Hope everyone had a happy Fathers Day! We now move on to Idaho State in our Big Sky previews. It's a new era in Poky as Rob Phenicie (now with the Griz) was let go as head coach, and replaced by Cal Special Teams Coordinator Charlie Ragle. Ragle has long coveted a head coaching job in the Big Sky. He was a finalist for both the msu and NAU head jobs but got passed over for both of them. I think Ragle was a home run hire for ISU, they seriously could not have done any better than they did. That said, it will be a bit of a re-build (as it seemingly is every year), but I do think within a couple years, ISU may be competitive. With that, let's dive in:
August 27 @ UNLV - L. I need to double check this, but I believe ISU is the only Big Sky team that plays on week 0. They're taking on a UNLV squad that's coming off a loss to a Big Sky team just last season (EWU). However, the Rebels will bounce back this year and not lose to the Bengals. I think the Rebels win big!
September 3 BYE. 2 bye weeks for ISU may come in handy this year.
September 10 @ San Diego State - L. I really don't know what to think about SDSU this year. They lost their stud RB Greg Bell to the NFL, and their other RB transferred to msu, and I think they may end up regretting shoving Lucas Johnson and Jordon Brookshire out the door. They did bring in Virginia Tech transfer Braxton Burmeister who had a good season with the Hokies, so he may end up being their scapegoat. Despite how good or bad the Aztecs are this year, they'll win big in this one!
September 17 vs. Central Arkansas - L. Not quite sure how they convinced UCA to come to Poky, but good for them landing this game. The Bears had a disappointing season last year, but I do think they'll contend for the ASUN-WAC with Kennesaw and Stephen F Austin. Will McElvain is a good QB, and I expect him to do well at UCA. Bears will roll in this one.
September 24 @ Northern Colorado - L. Jesus, idk what to do in this one. I guess I'll give UNC the edge since they're at home.
October 1 vs. Montana - L. Our first trip to Holt Arena since 2017. This is the only place in the Big Sky that Bobby has not been to since making his return to UM, and I expect there to be a lot of fireworks in this one from UM. I say we win by 24+.
October 8 @ Montana State - L. Tough draw getting the Montana schools back-to-back weeks. Second consecutive year they'll go to Bozeman too. ISU played the cats pretty tough last year, but I would be shocked if they won this game. No problem for the cats at home in this one.
October 15 vs. Cal Poly - L. Last year I think ISU could've won this game. This year, I don't think they will win this game. I think it could be close, but they'll end up losing.
October 22 vs. Northern Arizona - L. Ya, I don't see how they win this game.
October 29 BYE. Normally a late bye week is not a bad thing, however just you wait and see the 3 games they close with.
November 5 @ UC Davis - L. For some reason, ISU matches up very well against Davis. They beat them last year in Poky, and they have always played pretty tough in Davis. That being said, ISU beating Davis last year was a fluke, it will not happen this year.
November 12 @ Weber State - L. Ogden's been a house of horrors for ISU. No chance in this one.
November 19 vs. Idaho - L. The Vandy's will be a much improved Football team. They should easily win this one.
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I would like to retract my earlier statement about PSU being the worst team in the conference, because I see no way they're gonna be worse than ISU at a whopping 0-11. I'm sorry but you tell me who the fuck they're gonna beat on this schedule. The only game I think they may have a chance in is UNC and maybe Cal Poly. The only thing they got going for themselves is Tyler Vander Waal is a decent QB, and maybe he can power them to 2 wins. That's my prediction! Thoughts?
August 27 @ UNLV - L. I need to double check this, but I believe ISU is the only Big Sky team that plays on week 0. They're taking on a UNLV squad that's coming off a loss to a Big Sky team just last season (EWU). However, the Rebels will bounce back this year and not lose to the Bengals. I think the Rebels win big!
September 3 BYE. 2 bye weeks for ISU may come in handy this year.
September 10 @ San Diego State - L. I really don't know what to think about SDSU this year. They lost their stud RB Greg Bell to the NFL, and their other RB transferred to msu, and I think they may end up regretting shoving Lucas Johnson and Jordon Brookshire out the door. They did bring in Virginia Tech transfer Braxton Burmeister who had a good season with the Hokies, so he may end up being their scapegoat. Despite how good or bad the Aztecs are this year, they'll win big in this one!
September 17 vs. Central Arkansas - L. Not quite sure how they convinced UCA to come to Poky, but good for them landing this game. The Bears had a disappointing season last year, but I do think they'll contend for the ASUN-WAC with Kennesaw and Stephen F Austin. Will McElvain is a good QB, and I expect him to do well at UCA. Bears will roll in this one.
September 24 @ Northern Colorado - L. Jesus, idk what to do in this one. I guess I'll give UNC the edge since they're at home.
October 1 vs. Montana - L. Our first trip to Holt Arena since 2017. This is the only place in the Big Sky that Bobby has not been to since making his return to UM, and I expect there to be a lot of fireworks in this one from UM. I say we win by 24+.
October 8 @ Montana State - L. Tough draw getting the Montana schools back-to-back weeks. Second consecutive year they'll go to Bozeman too. ISU played the cats pretty tough last year, but I would be shocked if they won this game. No problem for the cats at home in this one.
October 15 vs. Cal Poly - L. Last year I think ISU could've won this game. This year, I don't think they will win this game. I think it could be close, but they'll end up losing.
October 22 vs. Northern Arizona - L. Ya, I don't see how they win this game.
October 29 BYE. Normally a late bye week is not a bad thing, however just you wait and see the 3 games they close with.
November 5 @ UC Davis - L. For some reason, ISU matches up very well against Davis. They beat them last year in Poky, and they have always played pretty tough in Davis. That being said, ISU beating Davis last year was a fluke, it will not happen this year.
November 12 @ Weber State - L. Ogden's been a house of horrors for ISU. No chance in this one.
November 19 vs. Idaho - L. The Vandy's will be a much improved Football team. They should easily win this one.
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I would like to retract my earlier statement about PSU being the worst team in the conference, because I see no way they're gonna be worse than ISU at a whopping 0-11. I'm sorry but you tell me who the fuck they're gonna beat on this schedule. The only game I think they may have a chance in is UNC and maybe Cal Poly. The only thing they got going for themselves is Tyler Vander Waal is a decent QB, and maybe he can power them to 2 wins. That's my prediction! Thoughts?