Subtle reminder - Poly has a primetime game the night before the Aggies play the Vikings.
Friday 8/28. That's a great get for SLO.

Looking forward to tuning into that one.

Idaho is going to spank Poly on the road. The Madden Center can do nothing to prevent this.
Aggies big.
NAU in a close one.
Lil' Hawks big over VMI.
Griz.
Weber in a close one.
Bobcats big.

I think the Idaho at Poly game could be interesting. If Idaho is to win Joshua Wood needs to play well. They have lost a couple running backs from last year and their defense was poor and they tanked the last half of the year with the exception of beating NAU in overtime. Wood was injured part of the season so that hurt some, but man, their defense was not good. Northern Colorado waxed them in Moscow.

Poly has the element of surprise with the new staff/schemes as well. Not sure I'd trust Idahos staff to adjust to that as much as I would UCD's staff.

I think the X factor in that game is Idaho's coaching staff. X factor as in I don't think they're very good. I think Poly's staff is better by a wide margin, but I felt like the Idaho personnel was better than CP. We shall see, a bit of ignorance in my bold prediction.

Both programs have big changes in 2026 don't they? Could be a wild card game - advantage home team.

My takes: Idaho state is gonna be great this year IF they can keep a high power offense. Cal Poly will be mediocre. Portland State is going to greatly improve, I am a believer in Fisk. NAU will be worse.

I think Poly and Idaho are a wash for me right now. Poly has the unknown factor with the new staff and numerous transfers coming into the program and I'm just not a believer in Idaho's new staff. I know they lost a lot of players with Eck's departure, but the drop off was evident. We'll see how they do with another season of prep under their belts

I think PSU will be improved with Fisk, but a new coaching staff only goes so far without the resources to back the program and PSU has shown at an organizational level that they don't really care and that puts a cap on what success they may have. Aggies still win by a healthy margin.

EWU and NAU should be close, but giving it to the Jacks on home field advantage.

Idaho State, Montana, and Montana State should all win big

Weber wins over Northern Colorado

Tomorrow night, 7 pm PT, Poly and the Vandals on primetime ESPN

For some reason, I want to change my earlier prediction on Idaho @ Cal Poly. I think the Mustang defense carries the day, CP in a semi-close game. The rest of my picks stand:

Aggies big.
NAU in a close one.
Lil' Hawks big over VMI.
Griz.
Weber in a close one.
Bobcats big.

Interesting game tomorrow. The Vandals picked up former EWU OC Shoemaker. During his tenure at EWU with Barriere their offense averaged 500yds/game. Can Shoemaker replicate this with Joshua Wood this season? Only time will tell.

Poly marches right down the field and scores on their first possession. 7-0 Mustangs with 11:44 to go in the 1Q.

Weird play calling by Shoemaker in the red zone. Vandals settle for a FG. CP 7-3. Two mobile QBs.

Weber State 17 Northern Colorado 13 at the half.

Idaho looking like last year (not in a good way) and Poly showing more offensive sets. Soto (former Aggie player) a good O coordinator.

Grisby giving pinnick vibes

I had the same thought. He looks pretty good.

21-10 Poly at the half.

UNC is making it exciting against Weber. UNC gets a stop with a little over two minutes to march 80 yards.

UNC 1st down at the 9 with 23 secods left, down 30-23.

QB, RB and WRs all look like they are 5’8” and really quick.

Am I crazy or does Cal Poly look legit. Grigsby looks fantastic. They have a corner from UCLA, and their RB green looks good.

UNC TD with 3 seconds to go! Now, do they go for 2.

UNC misses the PAT. Weber wins.

Apparently second one of the night?

I thought that skipper was a good hire.

Damn Villanova lost too!

correct.

Skipper is a good hire and Poly also has something called money which is very helpful in the current enviro.