Joe Hansley, Colorado State’s most dangerous receiver with Rashard Higgins unavailable Saturday, was predictably somber after the Rams’ 23-20 overtime loss to Minnesota in Fort Collins.

Then he was reminded of what was coming up this week, the Rocky Mountain Showdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. For Hansley and the other 14 Rams listed on the two-deep depth chart who are from Colorado high schools, it’s monumental.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” Hansley said. “It’s a huge game for us. I’m 2-1 against CU. It’s the Buffs. It’s always fun to go out and compete with them; it’s always a great game to play in and the atmo- sphere will be great.”

CSU’s showing against a physical Big Ten team Saturday was a relative bright spot in an otherwise dreadful weekend for the Mountain West, so it did little to dampen hopes that the Rams can contend for a division title.

The Mountain West went 0-10 in nonconference games this past weekend, and its only win was posted by Air Force — against league opponent San Jose State. Seven of the losses came to Power Five conference opponents.

Last season, CSU’s early wins over CU and Boston College of the Power Five were confidence-building games. The Rams went on to go 10-3, sending coach Jim McElwain off to Florida.

This season, CU lost its opener 28-20 at Hawaii, a Mountain West member, before rebounding with a 48-14 rout of UMass in Boulder. Now the Buffs and coach Mike MacIntyre, who is 1-1 in Rocky Mountain Showdown games, have another chance against the Mountain West.

“That’s a fun game,” MacIntyre said after CU’s win. “I enjoy playing in that game.”

Sophomore linebacker-defensive end Derek McCartney, the grandson of former CU coach Bill McCartney and a product of Arvada’s Faith Christian, said of the Showdown and the Rams: “They’re fun to play. It’s going to be good.”

Buffs wide receiver Nelson Spruce broke the school career receptions record against UMass and finished with six catches for 64 yards. “I’ve already thought about it,” he said after Saturday’s win. “I already checked the score of their game against Minnesota. I didn’t realize, coming from California, how big this game is. It’s my last season, and I don’t know how I’ll be able to live with myself if we don’t come out with a win.”

This week’s game could be another matchup of two of the nation’s top receivers — Spruce and Higgins. But Higgins wasn’t able to play against Minnesota because of an ankle injury he suffered against Savannah State in the Rams’ season-opening romp. The injury didn’t seem serious at the time, but Higgins didn’t make enough progress last week to play against Minnesota.

“The positive is that it’s nothing major, when we thought it might be, but it’s not,” said CSU coach Mike Bobo. “He has to get healthy, and when he’s healthy he’ll be out there to help us.”

Higgins missed one game last season, a potentially statistics-fattening win over Hawaii, but still managed to earn consensus All-America honors.

Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or twitter.com/TFrei





Colorado vs. Colorado State, 5 p.m. Saturday, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, CBSSN

Eye on: CU Buffaloes

For the record: The Buffs are 1-1 after a 48-14 victory over Massachusetts in their home opener.

Who’s hot: Junior quarterback Sefo Liufau had one of his better games, with 15 completions in 24 attempts for 168 yards and one touchdown against UMass.

Who’s not: Freshman punter Alex Kinney struggled against the Minutemen, averaging 29.2 yards on four kicks.

Streaking: Senior wide receiver Nelson Spruce made six catches against UMass and now has the CU record for career receptions with 219.

Key stat: The Buffaloes benefited from a strong running game in their home opener, rushing for 390 yards. Michael Adkins II led the charge with 119 yards on the ground. Christian Powell contributed 105 yards.

FYI: CU coach Mike MacIntyre is 1-1 in Rocky Mountain Showdown games against Colorado State.

Irv Moss, The Denver Post

Eye on: Colorado State Rams

For the record: The Rams are 1-1 after a 23-20 overtime loss to Big Ten member Minnesota in Fort Collins.

Who’s hot: Sophomore runnng back Dalyn Dawkins leads the Rams in rushing with 129 yards in two games. He has averaged 5.4 yards per carry, and he scored the first touchdown of his career against Minnesota.

Who’s not: Sophomore quarterback Nick Stevens struggled in the Minnesota game (8-of-19 passing, 51 yards and two interceptions) and was benched.

Streaking: All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins didn’t play against the Gophers because of an ankle injury, so his record of at least one catch in all 27 of his games remained intact.

Key stat: Junior linebacker Kevin Davis, from Fountain-Fort Carson, had a career-high 11 tackles vs. Minnesota.

FYI: CSU’s Mike Bobo will be coaching in the Rocky Mountain Showdown for the first time. The Rams are 22-62-2 against Colorado in the all-time series.

Irv Moss,The Denver Post