FORT COLLINS — Jay Norvell doesn’t care if it’s a conflict of interest or not, he’s giving Snoop Dogg a jersey and making him an honorary captain for the Rams’ Arizona Bowl matchup against Miami (Ohio).

No, this isn’t Norvell trying to heap praise on the bowl game sponsor so he can look good. He means it when he says, aside from the College Football Playoff, there’s no other bowl game he’d rather be a part of.

“We’ve probably benefited from the Snoop League more than any program with our teams at Nevada and here (at CSU),” Norvell said. “We basically built our team at Nevada off of L.A. kids that played in the Snoop League. I probably would not be here without (former Nevada assistant and current West L.A. College head coach) Eric Scott and without the involvement of the Snoop League. I think it really goes back to the core of why we coach.”

Whether it’s current Rams like freshmen Darius Curry and wide receiver Jordan Ross or former Nevada standouts now in the NFL like Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley and Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, Norvell isn’t kidding when he says he might not be where he is without Snoop Dogg’s youth football league that is nearly two decades old and was created with a simple purpose to serve the Los Angeles community.

“It was a way for a kid to do something positive after school and to stay away from trouble,” Norvell said. “I’m extremely humbled and touched (to be a part of this game) and we’re gonna pay tribute to Snoop and Eric Scott and Eugene Henley. We got them all game jerseys and they’re gonna be honorary captains for us.”

This is the Rams’ first bowl game in seven years and there would be plenty of motivation regardless of where the game was, who was sponsoring it and who was on the other sideline.

There is a good chunk of seniors who will play their final game of their college careers. Many of them had their own unique journey to get to where they are. Some started as freshmen for Norvell at Nevada and made the move to CSU with their coach. Some have been with the Rams for just one season but have made an instant impact. Some, like Jack Howell, have been at CSU their entire careers and have stuck it out through a coaching change and plenty of losing before this season.

When Norvell took over, the Rams went 3-9 in his first season. Now, they have a chance to get their ninth win of 2024, and they’ve already won more games in a season than any CSU team since 2014.

“I think you gotta practice what you preach, and we started this and now we got to finish it right,” Howell told The Denver Gazette. “Just because, technically, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything in the standings or anything like that, it does mean a lot to this program and to us as people.

It’s safe to say the Rams will be ready to go when the game kicks off on Saturday afternoon.

“I didn’t come here to lose. Me personally, I’m treating it like any other game I’ve played,” senior running back Avery Morrow said. “I’ll give it my all, and I know from the senior aspect, the young guys will follow the seniors. We’ve been talking about this for a while. We were short to our goal for the championship, but we can still win a ring. That’s on everybody’s mind. I know it’s been on my mind. I know there hasn’t been no jewelry around here in a while, so (let’s) check that off the checklist, too.”

King’s prediction

Colorado State 16, Miami (Ohio) 14

Don’t expect the Rams to deviate from what’s gotten them to their first bowl game under Jay Norvell. CSU leaned on a veteran offensive line and stable of running backs all season long and it helped the program take advantage of a bad Mountain West on the way to a 6-1 record in conference play.

The Redhawks will be eager to avenge their loss in the MAC championship game, but CSU is able to get a defensive stop to seal the win.

Players to watch

Colorado State: RB Avery Morrow, LB Owen Long

Less than 50 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season, Morrow will be motivated as ever to have a big game. He’ll likely split carries with a few young running backs, but the veteran could have a chance to help the Rams salt away the win late in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, CSU will be without leading tackler Buom Jock, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month, but the program is high on Long, the young linebacker who was going to be counted on to have a big role in 2025 regardless.

Miami: QB Brett Gabbert, DL Brian Ugwu

Gabbert has more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3) in his last three games, but the veteran quarterback is more than capable of putting up big numbers and he’s got three receivers with over 40 catches this season that he will try and spread the ball around to.

On defense, Ugwu has lived in opposing backfields this season, racking up 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go with a pair of forced fumbles.