An aspiring (but so far failing) FBS team comes to Ogden in the final time for the foreseeable future with tons of talent and juggling QBs, looking for its first Big Sky win against a team down to two quarterbacks due to injuries in a game that is likely to be significantly affected by wet, stormy weather.

Off the field, Sacramento State has made plenty of news with plans to build a new football stadium (which have changed focus recently) and associated fundraising pledges to fund NIL and stadium construction. Hellbent on moving to FBS, the Hornets are playing their final season in the Big Sky despite their application and appeal both being denied to rise to Division I’s top subdivision without a conference invitation. Sac State will play in the Big West next school year, with football apparently set for FCS independence.

On the field, the Hornets (2-3, 0-1 Big Sky), with 34 FBS transfers, nearly beat Nevada this year but opened Big Sky play with a home loss to Cal Poly, of all teams. FBS transfers Jaden Rashada and Cardell Williams continue to trade QB reps with neither playing well enough for first-year coach Brennan Marion to fully take the job. Williams, a Tulsa transfer, got the nod last week but threw three interceptions that gave Poly the openings it needed.

“They’re trying to find themselves a little at quarterback. They’re both talented kids, they just turned it over three times against Cal Poly and you can’t do that,” WSU head coach Mickey Mental said.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

But being 2-3 doesn’t mean Sacramento State doesn’t have talent.

The Hornets lead FCS in tackles for loss at 9.2 per game and sacks with 4.4 per game. And, at 202.2 rushing yards per game, Sac State is 15th nationally and first in the Big Sky in rushing offense.

“They run the football well. Their two running backs are really good players,” Mental said.

Creating negative plays defensively and running the football are good for any team, and are traits likely to be magnified if (or when) it rains.

“They really get after the passer. We’re going to have to win the turnover battle, and run the ball and stop the run this game, especially with what the weather conditions are supposed to be,” Mental said. “It’s magnified so you’ve got to be perfect in all those aspects … it’s about your preparation throughout the season, your ball security, your attention to detail, your focus; those all come into play when the weather is off.”

LOCAL HOMECOMING

It’s not just the traditional homecoming game for Weber State: the matchup will bring former Northridge High standout Jaxon Fresques back to Northern Utah. Fresques is in his first season as a receiver at Sacramento State and has returned three punts and one kickoff so far, while adding two special teams tackles.

Otherwise, it’s also a homecoming in the sense that it’s Week 7 in the season and WSU is playing just its second home game.

INJURY REPORT

With Jackson Gilkey and Cash McCollum out with injuries, WSU’s QB play comes down to the last two left in Dijon Jennings and Kingston Tisdell.

Punt returner Bird Butler is set to play and offensive guard Vae Soifua may return. Starting defensive end Keahnist Thompson is unlikely to play after suffering a foot injury two weeks ago at UC Davis.

MEET THE HORNETS

It’s the junior Williams (No. 7) listed as starting quarterback again this week for Sacramento State, with the former highly touted recruit Rashada (No. 5) at backup. Williams has thrown for 150 yards per game in five games, completing 59% of his passes for five touchdowns and four interceptions. He also nets 30 rushing yards per game.

Rodney Hammond Jr. (No. 2) and Damian Henderson II (No. 4) are the feature backs in Sac State’s strong run game. The pair nearly posted 100 yard games last week against Cal Poly, with Hammond going 19 times for 105 yards and Henderson taking 12 handoffs for 93 yards. Henderson runs for 7.5 yards per carry and Hammond 5.0.

Ernest Campbell (No. 13) and Jordan Anderson (No. 3) are both the most-targeted and most-explosive receivers for the Hornets. Campbell averages 80 yards per game with four touchdowns, averaging 29 yards per reception, while Anderson is at 51 yards per game and 19.5 per catch.

As for the defensive disruptors, it’s lineman Jayland McGlothen (No. 58) with 7.5 TFLs and six sacks. Fellow D-lineman Dylan Hamptsen (No. 56) has eight TFLs and 4.5 sacks, with lineman Xavier Williams (No. 45) adding three sacks. Linebacker Deven Wright (No. 2) has five tackles for loss, and safety Koa Akui (No. 4) has three interceptions.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Against three FCS teams, Weber State averages 30.7 points on 400.7 yards per game, including a 5.95 yards-per-play average. Defensively, the Wildcats give up 33 points on 418 yards per game and 6.27 yards per play.

Overall, Weber State remains solidly in a negative turnover margin at minus-four. Weber State has lost 10 turnovers (nine interceptions, one fumble) while taking away six (four interceptions, two fumbles). WSU did not turn the ball over at UC Davis.

WSU averages 4.8 penalties for 50 yards per game.

For Sacramento State, against four FCS opponents, the Hornets average 30.3 points on 422.3 yards per game and 6.8 yards per play. Defensively, Sac State allows 24 points on 365.5 yards per game, with a per-play average of 4.97 yards.

Overall, Sac State is minus-two in the turnover margin. The Hornets have given the ball away eight times (five interceptions, three fumbles) while taking away six turnovers (four interceptions, two fumbles).

The Hornets are penalized an average of 8.8 times for 67.8 yards per game.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 176 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 265 total teams). Sacramento State is 143rd. Including home-field advantage, his formula favors Sacramento State by 0.69 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 73 in FCS (129 teams) and Sac State at 26. His formula predicts a Sac State victory of 35-25.

D Ratings predicts a Sacramento State victory of 32-29 at 56% probability.

WEATHER

Weber State avoided last week’s downpour with a bye but much of the West is getting an encore with tropical storm Priscilla moving north from the Pacific.

Saturday’s high is forecast at 65 degrees with rain starting at 6 a.m. and largely expected to persist until early Sunday morning. It’s possible thunderstorms could interfere with the 6 p.m. kickoff but forecasts show lightning dissipates shortly thereafter.

It’s expected to be 56 degrees at kickoff, the sun will set as the second quarter begins, and the temperature will be about 50 degrees at game’s end.

TV & RADIO

The game broadcast streams on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on the ESPN app or plus.espn.com. Brandon Garside and Riley Jensen are on the call for WSU’s production. Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and Jerry Graybeal, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at 1031thewave.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Weber State leads the all-time series 16-10 but Sacramento State has won two straight, including last year’s 51-48, overtime shootout in Sacramento. Weber is 11-2 at home in this series.

WSU and Sac State first played in 1996 but are unlikely to play again anytime soon with the Hornets leaving the Big Sky. Although Southern Utah is rejoining the Big Sky, WSU’s already scheduled games against the Thunderbirds will likely remain on the schedule in 2026 and 2027 as nonconference games; with the Big Sky moving to a nine-game schedule next year, WSU’s schedules for 2026-27 are complete.