from 22 yards out and CSU's lead is cut to 17-10 with 6:10 until half.

CSU has had chances to really grow the lead but struggles on offense have prevented it.

Colorado State interception

Three plays after Utah State picks off BFN, CSU's Dom Jones returns the favor with a really good snag on a ball down the sideline.

It gets CSU the ball back at the Utah State 49. It's the second pick of the game for CSU.

Rams don't take advantage and have to punt right away.

Utah State interception

CSU moving the ball a bit to start second quarter and from Utah State 40 Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throws deep to Tory Horton, but slightly underthrows it and Ike Larsen rips the ball away from Horton.

Great play from the Utah State safety. It's USU ball at own 20 with 11:38 until half. Still 17-3 CSU.

End first quarter

Colorado State 17, Utah State 3.

Rams have a 2nd and 7 at own 28 to start second. Turnovers and special teams the difference for CSU right now.

Utah State field goal

Utah State gets on the board late in the first quarter. Rams were pinned in deep and had to punt. Utah State with a short drive and Elliott Nimrod hits a 43-yard field goal.

It's 17-3 CSU with 20 seconds left in first quarter.

CSU creating pressure

Mohamed Kamara already has two sacks and is up to 26 in his career, which moves him to third in CSU history.

Henry Blackburn adds one on a safety blitz to end a Utah State drive inside CSU territory.

Punt pins CSU at own 3. Rams up 17-0 with 3:20 left in 1Q.

Colorado State interception, touchdown

Wow, this game is off to a wild start!

Second play after Tory Horton's punt return TD and Utah State's Cooper Legas throws an interception to CSU true freshman TJ Crandall, making his second career start. He returns it to the Utah State 33.

Two plays later and Vann Schield runs up the middle for a 22-yard TD, the second career score for the walk-on.

All of a sudden it's 17-0 CSU with 9:34 left in the first quarter.

Tory Horton punt return TD

In addition to being best in the league at receiver, Tory Horton is the best punt returner and that's why!

CSU forces a 3-and-out on first Utah State series of the game and Horton makes a couple slick moves and races to the end zone for a 79-yard TD.

It's the 10th-longest punt return TD in school history.

Rams up 10-0 with 10:36 left in first quarter.

Colorado State field goal

Jordan Noyes does return at kicker after injury last week and he hits a 30-yarder after CSU recovers fumble.

A 23-yard pass on the sideline to Louis Brown set up the score.

It's 3-0 CSU with 11:27 left in 1Q.

Colorado State punts, gets turnover

Paddy Turner's punt hits a Utah State player downfield and Henry Blackburn falls on it.

CSU ball at Utah State's 45 with 13:31 to go. Big chance.

Colorado State wins toss

CSU wins the toss and elects to receive. That's part of the new attacking mindset, it appears.

CSU doesn't go anywhere on the first drive, though, going 3-and-out.

Colorado State injury update

A few notes for CSU:

• Running back Kobe Johnson is in uniform and expected to play (rib injury). Avery Morrow (knee) is still out.

• Running back Damian Henderson is not dressed after being banged up last week. He practiced during the week but apparently not ready for today.

• True freshman running back Justin Marshall is in uniform. The running back order is likely: Johnson, Vann Schield, KJ Edwards, Marshall.

• Kicker Jordan Noyes did not play last week due to a muscle strain but went through warmups and hit a 52-yard field goal pregame. We'll see when the game begins but appears he'll play.

A bit of history

Utah State has several prints of old game day programs in the pressbox. One is from another time CSU and Utah State played on homecoming.

On-site in Logan

Tailgating is well underway as teams arrive at the stadium around 3 hours before kickoff.

Utah State uniforms

The Aggies have a version of a throwback look for homecoming, including a different helmet.

Colorado State's uniforms

Again, no changes for CSU uniforms except for special days such as Ag Day and State Pride. It's the white uniform with gold pants in Logan.

How to watch Colorado State vs. Utah State football

This is the third CSU game in a row not on linear TV and second consecutive on the Mountain West network.

Online stream: TheMw.com/watch

The free Mountain West app is available on most smart devices and can be downloaded on the Apple app store, Google Play and more.

How does Colorado State win?

This feels like a big swing game in the season for CSU. A win and a lot of very positive stuff is on the table. A loss doesn't ruin the season, but narrows the window for it becoming a big success.

How do the Rams beat Utah State?

Keys to the game: What does the Colorado State football team need to do to beat Utah State?

Back at Canvas Stadium...

Not strictly CSU football related, but the home of the Rams held a high school showcase Friday night.

More than 10,000 fans were in attendance at Canvas Stadium as two local high school rivalry games (Fossil Ridge vs. Fort Collins and Poudre vs. Rocky Mountain) took place:

More: Inside look at the Canvas Classic

A long, weird history

CSU and Utah State first played in 1902 in Logan (a 24-5 win for CSU). They've now met 78 times and every year since 2011 (the 2020 COVID-season notwithstanding).

Saturday's game is homecoming for Utah State, a frequent occurrence against CSU. This will be Utah State's 17th homecoming game against the Rams all-time.

Over the last dozen or so years a lot of weird stuff has happened between the teams. Check out the history:

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

Starting Mountain West play

Utah State (2-3, 0-1 Mountain West) has played one conference game, losing to a potential league favorite in Air Force.

The Rams are yet to start Mountain West play and are the last team to do so. Air Force already has three league games under its belt.

CSU has also played one fewer total game than most due to a Week 2 bye but several MW teams are off this week.

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 opens Mountain West play at Utah State