FORT COLLINS — The in-game battles can be as entertaining as the games themselves. Sometimes more so.
Colorado State takes big leap in competition this week with Minnesota coming to Hughes Stadium (1:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network), a Big 10 team coming off successive eight-win seasons with bowl-game appearances. It's a Gophers team where the strength lies on the defensive side of the ball (nine returning starters), and the most experience can be found in the back end with a secondary that has 147 games played combined.
The hosts have won 18 games the past two seasons, and the Rams have gone to two successive bowls on the strength of an explosive offense.