After a lackluster performance at Nebraska last week, the Colorado Buffaloes will travel to Fort Collins to take on the Colorado State Rams in this year’s rendition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
Colorado will now have the task of trying to contain sophomore quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
As a three-star recruit out of Aledo, Texas, Fowler-Nicolosi held various FBS-level offers but ultimately decided to play football at Colorado State over other schools such as Nevada, and Oregon State.
As a true freshman, Fowler-Nicolosi appeared in two games, ending up with a touchdown and two interceptions. It was in his sophomore season when Fowler-Nicolosi broke out.
In Week 3 of the 2023 season, Fowler-Nicolosi was named the starter for the Rocky Mountain Showdown against the Buffs. In a game where most of America gave CSU no chance, Fowler-Nicolosi led his team to where they were a couple of plays away from upsetting the Buffs.
Though the CSU quarterback threw three interceptions in the showdown, he also threw for three touchdowns along with 367 yards. Fowler-Nicolosi kept throwing beautiful pass after beautiful pass, and his connection with star receiver Tory Horton created huge problems for the Colorado defense. Fowler-Nicolosi showed the whole nation that he had the skills to be an elite-level quarterback.
Fowler-Nicolosi ended his sophomore season with 22 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and 3,460 yards, and he would lead CSU to a respectable five-win season.
After his sophomore season, it was reported that Kansas State offered Fowler-Nicolosi a $600,000 NIL deal to transfer to its program and become its QB. BFN declined the offer and decided to stay at CSU, as did his favorite target Horton. The Fowler-Nicolosi to Horton connection will have one more season to display what they can do.
Despite the rough start to the season with their 52-0 loss to Texas, Fowler-Nicolosi bounced back with a great team win against Northern Colorado. In the game, the QB displayed all that he had learned in the offseason, and various improvements were easy to spot in his game. He even threw a beauty of a ball to wide receiver Caleb Goodie that resulted in a Rams touchdown.
Fowler-Nicolosi is a gunslinger, he can make every throw on the field, and he knows that. He likes to improvise, though he doesn't run the ball too often. Fowler-Nicolosi has had a few turnover issues, but his big play ability more than makes up for that. In the win against UNCO, Fowler-Nicolosi took more of a game-manager role and took what the defense gave him. But now and then, he takes his big shots, which is what the Buffs should expect on Saturday night.
Fowler-Nicolosi has all the talent in the world, and as long as he reduces his mistakes he will have a great game. He has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, and if Colorado plays another sloppy game like they did last week against Nebraska, it could be a long night for CU head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs.
"You have to line up your 11 guys against our 11 guys and we'll find out who wants it more," Fowler-Nicolosi told CBS Colorado's Romi Bean. "We'll see how far Instagram followers gets them."
Fowler-Nicolosi and CSU will host the Buffs on Saturday night in Fort Collins. The 93rd installment of the Rocky Mountain Showdown will be broadcast on CBS at 5:30 p.m. MT.
Cover photo by Colorado State Athletics
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