Washington State fans, the time has finally come. The Cougars are finally playing a game after the long offseason, kicking off Saturday in Fort Collins, Colorado, against Colorado State at 4 p.m. PT (on CBS Sports Network).

When the teams met last year, the Cougars tallied 7 sacks on the way to a 38-7 win on the Palouse.

They'll look to repeat that successful formula, although both teams have changed quite a bit since last year.

Cougars edge rusher Brennan Jackson said he’s excited to hit someone "not in Crimson and Gray" after a long fall camp, and that opportunity comes Saturday.

OL Fa’alili Fa’amoe was sidelined through most of fall camp with a knee injury until Tuesday, when he finally returned for the first time since Aug. 7. The current WSU depth chart for the game lists Fa’amoe as the starting RT for Saturday’s matchup against the Rams, starting over senior Christy Nkanu, the transfer from Southern Utah.

Still, Dickert said in his press conference Wednesday that Fa’amoe will have the manage his injury throughout the entirety of the season.

“It just feels really good to see him out back out there,” Dickert said.

In regard to the skill players, the emergence of the TE position could be key for the Cougars this fall with junior Cooper Mathers and redshirt junior Billy Rivere III. The Cougars attempted to implement the TE position last season with former OC Eric Morris but it didn't amount to much production. New coordinator Ben Arbuckle seems determined to unleash the position.

“When you continue to watch [Arbuckle], you’re like wow, every week’s almost a different offense,” Dickert said on The Cougar Football Hour on Thursday.

The new offense will be in the spotlight for all WSU fans on Saturday.

Colorado State QB Clay Millen is a very accurate passer, setting the NCAA record for an FBS freshman with a 72.2 completion percentage last season -- the second-best mark overall in Mountain West history.

The Cougars saw him in Week 3 last season, and took advantage of a vulnerable Rams offensive line to total those 7 sacks. But CSU is expecting to be stronger up front this time around.

Overall, Millen passed for 1,910 yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last year.

“As a freshman last year, very accurate guy, so we got to get him rattled early on,” Jackson said.

Safeties/nickels coach Jordan Malone feels limiting big plays downfield as the emphasis for his group in the secondary.

“The offense they run is one of the most successful offenses ever in football,” Malone said. “They have an explosive receiver that can stretch the field at any time."

That would be Tory Horton, who totaled 71 catches for 1,131 yards and 8 TDs last season.

One thing the Cougars hope to change this time around with Millen is his ability to become comfortable in the pocket against pressure. Malone feels that has been key to the CSU quarterback's high efficiency.

“He takes calculated chances," Malone said. "When you’re a quarterback that feels confident to sit in there and go through your reads, which he does an excellent job at of really going through his progressions, so I think that's why he's been able to do some of those things and be successful with the percentage. He can run better than people give him credit for.

"He's able to extend the play, and I think that allows him to have that high percentage."

Millen set his record while working behind a shaky offensive line last season.

Now with a veteran offensive line, bringing in two guards and tackles on either side of the ball through the transfer portal, the Rams could present a challenge up front for the Cougars’ pass rush.

The battle in the trenches will be the true test for the Cougars and Rams allowing them to see what the offensive line for CSU looks like the first week after an offseason of preparation, and how WSU will build on a successful season from its defensive front.

CSU sophomore Justus Ross-Simmons, a lengthy wide receiver who can give the Cougars trouble, has emerged as one of Millen’s favorite targets on the outside, and he is another area of concern for the WSU defense.

“When it comes to coverage busts and things like that, we got to limit those mistakes,” Malone said.

The Cougars offense scored 21 quick points last year in the first quarter as three passing touchdowns from Cameron Ward gave WSU a comfortable lead early.

CSU will have to try and stop an even more revamped offense, with Arbuckle calling the plays and Ward developing a better relationship with his new receiving corps, which has a lot of former Mountain West names and former competition for the Rams.

A lot of the receivers for the Cougars have seen this CSU secondary before, putting up good numbers, so it will be interesting to see how they perform as part of a new team and system.

WR Josh Kelly last played against Colorado State with Fresno State back in 2020 when he ended up with 60 yards on 4 receptions.

WR Kyle Williams never faced Colorado State in his time at UNLV, but has proven to be an impact receiver after racking up 111 yards on the road against Hawaii as a junior in 2022 en route to 541 yards receiving to go with 5 touchdowns last year.