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The Colorado State Rams moved one step closer to completing their 2018 non-conference football schedule Thursday, jointly announcing with Illinois State a game to be played Sept. 22, 2018 in Fort Collins.

Colorado State will open the 2018 season Sept. 1 vs. Colorado in the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver. The Rams do not yet have a Sept. 8 game scheduled, but will travel to Gainesville Sept. 15 to face Florida before closing the non-conference slate with the Illinois State game at Sonny Lubick Field at the on-campus stadium Sept. 22.

This will be the first meeting between Colorado State and Missouri Valley Football Conference member Illinois State. The Redbirds have participated in the FCS playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and four of the past five, reaching the FCS championship game in 2014. Illinois State was champion of the MVFC in 2014 and ’15.

Among the future games scheduled by Colorado State, the Rams have 17 games slated against opponents in Power 5 conferences between 2017 and 2028. The total includes seven against SEC foes, six against the Pac-12 and four against the Big 12.

The Rams are preparing for their highly-anticipated 2017 season and opening the new on-campus stadium. New season ticket commitments are now being accepted by contacting the Rams Sales Team at 800-491-RAMS (7267) or visiting www.CSURams.com/tickets. Current season-ticketholders will have first priority to select their seats during appointed times set to begin March 22.

In preparation for the inaugural season of the on-campus stadium, the Colorado State athletics department has launched a special football gameday website, which provides in-depth information on everything from tickets to parking, tailgating, gameday logistics and much more. The website can be found at www.CSURams.com/footballgameday.

The Rams’ home schedule in 2017 features the historic first game on Sept. 9 vs. Abilene Christian, followed by a Sept. 23 visit from Pac-12 foe Oregon State. Dates have not been set for the Mountain West schedule, but home games will include Boise State, Air Force, Nevada and San Jose State. Season ticket packages also include the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado at Sports Authority Field in Denver.

FUTURE COLORADO STATE NON-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

2017
Sept. 2—vs. Colorado (in Denver)
Sept. 9—ABILENE CHRISTIAN
Sept. 16—at Alabama
Sept. 23—OREGON STATE

2018
Sept. 1—vs. Colorado (in Denver)
Sept. 15—at Florida
Sept. 22—ILLINOIS STATE

2019
Aug. 31—vs. Colorado (in Denver)
Sept. 14—at Arkansas
Sept. 21—TOLEDO

2020
Sept. 5—COLORADO
Sept. 12—at Oregon State
Sept. 26—at Vanderbilt

2021
Sept. 11—VANDERBILT
Sept. 25—at Toledo

2025
Sept. 6—TEXAS TECH
Sept. 27—at Vanderbilt

2026
Sept. 12—at Texas Tech
Sept. 26—VANDERBILT

2027
Sept. 4—ARIZONA

2028
Sept. 2—at Arizona