FORT COLLINS — From Mike Bobo’s viewpoint, the message is clear.

“Refuse to lose. Refuse to lose every day in practice and every Saturday,” the Colorado State coach said. “It’s not an option. That’s the point that I’m driving home.”

With four games remaining in the season, Bobo has learned a lot about his team as the Rams have reached this point at break even — 4-4 overall, 2-2 in Mountain West play. They will not be competing for a conference title, which is the goal he set when he took over the program last year. Then again, this version of the Rams wasn’t ready for that challenge when the season started.

Along the way, they’ve had to clear hurdles, and there’s still more in front of them. The Rams have only once won on back-to-back weeks, the second half of that stretch being FCS Northern Colorado.

Four conference games remain, and the players have heard what their coach is saying.

“I think it’s super important, especially when our goal right now is to win all four games we have upcoming,” quarterback Nick Stevens said. “We can’t focus on a bowl game. We have to focus on winning each and every week, because I think when you focus on ‘oh, we only need two wins’, then maybe you take it easy on a week where maybe you might not think you can win, but if you give it your all, you could win. Right now our focus has to be on winning every week, and that’s where it is right now.”

Getting to this point wasn’t easy. They weren’t ready for prime time when the season started, as Colorado shut them down. There have been good halves and bad, good offensive games and strong defensive performances, but rarely at the same time.

Last weeks’ win over UNLV came closest with a 35-0 lead at halftime that led to a 42-23 victory.

“At first, everybody was a little timid about it,” receiver Michael Gallup said of the first month. “Now that we know we need to, everybody is doing it really well.”

The Rams have relied on youth throughout the season, and Gallup may have made the biggest leap, proving he can be the big-play threat the Rams need offensively. He’s improved through three different quarterbacks, too. Stevens, who wasn’t good in the loss to Colorado, was very good in the win over UNLV, taking advantage of his second chance when Collin Hill was lost for the season with a knee injury.

There have been trials and tribulations, and Bobo tips his hat to the team they have started to become, saying for the last month the squad has practiced at a championship level.

“You want to improve from week one to week two; that’s usually your biggest improvement, but I’ve been proud of this group,” he said. “It’s been constant improvement and we probably made our biggest jumps the last month, and that’s not easy to do when you don’t have a winning record and you’re struggling a little bit. But you’ve got to give those kids credit for continuing to fight and push through.

“So I’ve learned there’s some toughness on this football team, and learned there’s some fight and I want to see it for the last four games of the season.”

After the bye week, the Rams return to the field with a home date with a struggling Fresno State team that has already made a coaching change. Air Force, New Mexico and San Diego State follow. Nothing can be guaranteed in any of those games, not the way the Rams have played this season.

But there is a confidence stemming from their past five quarters. A rally at Boise State opened some eyes, and the first half against UNLV was the most impressive of the year.

Building off that is now the focus. There are goals still in front of them, namely reaching a bowl game for the fourth straight season.

That, and finishing the season right — by refusing to lose.

“Just ball out. Really how to take that in and adopt that mindset,” offensive lineman Zack Golditch said. “Winning your one-on-one battles, believing every play is going to be a big play and you’re that one guy that’s going to spring a big play. If everybody gets on that train, I think we’ll be doing good things.”

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