Colorado State hopes to avoid third loss to rival in 2016

FORT COLLINS – It’s easy to sense the excitement of Colorado State football in 2016. The Rams are on the verge of a fourth consecutive bowl season, continue to receive commitments from highly touted recruits and have a new stadium on the way that figures to be a game-changer.

But there’s still the elephant in the room.

If CSU loses Saturday at Air Force, it would mark the first time since Steve Fairchild’s final season of 2011 that the Rams failed to beat any of their Front Range rivals.

Mike Bobo understands the importance of this game, but also knows it’s just the next opponent on the schedule.

“Every game is important,” said Bobo. “It’s our next game, it’s against a conference team, and it’s…