Colorado (1-1) at Colorado State (1-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Colorado by 7.
Series record: Colorado leads 68-22-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
It's a second straight rivalry game for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. It might even be must-win, too. They try to put the sting of a 28-10 loss at Nebraska behind them as they face a Colorado State team coming off a 38-17 win over Northern Colorado. For the first time since 1996, the Rocky Mountain Showdown will be played in Fort Collins. Last season, Colorado trailed by eight with two minutes remaining when Shedeur Sanders led a 98-yard scoring drive and connected on a two-point conversion to tie the game. The Buffaloes won 43-35 in double overtime. This will be the last time the teams face each other on the football field until Sept. 15, 2029.
KEY MATCHUP
Colorado receiver Travis Hunter vs. CSU safety Henry Blackburn. In the game a year ago, Hunter was running a deep route in the first quarter when he was hit by Blackburn shortly after the ball sailed by him. Blackburn drew a penalty on the play as Hunter stayed down on the turf. Hunter eventually left to go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lacerated liver. The two players put the incident behind them by meeting up for a conversation and to go bowling.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado: Defensive back Carter Stoutmire figures to play a big role with Shilo Sanders sidelined at least two weeks with a broken forearm suffered at Nebraska. Stoutmire’s father, Omar, played in the NFL from 1997-2007.
Colorado State: Center Jacob Gardner and the rest of the offensive line. They’ve allowed just one sack this season. Colorado State surrendered only 14 sacks last season.
FACTS & FIGURES
Colorado has won six straight over the Rams in the series. ... The last time Rams beat the Buffaloes on their home field was 1955. They were Colorado A&M then and changed to Colorado State in 1957. The contest was played at the home of the Denver Broncos for many years. ... Since the series resumed in 1983, Colorado leads 25-8. ... The Buffaloes are averaging 37.5 yards rushing per game, which is at the bottom of the nation. They figure to be without banged-up running back Dallan Hayden. The Rams’ defense is allowing 148.5 yards rushing per game. ... Hunter has been targeted just six times over 128 defensive snaps so far this season.
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Deion Sanders and the scuffling Colorado Buffaloes travel to Fort Collins to face Colorado State
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, left, talks with former Nebraska and NFL player Mike Rozier, right, before an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Deion Sanders and the scuffling Colorado Buffaloes travel to Fort Collins to face Colorado State
MADRID (AP) — Kylian Mbappé renewed his quest to win a European title by scoring for Real Madrid in his first Champions League match with the club.
Mbappé found the open net after a cross by Rodrygo just seconds into the second half of Madrid's 3-1 win over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
“It was a great night,” Mbappé said. “It was a tough match, as they always are in the Champions League, but it was important to start with the win at home.”
Mbappé celebrated with a gesture in which he appeared to blow candles and sending a kiss. Spanish media said it was to honor his mother's 50th birthday.
The goal gave defending champion Madrid a 1-0 lead before Stuttgart equalized with Deniz Undav in the 68th. Antonio Rüdiger put Madrid back in front in the 83rd and substitute Endrick closed the scoring deep into stoppage time to seal the victory for the defending champions.
It was Mbappé's 49th Champions League goal, putting him in the top 10 of top scorers all time in the competition.
He has scored in three consecutive matches and has five goals in seven games with Madrid so far in all competitions.
“I can do more,” Mbappé said. “I'm feeling better match after match.”
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was named the man of the match as he was key to keep Stuttgart from capitalizing on its many scoring opportunities.
Mbappé had been mostly quiet until scoring, with one of his clearest chances coming in the 25th minute after he entered the area and had his low shot was saved. He was free inside the area a couple of minutes later, but Federico Valverde’s low cross to the France star was intercepted by a defender.
Madrid struggled to created many significant scoring opportunities early on at the Bernabeu. It was Stuttgart that threatened the most, including with a couple on one-on-one situations and an attempt that hit the crossbar.
Vinícius Júnior also hit the crossbar for Madrid.
Mbappé won the 2018 World Cup with France but failed to win the Champions League in the seven seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, which was also on a quest for its first title in Europe’s top club competition.
The playmaker left PSG as a free agent at the end of last season to join Madrid following a decade-long pursuit by the Spanish powerhouse — a move could boost his chances of lifting the European trophy with the team that has won the Champions League six times in the last 11 years.
Mbappé reached the semifinals of the club competition in 2017 with Monaco, and was a beaten finalist in 2020 with PSG. He was also in the semifinals with PSG in 2021 and last season.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. Real Madrid won 3-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, right, celebrates with teammate Antonio Rudiger after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
