Coordinator Fired After Collapse
Colorado State Fires Defensive Coordinator Tyson Summers Following Historic Loss to Oregon State
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Key Points
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Colorado State entered the game ranked 136th nationally in total defense, and Oregon State averaged 10.2 yards per play while setting its 727-yard program record.
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Jim Mora described the decision to remove Tyson Summers from play-calling as “a conglomeration of a lot of things,” and said Summers leaving the team during the first quarter “wasn’t anything that I would ever consider.”
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Kenny McClendon’s first career play call was a strip-sack late in the first quarter that set up Colorado State’s second touchdown.
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The game was Colorado State’s first-ever Pac-12 football contest at home, drawing 41,000 fans—the largest home attendance in school history.
Colorado State fired defensive coordinator Tyson Summers after yanking him from play-calling duties midgame during a 56-26 loss to Oregon State. ClutchPoints reported that head coach Jim Mora removed Summers before halftime, describing the move as "a conglomeration of a lot of things." The Rams' defense crumbled against the Beavers, allowing 727 yards — an Oregon State program record — while Colorado State had surrendered 100 points in its previous two games combined.
Co-defensive coordinator Kenny McClendon took over play-calling and delivered an immediate impact with a strip-sack late in the first quarter that led to a Colorado State touchdown. OregonLive noted that Summers left the field during the game, marking the end of his second stint as the Rams' defensive coordinator. The loss dropped Colorado State to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in Pac-12 play, while Oregon State opened conference action with a decisive road win at a record crowd of 41,000 fans.
Defense Collapses Against Dominant Beavers Offense
Oregon State's offense overwhelmed Colorado State's struggling defense from the opening kickoff. ClutchPoints reported that the Beavers averaged 10.2 yards per play while racking up 727 total yards — the most in program history. Colorado State ranked just 136th nationally in total defense entering the game and had already surrendered 50-plus points in back-to-back contests before facing Oregon State.
The Rams' defensive problems compounded as the game progressed. Oregon State scored early and often, forcing Mora's hand to make a drastic coaching change before the first half ended. Kenny McClendon's defensive scheme couldn't stop the bleeding, though his first play-call — a strip-sack — briefly gave Colorado State offensive momentum.
Mora Explains Sudden Midgame Coordinator Change
Head coach Jim Mora characterized the decision to remove Summers as a response to mounting issues rather than a single incident. ClutchPoints quoted Mora saying the move was "a conglomeration of a lot of things," suggesting frustration had been building throughout the season. Mora also clarified that Summers leaving the team during the first quarter "wasn't anything that I would ever consider," indicating some disagreement over the exact timing and circumstances.
OregonLive reported that Summers' departure came with Mora removing him from play-calling duties, a signal that the head coach had lost confidence in his defensive coordinator's schemes. The 56-26 final score showed the depth of the defensive collapse. Summers' dismissal marked a dramatic moment in what was supposed to be a celebration of Colorado State's historic first Pac-12 home game.
Historic Pac-12 Debut Becomes Defensive Nightmare
Colorado State played its first-ever Pac-12 football game at home on Saturday, drawing a record crowd of 41,000 fans to the stadium. The milestone moment turned sour quickly as Oregon State's high-octane offense put the Rams' weak defense on display nationally. What should have been a celebration of Colorado State's conference membership became a cautionary tale about defensive collapse.
The loss sent Colorado State to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in Pac-12 play, while Oregon State opened conference action with an emphatic road victory. McClendon will now lead the defense moving forward as Colorado State searches for stability. The Rams must quickly rebuild defensive confidence before facing their next opponent, or risk falling further behind in their inaugural Pac-12 season.
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