You may be right but if Davis wins the selection committee might look at Sac as fading, finishing lower in the conference standings, and losing head to head as reasons to pick Davis. There are arguments both ways.

I think the way to go with the game plan is to be balanced. With Trent and Lan we have a run game that can exceed the 4.8 yards per carry Idaho State is giving up in conference games. I think we’ve settled on a rotation of very effective receivers, and given Idaho States relatively porous pass defense we’d be foolish not to exploit it. Gbatu has been a nice addition. I think we need to assume we will need to put up points and should take an aggressive approach.

Were the injury occurrences to those players visible during the game?

Idaho State’s passing leads the conference, but they give up interceptions;(10) and sacks (15).
They average 2.8 yards per rush,
In conference games Idaho State has given up more yards than any other team, and more yards through the air, and have the worst defensive efficiency (opposing qb rating). Opposing rushers average 4.8 yards per carry, which surprisingly is better than three conference teams including Sac State.

Hawkins weekly press conference scheduled for 1PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anAwqKEd_Fk

The bad snap cost them 24 negative yards. They had only 3 rushing first downs

Do you have ESPN+ ? You can find the game if you go to conferences, select the Big Sky Conference, and then on demand to view the list of archived games,
Its available, I watched it last night,

Hawkins and Barnum had what seemed to be a cordial exchange after the game. Winston Williams has reportedly been on a multi year recovery from an unreported injury. He was one of the top Aggie recruits in his class.

Starters. What is wrong with this list, copied from the box score? There are only four offensive linemen is one clue, and we don’t start 12 guys on defense. Another is that only one guy on the team wears #70 and he is not Luke. Same error 9 games in a row, and this error propagates into player’s bios and team statistics. It is not just that Eli Simonson isn’t credited with starting he isn’t credited with playing at all.
# Player Pos.
3 Budgett,Jehiel DB
6 Alexander,Markeece DB
22 Verner,Semaj DB
23 Bains,Kavir DB
26 Shamburger,Lamont DB
70 Roncevich,Luke DL
75 Toki,Princeton DL
86 Bearden,Evan DL
95 Kennedy,Zach DL
7 Tattersall,Evan LB
15 Buchanan,Teddye LB
53 Eaton,Nick LB
63 Povey,Peter OC
60 Parks,Jake OL
65 Ford,Jordan OL
79 Nava,Ernesto OL
7 Hastings,Miles QB
3 Larison,Lan RB
82 Simpson,Ian TE
1 Hutton,C.J. WR
4 Davis,Chaz WR
8 Gbatu, Jr.,Samuel WR

So typical of the defense this year to give up first downs on third and forever

1974 W 50–21.

i was at a game when Davis had a bigger margin of victory over PSU.

Trivia question when was that game?

Because usually they play with no one watching,

I guess that shows how small time FCS football is if it is unheard of for opponents to scout games. Maybe it is rarely the head coach, but so what?

Your comment about pulling guards reminded me of a video presentation Speckman made for coaches where he was explaining his version of the fly offense, and he didn’t like pulling guards.

Here is a good summary from Portland State’s site.

https://goviks.com/news/2023/10/30/football-vikings-seeking-a-november-to-remember-as-they-travel-to-uc-davis-this-week.aspx

Portland State offense is working at the level Davis’ did last year as far as yards and points. Last year in conference games Davis averaged 39.6 points. PSU is averaging 39.4. In conference games this year. Davis this year only averages 23.2, with predominantly the same players as last years team.

I don’t think they are that committed to Hastings. Next year looks to be a rebuilding year.

Hawkins said last years team was the best, I don’t think he said that again this year, but I might have missed it.
Can’t forget the season as there are some goals still achievable.
Making the playoffs is only possible if they sweep the remaining games and that looks unlikely.
Other goals:
Winning season. If they win two of the three.
Have one quality win on the year. If they beat Sac. I think Weber is so bad this year that that win doesn’t count. Upsets used to be what Davis was known for but they have been very few in the last few years.

Both offense and defense are have been middling.
The scoring in conference games is down two touchdowns from where they were last year. With same QB, virtually the same receivers, very capable running backs to replace Gilliam, and a tight end to replace Castles, and a veteran offensive line. The biggest change is the assistant coaches.
Conference opponents are scoring about four points more a game than they did last year.
I expected more from the defense because we seem to have more talent there. They are perhaps the fourth or fifth best defense in the conference statistically. The offense maybe 7th or 8th.

yes the offense has regressed by a couple of touchdowns a game with essentially the same talent they had last year, except for the injuries at running back for a few games.
But the defense hasn’t been stellar either.