Level-headed Colorado State QB Jackson Brousseau ready for first career start | Rams Gameday

FORT COLLINS — Jackson Brousseau was too dialed in to even realize what was happening.

It wasn’t until after the game that the Colorado State quarterback realized he had just played the first meaningful snaps of his college career. Sure, he’d taken some snaps at the end of a few blowouts the last few years, but the redshirt sophomore entered the season as Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s backup for the third straight year.

The Lehi, Utah native is the backup no more, though. Rams coach Jay Norvell announced Brousseau will start this Saturday against future Pac-12 opponent Washington State (5:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network) after impressing in relief last week against UTSA, nearly leading CSU to a comeback win after the offense scored just 3 points in the first quarters.

“To be honest, no, I wish I would’ve (taken the moment in),” Brousseau said this week. “I was just super focused on the situation and trying to score points. I was all focused in (on the game).”

Brousseau finished 10-for-12 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown to Rocky Beers, orchestrating back-to-back scoring drives when the Rams needed it most. It was the kind of efficiency the CSU offense has been desperately trying to find throughout the first month of the season as Fowler-Nicolosi’s struggles under center intensified.

Colorado State redshirt sophomore quarterback Jackson Brousseau (7) attempts a pass in the second half of a game against UTSA on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins. (Courtesy of Yesenia Enriquez, CSU Athletics)

“I don’t think there’s any question that the team supports Jackson, but I think it was more about execution,” Norvell said. “He came in and he did his job and he executed, and everybody else responded. I think the big thing about our football team is there’s no panic in our kids.”

Brousseau is the epitome of that.

He came to CSU as a proven winner out of high school. A three-sport star in his hometown located between Salt Lake City and Provo, Brousseau was a three-star recruit as a quarterback but also won state championships in basketball and baseball, where he was also an all-state performer on the mound.

Brousseau first visited Fort Collins in April 2022 and never really considered another school.

“I came out here and it was really family oriented,” Brousseau said. “They also threw the ball a lot, which I liked as a quarterback. I was intrigued, and they were honest with me with everything, and so I loved it here. There was never a doubt in my mind where I was going.”

Norvell and his staff were honest about the fact that Brousseau probably wasn’t going to play for a few years. When he arrived on campus in the summer of 2023, he was buried behind returning starter Clay Millen, still just a sophomore, as well as Fowler-Nicolosi, who had made a start as a true freshman and quickly replaced Millen one game into that season.

By the end of his first year on campus, Brousseau had already become the primary backup, and it’s a role he’s served since. Thanks to a level-headed approach to not just football, but life, too, there wasn’t a time during the process that he thought about going anywhere else.

“It was always about just doing what I can and controlling what I can control and letting whatever happens happen,” Brousseau said. “That’s just how you have to life life and if you don’t live it that way then it’s gonna be frustrating and you’re gonna get down really quick. It just wasn’t worth it for me because I love the people here. I just want to be my best self at all times and if I’m living that way, I can’t be my best self.” 

Colorado State quarterback Jackson Brousseau (8) looks to throw against Texas during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

The time to be his best self on Saturdays has come for Brousseau. After a 1-2 start to the season and in desperate need of a jolt heading into Mountain West play in October, Norvell is giving Brousseau his shot. While he’s grown plenty as a player while at CSU, the person and his approach to starting are the same.

“Just sticking to the process that we do every week and trying to be as efficient as we can,” Brousseau said. “Just getting the ball out to the guys in space, that’s really the key.

“That’s something coach (Matt) Mumme, coach (Chase) Holbrook and coach Carson (Strong) really work a lot with us (on). It doesn’t have to be you. If it’s a good situation to run the ball then run the ball and let those guys work because they’re here for a reason. They’re very talented, the o-line’s great. Whatever the best football play is is the best position we need to be in.”

King’s prediction

Colorado State 23, Washington State 17

Washington State offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston, right, blocks Colorado State defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. Washington State won 38-7. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Norvell has been here before. Two years ago, after a disappointing season opener, the CSU coach benched Clay Millen in favor of Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, and it jump-started the Rams’ offense. Now, in need of an offensive reboot again early in a season with high expectations, Norvell is benching Fowler-Nicolosi for Jackson Brousseau ahead of a game against Wazzu that CSU desperately needs to win. With a simpler approach and a quarterback willing to make the simple play, the Rams will get it done and head into Mountain West play at 2-2.

King’s Players to Watch

Colorado State: WR Kojo Antwi, DE Kenyon Agurs

Somehow, after tearing his Achilles in January, Antwi already made his season debut last week vs. UTSA. The Ohio State transfer has made a miraculous recovery from a typically devastating injury and recorded his first catch in a CSU uniform in the loss. He could quickly become a big part of the Rams offense as the former 4-star recruit feels like a player new starting QB Jackson Brousseau will want to get the ball to whenever he’s on the field. Defensively, the Rams were dealt a big blow this week with the news that starting defensive end and captain Mukendi Wa-Kalonji is out for the season with an injury. That means everyone on the defensive line has to step up, particularly Agurs, a talented sophomore waiting to break out.

Washington State: QB Zevi Eckhaus, LB Parker McKenna 
Another backup-turned-starter, Eckhaus played well in his first extended action of the season, throwing for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns (2 interceptions) last week as Wazzu fell to rival Washington in the Apple Cup. On defense, McKenna continues to lead the Cougars and tackles and is coming off a game in which he recorded his first sack of the season. His presence at linebacker will be important against a CSU offense likely to lean on the run game and short, quick passes.