Boise State’s Jay Ajayi scoring in the Broncos’ 37-24 win over CSU on Sept. 6. (Otto Kitsinger, Associated Press)
Colorado State had a bye Saturday, but there were plenty of games elsewhere that affected the Rams. My blog on the games that might have an impact on the Rams in the national rankings is .
In a late game affecting at least the Rams’ conference fate, Boise State did it again.
The Broncos, who had come from behind to beat New Mexico the previous week, trailed San Diego State 20-0 in the second quarter at home late Saturday night before roaring back to win 38-29 and remain in control of the race in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division.
Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State all are 5-1 with two games left, but the Broncos are the only team in control of its own fate because of a 37-24 win over CSU in Boise on Sept. 6 and because BSU meets Utah State on Nov. 29.
If Utah State and CSU both finish 7-1, the Rams would win the division based on their 16-13 win over the Aggies.
Boise State also is at Wyoming next Saturday night.
CSU (9-1) has New Mexico at home Saturday and then closes out the regular-season at Air Force on Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. The other thing that Saturday’s results — including Air Force’s overtime win over Nevada — made clear is that the MW is imbalanced, with the four best teams all in the Mountain Division. That will take some luster off the Dec. 6 conference championship game, which under any imaginable scenario will be played at the stadium of the Mountain Division winner. And it’s still possible that CSU could be 11-1 and be the highest-ranked team in the conference — I still think they’d be in the CFP at 11-1 — and not be in the conference championship game.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
My story on CSU offensive linemen Ty Sambrailo, from Watsonville, Calif., and Fred Zerblis, from Grayson, Ga., is in the Sunday paper.
This didn’t make the story: Former Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain is candid about the fact that he still has ties to Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide coaching staff and he’s not above using those connections.
That, of course, was involved in Dee Hart’s transfer from Alabama to CSU, where he has proved to be tough and effective despite having lost a step because of knee injuries since his days as one of the top recruits in the country.
Beyond that, McElwain said he’s fulling willing to consider — and welcome — players who just missed the list of players offered immediate Alabama scholarship slots. In this instance, Zerblis said he and Alabama discussed a possible grayshirt deal, or delaying enrollment.
Instead, he came to Colorado State.
“Oh, absolutely, 100 percent, no doubt about it,” McElwain said. “The one thing I do know is that if they’re on that radar, no matter if they have a star behind their name or not …”
He paused and added that Saban is adamant about independent evaluation.
“They don’t let some star report skew what their thoughts are,” McElwain said. “Itap amazing the amount of guys that once they start recruiting them, all of a sudden their star count goes up. … I was really fortunate to be around what I feel is one of the best organizations when it comes to evaluation of talent and what you’re looking for by position.”
By the way, Zerblis has gotten only minor hair and beard trims since the start of his championship high school season, which is another reason he stands out on the field. “I keep saying I’m going to cut it after the season, but I don’t know,” he said with a laugh.
Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or
