Oct 18, 2025; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Hawaii Rainbow Warriors running back Cam Barfield (0) runs for a touchdown in fourth quarter against the Colorado State Rams at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado State Fires Head Coach Jay Norvell After 2-5 Start

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Bruce Osslund | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 7:52 PM ET

Following Saturday night, the Colorado State Rams announced they are parting ways with head coach Jay Norvell after his fourth season. During his tenure, Norvell led the Rams to an 18-26 record.

During this season, Colorado State has been outscored 189-153 and has gone through two different starting quarterbacks, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Jackson Brosseau, attempting to find their rhythm on offense.

Breaking Point

Norvell and the Rams had a disappointing homecoming game loss to the University of Hawaii 31-19, hence helped the program decide on what to do with the coaching staff.

Colorado State gave up 134 yards on the ground, and Brosseau faced getting sacked six times. The loss left the Rams remaining under .500 three out of four years under Norvell.

Who Steps Up

Up to bat for the Colorado State HC position is Tyson Summers, who was previously the Rams’ defensive coordinator. He will lead the team for the remainder of the season.

Summers currently has a coaching record of 5-13, during his tenure at Georgia Southern from 2016-2017, but has plenty of experience of coordinating/coaching positions since 2002.

Colorado State football defensive coordinator Tyson Summers signals during the first scrimmage of spring on Saturday, April 5, 2025

Who Is On The Radar?

With Norvell gone and Summers uncertain for next season, Colorado State should explore several free-agent coaching candidates available on the carousel to lead the program into the 2026 season

Former Florida coach Billy Napier, recently fired Penn State veteran James Franklin, and 2019 national champion Ed Orgeron, jobless since 2021, are intriguing possibilities for the Rams’ next coach.

Looking Forward

Colorado State takes on its Mountain West rival, the Wyoming Cowboys, this Saturday at 6:30 PM. This is the Rams’ first game without Norvell in four years, and an interim coach will lead the team.

Summers’ first game as coach can go only two ways: exciting win or another ugly loss. A coaching change should give the locker room momentum and get them fired up.

Colorado State’s runningback Avery Morrow gets stopped during a game against University of Wyoming at Canvas Stadium on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 in Fort Collins, Colo.

End Of My Jay Norvell Rant

For the longest time, I thought there would be hope for Norvell to be successful in Fort Collins, along with QB Fowler-Nicolosi, but after numerous embarrassing losses over the years, something needed to change. Maybe it’s for the best, though, to look forward to the next season. Colorado State’s basketball team fired Niko Medved after their second-round loss in March Madness after multiple losing seasons. Time to switch it up.

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This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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