BYU arrives in Fort Collins on Saturday night ranked 11th, unbeaten, and priced like a team that should win going away. Colorado State is 2-0 as well, with 93 points scored in two weeks under a brand-new staff. The spread opened at 18 and has since ticked down, a small move with a real message. The total has nudged the other way. Both numbers shape our picks below.
Last Updated: Saturday, September 19, 2026
BYU vs. Colorado State — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins CO |
| When | Saturday, September 19 – 7:30 PM ET |
| TV | CBS |
BYU vs. Colorado State Betting Preview
BYU is 2-0 and has not been seriously tested. The opener was a 63-7 rout of Utah Tech. Next came a 28-17 win over Arizona in the Big 12 opener, a game BYU controlled after halftime. That result pushed BYU up to No. 11 in the AP Top 25. Bear Bachmeier is the starting quarterback, and the defense has been the quieter strength, allowing just 24 points in two games.
The road team is not at full strength, however. Linebacker Siale Esera was hurt against Arizona and head coach Kalani Sitake has said it is more than likely he misses this trip. Running back Sione Moa is also out with a knee injury, which leaves LJ Martin carrying the load. Neither absence is season-defining. Both matter at the margins against an offense that pushes tempo.
Colorado State is in its first season in the Pac-12 and its first under Jim Mora. The start has been loud. The hosts handled Wyoming 35-13, then piled up 678 yards in a 58-24 win over Southern Utah. Quarterback Hauss Hejny has thrown for 539 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception, second nationally in scoring passes. Mel Brown ran for 171 yards last time out.
Context matters, though. Wyoming and Southern Utah are not Big 12 defenses, and Southern Utah plays at the FCS level. This is a non-conference meeting between programs that last played in 2010, when both sat in the Mountain West. Colorado State has not beaten BYU since 2003. For more on the market, see our BYU vs. Colorado State odds and viewing breakdown.
BYU vs. Colorado State Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYU | -17 (-115) | -1100 | O 52.5 (-110) |
| Colorado State | +17 (-105) | +650 | U 52.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of September 19, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
BYU vs. Colorado State — Who Is the Public Betting?
| BYU | 60% | 40% | Colorado State |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
BYU vs. Colorado State Prediction — Is the Road Favorite Getting Too Much Respect?
Start with the movement. The number opened at 18 with standard juice on both sides. It now sits at 17, and the price on the favorite has lengthened while the home side has shortened. Meanwhile, 60 percent of spread tickets sit on the visitor. When most bets land on one side and the line drifts the other way, that often signals heavier money on the quieter side.
There is also a schedule-spot argument. This is BYU’s first road game of the season and its first trip to Fort Collins in 16 years. Colorado State is 2-0 both straight up and against the spread. Seventeen points is a wide number for a team that has not trailed yet, and an early home score would change the second half in a hurry.
The case against is straightforward. BYU has covered both games and won its opener by 56. The talent gap up front is real, and Colorado State’s production came against a Mountain West opponent and an FCS team. If BYU’s defense travels the way it did against Arizona, this number will look small late.
The Pick: Colorado State +17 (-105)
BYU vs. Colorado State Prediction — Will Two Hot Offenses Keep the Scoreboard Busy?
The total opened at 52 and has crept up to 52.5, which points to modest buying on the scoring side. The trends agree. Colorado State has gone over in both games, and the hosts are averaging 46.5 points per game behind a quarterback completing passes at a high clip. BYU is averaging 45.5 points itself. Neither offense has been forced into a slow, grinding afternoon yet.
The counterweight is BYU’s defense, which has allowed 24 points in two games and shut down Arizona after halftime. A blowout also works against the total, since a big lead means clock-burning runs and fewer possessions. However, the path to 53 points is short if Colorado State scores three times.
The Pick: Over 52.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The bonus angle sits on the moneyline. Colorado State at +650 carries an implied win probability of roughly 13 percent. That is a fair price for a 2-0 home team with a productive quarterback facing an opponent that has not played a true road game. Treat it as a small-stake position rather than a core play. BYU at -1100 is priced that way for good reason, and an outright upset remains the least likely result.
Our broader view is that BYU wins and the question is margin. That is why both primary picks lean toward Colorado State staying involved. For more recent work on this team, see our Arizona vs. BYU prediction from last week.
Picks recap: Colorado State +17 (-105); Over 52.5 (-110); Colorado State moneyline +650 as a small-stake bonus angle.
NCAAF BYU vs. Colorado State FAQ: Saturday September 19, 2026
What time does the BYU vs. Colorado State game start?
Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on Saturday, September 19, 2026, which is 5:30 PM local Mountain time in Fort Collins. It is the late-afternoon window locally and a prime-time slot on the East Coast, making it one of the featured night games on the Week 4 schedule.
What channel is the BYU vs. Colorado State game on?
The game airs nationally on CBS. That is a notable detail for BYU, which had not appeared on the network since the 1997 Cotton Bowl. Radio coverage runs through BYU Radio on SiriusXM channel 166 and KSL NewsRadio for listeners following the visiting side.
Where are BYU and Colorado State playing?
The game is at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Sonny Lubick Field. Colorado State is the home team, and this is BYU’s first trip to Fort Collins in 16 years. It is also BYU’s first road game of the 2026 season after two home dates to open the year.
Who is starting at quarterback for BYU and Colorado State?
Bear Bachmeier starts for BYU and Hauss Hejny starts for Colorado State. Hejny has been the more productive passer statistically so far, throwing for 539 yards with nine touchdowns and a single interception through two games. Bachmeier accounted for four scores in BYU’s win over Arizona.
Who won the last meeting between BYU and Colorado State?
BYU won the last meeting, which came back in 2010 when both programs were still in the Mountain West. The series has been dormant since BYU left the league. Colorado State has not beaten BYU since 2003, so the hosts are looking to end a long drought in this matchup.