BATTLE FOR QB IS BACK ON THE TABLE

COLLINS» The way Colorado State coach Mike Bobo saw things, K.J. Cartasamuels wasn’t playing badly. The CSU quarterback wasn’t playing well, either, so he made a change in the fourth quarter.

Now who will play quarterback for Colorado State moving forward is open for debate after the 3519 loss to Illinois State on Saturday.

“There’s going to be competition at that position,” Bobo said after the game. “There’s going to be competition at every position, and we’re going to figure out who is going to start going forward.”

Cartasamuels, the graduate transfer from Washington who has started every game, finished 15of27 for 142 yards and two touchdowns, but also an interception. Hill, who had played one series in the first half, reentered in the fourth quarter and hit on 9of17 passes for 115 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

The plan had been for Hill, coming off a second surgery for a torn left ACL in March, to play the one series. His coming back in was a feel move for Bobo.

“Collin’s plan was the third or fourth series in the first half, and then in the second half, I just wanted to make a change,” Bobo said. “K.J. wasn’t playing bad, but we missed some receivers on that drive when we had it in plus territory there (in the third) that could have got the game closer and gave us a little bit of energy.”

Saturday’s loss was the first to an FCS team for the Rams in the Bobo era, having won all three prior. The program hadn’t lost a game to an FCS school since 2012, when it dropped a 227 decision to North Dakota State in Jim Mcelwain’s first season. The Bison were the defending national champions; the Redbirds entered Saturday ranked 15th.

Linebacker Max Mcdonald did not suit up for the game, and defensive end Richard King missed his third consecutive game with injury. Jeff Taylor, who had started every game, did not start, but did play later.