Mora says Colorado State must contain Boise State’s Dylan Riley

Colorado State enters its November 7 home matchup against No. 20 Boise State with a 3-5 record and a defense that has struggled throughout the season. The Rams have lost five of their last six games and fell 31-14 at Utah State last week. Boise State is 7-1 and leads the Pac-12 at 4-0; Colorado State is seventh in the conference.

Mora identified Riley as a central challenge for the Rams. The Boise State running back leads FBS with 1,049 rushing yards on 165 carries and has scored 10 total touchdowns. Mora called him “one of the best running backs in the country” and said Colorado State needs all defenders to consistently fulfill their assignments against the run.

The Rams rank last among 138 FBS teams in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, allowing 526.4 yards and 42.4 points per game, including 261.1 rushing yards. Mora said the defense can perform well when players stay connected, but needs greater consistency.

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen is listed as day-to-day after being injured. If he cannot play, backup Max Cutforth is expected to start. Cutforth threw three touchdown passes in last week’s 46-45 win over Texas State, including two Mora praised as outstanding. Mora said Boise State’s offense remained productive with Cutforth despite the circumstances.