Great call on the Mercer reference, DrMike. Saturday had a similar feel but it just didn't feel like UNC was ever threatening like Mercer was. The second half execution at QB was not good; most of those incompletions were above and/or behind the receivers, many of whom were wide open. I'm no QB guru so I'm not going to speculate as to why he started missing. Plough gave credit to Lamb and their defense, but there were a lot of missed opportunities.

Nothing screams fun like having band kids and a bunch of parents on campus

Parent & Family Weekend in Davis, maybe the Fun Police are flexing

Take the chalk in all these games. Only potential upset is in Cheney where it will be 55 and potentially wet. I think Sac runs it well enough to handle that but you never know, it takes a while for 71 guys to gel.

I hear you, and the FG drive was even more impressive because the entire stadium knew they were running the football. Maybe I was using subliminal influencing in hopes to impress my affection for the run game on the powers that be. I just know we ran the ball when we wanted/needed to.

I've never heard of a defense being labeled as "gross". A man will say strange things after he's been panda'd

Thoughts from UNC:

Can't say enough about the plan that Coombs & Co. put together for the Bears. The only real threat was from our own turnovers and from the RB as a late checkdown or swing pass receiver in the pass game. #3 was LOCKED DOWN by Cofield and friends, and the game never felt as close as the score. Some missed tackles and plays but otherwise outstanding performance.

The QB played well when we were on script in the first half and he extended a few plays with his legs. Second half was abysmal. Plough gave credit to Lamb for halftime adjustments, but he was protecting his guy. Too many receivers running open with balls sailing all around them.

Kudos, however, to the commitment to the running game. The O-Line dominated, and the Wide Zone scheme was particularly effective against UNC. We looked like the '23 Niners. Our RBs are legit dudes, our TEs are legit dudes, and our OL can roll people when given the opportunity to get into a groove like they were on Saturday. Look for more of the same with some added play action moving forward, we are on to something.

Loved seeing the touchbacks, the coverage on the squib, and the money field goal to salt it away.

Rumors of Northern Colorado's ascendance are greatly exaggerated... They looked slow and smallish to me.

Here's to the Griz embarrassing them further

I need to learn how to use that bullet point function. Sorry for the mess. Go Ags!

I agree on the uniform combo, gold/white/gold time.

I agree that our Corners will be tested, especially by #3 on vertical shots.

I disagree with the analysis that the UCD defense is "unsound". That refers to scheme, and not only are the game plans sound, but our adjustments tend to be even better.

I stand by my original take last week that their OL is average at best. They had better get it out quickly tomorrow. Expect quick throws to the perimeter, screens, dink and dunk with some shots mixed in.

I would hate to prepare for Plough coming off a bye.

I believe they probably learned something from their trip to the park in the Portland-suburbs last season.

I don't see this being closer than a two TD game. I think the closest comp is Southern Utah, and I would rather face an elite receiving threat than a great RB any day.

I absolutely agree that anything can happen in that game. Friday night games are weird for college football, but the Griz will come into that thing with a chip on their shoulder. Montana pays FBS teams to go to Missoula. They did beat the Huskies in Seattle a while ago, but the last four years they tend to play two tougher (Dakota schools primarily) FCS games and two FCS creampuffs.

Bold, I won't be surprised if you're right. Too bad there won't be any students there, they could re-create the Lil' Yachty debacle in celebrating to dub

Great job on the pod and the interview with Coach. He is so real that it really elevates the conversation. Thank you guys for what you do and the insight you provide.

I hate doing this but nothing else going on:

Montana 45 Sac State 35 Closer than expected
Weber 24 EWU 17 Who cares
Idaho 28 Portland State 10 Vandals are reeling
Idaho State 35 NAU 31 Probably the most entertaining of the matchups aside from the Cirque de Sacramento game
Montana State 42 Cal Poly 24 Mustangs will need to open it up and roll the dice to get this close

Aggies 42 Northern Colorado 21 Expect a heavy dose of Fisher and Vargas with CP taking shots down and across the field. The Defense will handle the Bears with a day out of the pass rushers and the DBs locking down.

Quality of life matters to Plough. He gets to watch and coach his kids play baseball in the off-season, among other benefits. How many people would love to work and live in their small college town? He's in a great spot, and has earned it

Agree with Mike, I believe he's talking about kickoff coverage. Our RB room is pretty stacked (our top three can all go), but RBs are versatile and similar to Safeties in their size/speed/ability to cover kicks in most cases. I still venture to say that many of the kickoff woes might be linked to where the ball is kicked compared to where the coordinator wants the ball kicked. Directional kickoffs are an effective tool IF/WHEN your kicker puts it in the right spot. I'm not saying this is the issue, it is merely a possibility.

Dumpster fire, and it is just getting warmed up. Grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show!

Not sure which thread to get things cranked up on so I'll go here. Bye week behind us and UNC prep really starts today. What we know about the Bears:

They should have beaten Sac. As stated a couple weeks back, these "ascending" programs have players, but those players haven't figured out how to win yet. Cal Poly, Idaho State, Northern Colorado. All elevating, but all still losing games they have opportunities to win.

UNC can throw the football. From the limited highlights I've watched, they get the ball out quick then take vertical shots after they bring you up in the quick game or find a favorable match up. It will be strength on strength with our Corners vs. their WRs. However, the QB threw 4 picks to Sac, including one on 4th and goal at the 3 to win the game. Teams like this snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Don't sleep on that little Tailback. Watch the Idaho highlights, he's a jet. Their OL is not elite but their O staff does a great job getting the ball out quick and putting the OL in a position to be successful.

Speaking of suspect, their Defense is BAD against the run. They give up over 200 yards per game on the ground which is no bueno, including 300+ against Sac.

All in all, their Offense has given them a chance to win in most games. Their stadium is a dump that sits on the windswept edge of the Great Plains. Their couple home games in 2025 have averaged around 4500+. It is going to be a low energy college football environment. All the makings of an ambush game for the Ags. Great teams win the games they're supposed to win, on the road, when they have to bring their own juice. This is a test...

Spot on.

Great facilities, decent enough town, but YOU CANNOT WIN at CSU. Just like you can't win at OSU. Can you get to bowl games? Sure, occasionally, but you can't sustain success there in today's college football landscape. The days of Sunny Lubick, Dennis Erikson, and Mike Riley are in the rearview mirror. All about the dinero