FORT COLLINS — The Jay Norvell era is going to begin with a bang this fall.
Earlier this week it was announced that Colorado State’s 2022 season opener at Michigan will be a 10 am kickoff and will be televised on ABC.
It’s not surprising that the matchup was given a premium time slot on a premiere outlet for Week 1 considering the Wolverines will certainly be ranked in the top 5 in the preseason. It’s definitely a great opportunity for the Green & Gold to gain exposure on a national level, though. You’re facing an elite team, in the biggest stadium in the country, and it’s going to be one of the first games on the TV slate for a dedicated audience that’s been desperate for college football to be back for months.
Hopefully the game goes a little better for CSU than when the Rams lost to Utah by 35 on ABC back in 2014, or when USC beat CSU by 49 in 2004. The silver lining, of course, is that the Rams will pretty much be playing with house money as four-touchdown underdogs.
TV information for CSU’s Week 2 and Week 4 home games against Middle Tennessee and Sacramento State, respectively, have not yet been determined but both contests will kick off at 2:00 p.m. Sandwiched in between those two, the Rams have a 3 p.m. kickoff at Washington State on the Pac-12 Network in Week 3.
Following the bye CSU will open the Mountain West slate against Nevada in a Friday night showdown on FS1. The 8:30 p.m. kickoff is presently CSU’s latest on the 2022 slate but the benefit for Ram fans is that this game is on the road. Ultimately it should be an intriguing night considering the storylines, which always makes it a little easier to stay up for while watching from the couch.
The Homecoming game against Utah State on Oct. 15 and the Border War on Nov. 12 will both be 5:00 p.m. kicks on CBS Sports Network. The season finale against New Mexico will be a 1:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS Sports Network as well. As of right now the only home kickoff time we do not know is the Hawaii game on Oct. 22.
“We are excited to give Ram fans the opportunity to set their schedules for the 2022 season nearly three months in advance, with kick times already for the majority of our home schedule,” athletic director Joe Parker said in a news release.
“We’re also happy to appeal to families who have shared concerns about later evening kickoffs with a (home) schedule that doesn’t include a kick time later than 5 p.m. It will take all of us to rally around Coach Norvell and this program, and I believe this home slate gives every fan the best opportunity to support our team this season.”
Finally, road games at Boise State (Oct. 29) and Air Force (Nov. 19) will both be on one of the Fox Networks but we won’t know which one, or the kickoff times until 12 days out. FS1 is the most likely scenario, however, if the Rams are good then there is always a shot to get a game or two on the main Fox channel.
TV info and kickoff time have yet to be determined for the San Jose State trip. With all of the experienced talent that the Spartans have on defense, though, and an offense that’s been replenished through the transfer portal, you’d think this will at least be a good enough game to land on FS1 or CBS Sports Network. It would be somewhat surprising if SJSU or the Hawaii game only end up streaming on the MW Network. Alas, we shall wait and see.
Colorado State 2022 Schedule (Times MT)
- Sept. 3 – at Michigan – 10 a.m. – ABC
- Sept. 10 – Middle Tennessee – 2 p.m. – TV TBD
- Sept. 17 – at Washington State – 3 p.m. – Pac-12 Network
- Sept. 24 – Sacramento State – 2 p.m. – TV TBD (Ag Day)
- Oct. 7 – at Nevada – 8:30 p.m. – FS1
- Oct. 15 – Utah State – 5 p.m. – CBS Sports Network (Homecoming and Family Weekend)
- Oct. 22 – Hawai’i – Time TBD – TV TBD
- Oct. 29 – at Boise State – 12-Days Out – Fox Networks
- Nov. 5 – at San Jose State – Time TBD – TV TBD
- Nov. 12 – Wyoming – 5 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
- Nov. 19 – at Air Force – 12-Days Out – Fox Networks
- Nov. 25 – New Mexico – 1:30 p.m. – CBS Sports Network
