Jim Mora takes over a program that finished 2-10, and the job in front of him starts with replacing the guy who took most of the snaps. Jackson Brousseau left for Cal after producing 42.0 PPA, and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi followed him out the door to Michigan, so the new signal-caller inherits an offense that returns almost none of its passing production. Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny arrives as the top addition at 12.6 PPA and looks like the leading answer to that question, joined by Mississippi State wideout Jordan Mosley and tight end Nader Chirchi from UConn. The portal churn was significant on both sides of the ledger — 38 departures worth 151.2 PPA lost against 31 arrivals worth 31.8 PPA gained — and losing tight end Rocky Beers to Oklahoma only adds to the rebuilding to-do list on offense. JP+ still projects this as a below-average team overall, with an offense that grades below average and a defense that grades as one of the weaker units nationally; special teams add little cushion either. The offensive line returns close to three-quarters of its snaps, which offers some structural stability even as the passing game starts over.

JP+ pegs Colorado State at 4.8 wins, while the market's Over 3.5 carries a modest 27% edge, suggesting the number is roughly fair but with slight room for the total to clear expectations. The gap comes down to how quickly Hejny or whoever wins the job settles in behind a stable line, and whether a defense that offered little support last season can avoid getting overwhelmed again. Home games against Oregon State, Wyoming and Southern Utah look like the most realistic paths to bowl-eligible math, while road trips to UTSA and Fresno State and a home date with BYU stand as the toughest tests. If the new quarterback plays turnover-free early and the defense simply holds steady rather than collapsing, Colorado State clears the number comfortably. If the transition at quarterback drags and the defense remains thin, this could look like another long season under a new staff.