Colorado State parted ways with defensive coordinator Tyson Summers following a difficult 56-26 defeat to Oregon State on Saturday. Head coach Jim Mora confirmed the coaching change after the game, bringing an abrupt end to Summers’ second season in charge of the Rams’ defense. The decision came after Colorado State struggled to contain Oregon State throughout the contest at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins.
Summers began the game as the team’s defensive coordinator and play-caller but was replaced by assistant Kenny McClendon during the first half. Mora said Summers left the field after losing those responsibilities. However, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Summers was not formally fired during the game, with the dismissal taking place after the contest. The Rams will now turn to McClendon for the defensive play-calling duties following the coaching shake-up.
Colorado State Parts Ways With Tyson Summers After Heavy Oregon State Defeat
Colorado State’s defensive struggles reached a breaking point during Saturday’s 56-26 loss to Oregon State, with defensive coordinator Tyson Summers leaving the team during the game. Summers started the contest as the Rams’ defensive play-caller, but head coach Jim Mora took that responsibility away from him in the first quarter. Assistant head coach and defensive line coach Kenny McClendon subsequently took over the defensive calls as Oregon State continued to pull away.
The change on the sidelines came after a difficult stretch for Colorado State’s defense. The Rams had already given up 100 points across their previous two defeats against BYU and UTSA, and the problems continued against Oregon State. The Beavers scored 14 points in the opening quarter and added 21 more before halftime, eventually finishing with 56 points. Quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 30 of 34 passes for 413 yards and five touchdowns as Oregon State exposed the Rams’ defensive issues once again.
Following the game, Mora confirmed that Summers would no longer remain with the program. “Tyson was relieved of his play-calling duties,” Mora told reporters. “He left the field and is no longer with this football program.” While the coaching change happened during the contest, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Summers was not formally fired in the middle of the game. The 46-year-old’s departure nevertheless brought an abrupt end to his second stint as Colorado State’s defensive coordinator.
Summers had been in charge of the Rams’ defense since 2025 and had previously served as the team’s interim head coach after Jay Norvell was dismissed. He went 0-5 during that interim spell before Mora was hired and chose to retain him on his staff. Summers had also previously worked as a defensive coordinator at programs including UCF, Colorado and Western Kentucky, in addition to his time as a head coach at Georgia State.
Colorado State’s Defensive Struggles Continue As Jim Mora Makes Major Coaching Change
Colorado State had opened the season 2-0, allowing just 37 points across those two victories, but its defensive form deteriorated rapidly. The Rams have now lost three consecutive games, conceding at least 41 points in each defeat. The latest setback leaves Colorado State at 2-3, with the team now preparing for its next matchup against San Diego State.
Mora had already acknowledged the need for changes on defense before the Oregon State game, particularly with regard to simplifying the scheme. “Players at any level, regardless of intelligence, can only comprehend so much in a football game. It’s chaos,” he said. Mora stressed that the staff needed to make adjustments quickly, adding, “We can’t wait to change things. It’s too late and that’s not fair to our players.” The decision to remove Summers from play-calling duties and ultimately part ways with him now marks the first major coaching shake-up of Mora’s tenure at Colorado State.
