Colorado State made an unprecedented mid-game coaching change before the first quarter even ended at Canvas Stadium. Defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was relieved of his duties on the sideline. After Oregon State marched 96 yards to take a 14-0 lead with 1:03 left in the opening quarter, Summers handed over his duties and walked off the field.

After that strange sequence, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Tyson Summers had been dismissed as Colorado State’s DC. Head coach Jim Mora later confirmed the dismissal during his postgame conference. “Tyson was relieved of his playcalling duties; he left the field and is no longer with this football program,” he said. “Kenny will be the primary play caller.”

Tyson Summers had started the afternoon calling the Rams’ defensive plays. By the time CSU went back on defense, CBs coach Trent Matthews was signaling calls in from the sideline, while Kenny McClendon had the play sheet in his hands. And considering what had just happened on the field, nobody needed much help to understand why Jim Mora finally pulled the plug.

Oregon State did not ease into this thing. The Beavers opened with four straight AJ Newberry runs before Braden Atkinson found Jesse Legree for a 50-yard touchdown. Atkinson had far too much time to throw, and Legree was suddenly running free.

Colorado State got a chance to respond, but Durell Robinson was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the Oregon State 4-yard line. Then the defense got pushed backward again. The Beavers went 96 yards in 13 plays, draining 7:19 off the clock. Gabe Milbourn finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run. 

That made it 14-0 in the first quarter alone. And shortly afterward, Tyson Summers was no longer on the sidelines. That sequence says a lot because this was not a halftime shake-up after a long conversation in the locker room. The Rams changed defensive leadership while the game was still unfolding, with the first quarter barely finished.

For a program already drowning in defensive problems, it was about as loud a message as Jim Mora could send. Colorado State briefly made the move look unnecessary. Mel Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards, ripped off a 46-yard run and then scored from 17 yards out. Kenyon Agurs followed with a sack and fumble recovery, setting up K’saan Farrar’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Just like that, the game was tied 14-14. Then Oregon State came hard at the defense again. The Beavers scored three more times in the second quarter. Atkinson hit Eric Olsen for a touchdown, Aaron Butler broke loose for a 30-yard score, and Atkinson connected with Legree again for 28 yards.

By halftime, Oregon State was ahead 35-14. The Beavers had already accumulated 385 yards. That is the kind of first half that gets people fired. Still, this game was not a one-time defensive flop.

Colorado State’s defensive collapse had been building for weeks

Colorado State had already surrendered 100 points and 1,101 yards in its previous two games against BYU and UTSA. The Rams had allowed more than 300 yards in the first half for the third consecutive game. Now add 651 yards and 56 points against Oregon State.

Atkinson finished 31-of-34 for 428 yards and five touchdowns. Legree caught five passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Oregon State scored 56 points while Colorado State’s defense spent most of the afternoon looking a step late. The Rams also gave up 50-plus points in consecutive games for the first time since 1984, after 42 years. So it is definitely an alarm bell.

Colorado State eventually lost 56-26, falling to 2-3 after starting the season 2-0. It was the Rams’ third straight loss and their first Pac-12 defeat after entering their homecoming game expecting a fresh start in conference play. Instead, a program-record crowd watched its DC disappear before the first quarter was finished. 

After giving up 52 points per game over the last three weeks, Colorado State no longer has a defensive slump, but a defensive crisis. The Rams have a bye before traveling to Texas State on Oct. 15. Only time will tell if Kenny McClendon can make a difference.