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Derek Carr threw four touchdown passes, including two to Davante Adams, and Fresno State shut down Colorado State until the final moments for a 28-7 victory on Saturday night.
Safety Phillip Thomas forced a fumble and had his NCAA-leading sixth interception of the season, and Robbie Rouse added 124 yards rushing on 26 carries for Fresno State (4-2, 2-0 Mountain West), which sent Colorado State (1-5, 0-2) to its fifth straight loss since a season-opening win over in-state rival Colorado.
The Rams had a first-quarter score nullified by a penalty and saw two chances at interceptions slip through their fingers.
Carr finished 25 of 39 for 217 yards.
M.J. McPeek was 15 of 29 for 192 yards in his first career start for Colorado State, tossing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charles Lovett with 42 seconds remaining as the Rams averted their first shutout at home in two years.
McPeek, who was sacked four times, was playing in place of Garrett Grayson. He is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a shoulder injury suffered in a 42-21 loss at Air Force on Sept. 29.
Buoyed by the Bulldogs' second fourth-down stop in the third quarter, Carr drove Fresno State to his third touchdown pass of the night, a 15-yarder to Isaiah Burse that put the Bulldogs up 21-0 with 14:14 remaining.
Thomas intercepted McPeek on the ensuing series, leading to Adams' second scoring catch of the night. Carr kept the drive alive with a fourth-down scramble to the Colorado State 8-yard line and one play later teamed up with Adams on a 5-yard touchdown.
Fresno State led 14-0 at halftime, turning a deflected punt and a fumble recovery into touchdowns.
The Rams had a first-quarter touchdown catch by Kivon Cartwright negated by a crack-back block penalty called on Crockett Gillmore.
Thomas had a hand in the opening score when he broke through on a blitz to sack McPeek, forcing a fumble at Fresno State's 29-yard line, where the Bulldogs took over.
Rouse converted a third-and-8 play at the Rams' 27-yard line with a 10-yard gain on a draw. One play later, Carr threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adams, who outjumped safety Trent Matthews for the score midway through the first quarter.
Kyrie Wilson broke through to deflect Pete Kontodiakos' punt, which traveled just seven yards to the Rams' 33-yard line. Carr's 8-yard scramble to the 20 gave the Bulldogs a first down and helped them overcome an offensive pass interference penalty earlier in the drive. He hit Josh Harper on the next play for a touchdown.
