Colorado State defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was nowhere to be found not long after the start of Saturday’s game against Oregon State in Fort Collins. By the end of the Rams’ 56-26 loss, coach Jim Mora said Summers was no longer with the team.
Mora described the move involving Summers as final following the game. “That is a permanent move that was made following tonight’s game,” Mora said.
The coaching change began during the first half, when Mora relieved Summers of his playcalling responsibilities. Mora, who is in his first year with the Rams, did not say he had initially removed Summers from the program.
Instead, Mora said his decision during the game was limited to taking away the assistant’s playcalling duties. Telling Summers to leave the sideline, Mora said, “wasn’t anything that I would ever consider.”
According to Mora, Summers chose on his own to depart the field. That decision was separate from Mora’s move to change who was calling the defensive plays during the first half.
“He made the decision on his own to leave the field,” Mora said, “and he is no longer with the program.”
NEW: Colorado State HC Jim Mora explains why he dismissed DC Tyson Summers:
“Tyson was relieved of his play calling duties, he made the decision on his own to leave the field, and he is no longer with this football program.”
Says this wasn’t something he anticipated. pic.twitter.com/uw9FqdO7fJ [1]
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) October 4, 2026 [2]
A source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Summers was not fired during the game. Mora’s postgame comments placed the permanent move after the contest while also making clear that Summers had left the field on his own.
Assistant Kenny McClendon replaced Summers as the playcaller.
Colorado State is 2-3 and has allowed 193 points through five games. The Rams are allowing 38.6 PPG over that stretch, according to the figures provided following Saturday’s game.
Summers has worked at Florida, Georgia and Colorado, among other stops, during a career spanning more than 20 years. His time with the Rams also included a role beyond his defensive coordinator position.
After Jay Norvell was let go last season, Summers served as Colorado State’s interim head coach for the final five games. He remained with the program when Mora became the Rams coach.
Mora came to Colorado State from UConn with the task of turning around the Rams. After arriving, he elected to keep Summers on the coaching staff.
That arrangement ended after the loss to Oregon State. Summers left the sideline on his own during the game, McClendon replaced him as the playcaller, and Mora announced afterward that Summers was no longer with the program.