MINNEAPOLIS — Amazing what a month can do for a football team.

After getting blitzed by Colorado to open the season, Colorado State fans were wondering what the season had in store. September closed in the same fashion as it opened — a loss to a Power 5 team — but the path to the results couldn’t have been more different.

In a 31-24 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, the Rams did not look like a team that was outclassed. They gave up size, as they did to the Buffs, but were not pushed around. The Gophers did not wear the Rams down and run away. The truth was, the Rams made mistakes that helped the Gophers and didn’t make plays to help themselves in falling to 2-2 as they head into Mountain West play.

But the same team?

Not even close.

“It’s light years ahead of where we were Week 1,” CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. “We were a deer in the headlights Week 1. We had a lot of guys out there playing who hadn’t played a lot of scrimmage downs, and played like it. Played timid. I thought today we let go more and went out there and tried to make some plays instead of hoping to make plays.

“That’s where we’ve got to get, to where we expect to make the play.”

Much has changed. The defense is playing more aggressive as it tries to overcome what it lacks in size and experience. Much like the Colorado loss, the Rams missed more tackles than they should, and a trio of Minnesota backs made them pay.

It is also still a unit that has yet to fully seize moments. Braylin Scott has three interceptions, but he’s the only player who has one. There are still issues on third down. CSU was yielding conversions almost 60 percent of the time before Saturday, and Minnesota notched five of its first eight, three on a 94-yard scoring drive. CSU improved as the game went on, but even 40 percent is more than a defensive coordinator would like to allow.

Offensively, the Rams are on their third starting quarterback, but true freshman Collin Hill will be in line to start his third straight Saturday as conference play begins with a visit from Wyoming (2-2) to renew the Border War rivalry (8:15 p.m.; ESPNU).

He’s growing, as are receivers Michael Gallup and Deitrich Clark, as well as running back Marvin Kinsey Jr., all of whom are new to the program. Bobo’s goal is to have their roles grow in the offense because they are playmakers, and if he has to trim the game plan to get them more involved, he will.

Gallup leads the team with 14 receptions, good for 173 yards, and now has two touchdown catches. Clark has been used primarily as a runner, and he’s gained 77 yards and scored his first touchdown Saturday, that coming off a direct snap. Kinsey had his second scoring rush of the season against Minnesota, showing he is adapting to the change from high school to college.

“As a unit and as an offense and as a team, we need to improve each week and get better and better throughout the season,” guard Fred Zerblis said. “Comparing it to last year, I think we’re far ahead from where we were out. (Saturday) we played pretty good, and it was a lot of improvement from even last week.”

The change was evident on Saturday, not just in the way the Rams played in the loss, but how they reacted to it.

Punter Hayden Hunt described a very confused and what he called a “morally defeated” team that got on the bus to leave Sports Authority Field that opening weekend of play. Saturday, as the Rams were off to catch their flight back to Fort Collins, there was no pouting. It was frustration after missing a chance to gain a victory, looking for the positives to build off of instead of licking wounds and shattered egos.

There are still some confused looks at times from young players still learning, but most of them have been replaced with a glare of determination.

“Honestly, I think it’s night and day. I think that we’ve come a long way since that very first week,” safety Jake Schlager said. “That first week was rough, and if we would have played (Saturday) the same way as in Week 1, nothing would have been this close. I think we’ve come a long way. If we would have played like this the very first week, people would have a very different opinion on us.”

The flight toward that change was just about an hour away.

Mike Brohard: 970-635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard