Nevada (2-3, 0-1 MW) vs. Colorado State (0-4, 0-0 MW)
Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 - 7:30 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV: FS1 (PxP: Alex Faust; Analyst: Petros Papadakis)
Radio: ESPN 94.5 FM/The Varsity App (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada (2-3, 0-1 MW) returns to action after the first of its two scheduled byes this season, hosting Colorado State (0-4, 0-0 MW) Friday at Mackay Stadium in a contest sponsored by Great Clips. Friday's 7:30 p.m. PT contest will be aired on FS1 with Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game as well on ESPN 94.5 FM with John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 6:30 p.m. PT.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday's contest will be the 18th meeting all-time between Nevada and Colorado State. The Rams lead the series, 12-5, although the Pack has won the past two meetings, most recently a 52-10 victory in Fort Collins last Nov. 27. Nevada is 3-4 at home against Colorado State.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE
Like Nevada, Colorado State (0-4, 0-0 MW) enters Friday night's contest off of a scheduled bye week.

The Rams most recently fell, 41-10, at home to Sacramento State, extending the program's losing streak to 10 games, dating back to last season.

PACK IS IN ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL MENTAL HEALTH WEEK
Nevada Football is proudly taking part in College Football Mental Health Week (Oct. 1-8). In conjunction with the game, Nevada Athletics will be recognizing a week-long effort for Mental Health Awareness in partnership with Hilinksi's Hope starting Monday, Oct. 3. Student-Athletes and Ken and Heather Wilson will share the importance of mental health throughout the game with the end of the third quarter being a moment of silence. As part of the campaign to bring attention to mental health awareness, Nevada will wear green ribbon decals on its helmets in Friday's game, and Nevada Athletics is hosting an event each weekday aimed at positively affecting the mental health of its student-athletes. The schedule of events for the week is below:

Monday, Oct. 3
Donuts for student-athletes at the Academic Center

Tuesday, Oct. 4
Ice Cream Break - An ice cream truck will set up at Mackay Stadium from 1-4 p.m. and provide treats.

Wednesday, Oct. 5
Yoga Session - A free yoga session for ALL Nevada students will take place at Mackay Stadium.

Thursday, Oct. 6
Therapy Dogs - Therapy Dogs will be available in the university Knowledge Center to provide a calm, soothing presence for Nevada students.

Friday, Oct. 7
Nevada Football vs. Colorado State

BACK AT HOME (FINALLY)
Nevada will play its first home game in four weeks when it hosts Colorado State this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Pack's last outing at Mackay came Sept. 10, a 55-41 defeat at the hands of Incarnate Word. It marks the second-straight season in which the Pack had a four-week stretch between home games. In 2021, after a 49-10 win over Idaho State on Sept. 11, Nevada, like this season, had two road games and a bye before returning home for an Oct. 9 game against New Mexico State. Nevada won that game, 55-28.

NEVADA AFTER THE BYE WEEK
Nevada has won its past three games after a bye (2018-19, 2021) heading into this Friday's contest. Last year, the Pack came off of its bye week with a 41-31 victory at Boise State.

This season, the Pack has two byes on the schedule (Oct. 1, Nov. 5). The last time the Pack had two byes in a season was 2014, with Nevada going 1-1 in the games following those breaks.

CHANCE FOR A BREAKOUT
Despite opening Mountain West play with a loss, the Pack can put itself in position for a run up the standings beginning this Friday against Colorado State. Friday's contest is the Pack's second game against a Mountain Division foe, before three critical contests against West Division opponents (at Hawai'i, vs. San Diego State, at San José State).

TAUA BREAKS FREE
Fifth-year running back Toa Taua made the most of his seven carries Sept. 23 at Air Force, going for 73 yards on just seven attempts. That included touchdown runs of 40 and six yards.

On the year, Taua now leads Nevada in rushing yards (350), rushing touchdowns (five) and total touchdowns (six). His 27-career rushing touchdowns have also cracked Nevada's all-time top 10, sharing the No. 10 spot with James Butler (2014-16).

BELL CAN BREAK ONE
Wide receiver Jamaal Bell has shown the capability of being Nevada's playmaker, and he will have another chance this weekend to breakout with big plays.

The All-Mountain West return man averages 22.9 yards per kick return, with a long of 32 at Iowa (Sept. 17), and he leads the Pack receiving corps in both receptions (20) and receiving yards (181). His 58-yard catch Sept. 23 at Air Force marked Nevada's longest play from scrimmage this season, and helped set up Toa Taua's six-yard touchdown run.