On that November day, the No. 4 Vandals met a renewed Wildcats team that would finish the season on a three-game winning streak after turning the reins to a freshman quarterback down the stretch. WSU claimed a 31-29 upset, and Idaho went on to a 9-4 season, including one playoff win.

A lot has changed since then.

That freshman QB, Richie Muñoz, didn’t lead WSU to renewed heights and eventually transferred, and neither coach is still on the sidelines, either: Mickey Mental was fired in 2025 and, at Idaho, Jason Eck left after the 2024 season to take over New Mexico after the Lobos dealt with the surprise departure of Bronco Mendenhall.

Thomas Ford Jr. is in his second season leading Idaho (he’s 5-12 overall and 3-7 in Big Sky games), while Eric Kjar now has charge at Weber State (he’s 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky).

Idaho is 1-3 against FCS opponents this season, all one-score games including last week’s 35-34 home upset over a banged-up No. 1 Montana State team. Senior Vandals quarterback Joshua Wood threw a touchdown pass as time expired, then muscled in a for-all-the-marbles two-point conversion run.

“Their record might be 1-4, but they’re really good. When you watch them on film, they’re tough, their guys play hard. They have players who make tons of plays,” WSU defensive coordinator Gavin Fowler. “And their quarterback is a problem; he’s good.”

Weber State has also played four one-score games, tallying a 2-2 record. Experts expect this to be a fifth one-score game for both teams.

MEET THE VANDALS

Since WSU hasn’t faced Idaho since 2024, the Wildcats and fans haven’t seen Wood (No. 3) against Weber State. Idaho is a pass-first offense, with Wood averaging 264 yards per game on 58% completion, with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

His top two targets have been the talented Tony Harste (No. 4) who averages 90 yards per game and has three touchdowns, and Ryan Jezioro (No. 89), who has two touchdowns on 65.4 yards per game.

Fifth-year linebacker Cruz Hepburn (No. 44) leads the Vandals with 47 tackles.

Owen Forsman (No. 48) has had a lock on Idaho’s kicking game; he’s 8 of 9 with a long of 45. Cameron Pope (No. 91) averages 43.5 yards per punt.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Through six games, Weber State averages 37.5 points per game on 453.5 yards, including 6.3 yards per play. Defensively, WSU has allowed 37.7 points per game on 471.7 yards, including 6.2 yards per play.

The six-turnover debacle in Game 4 still has the Wildcats well behind in turnover margin at  minus-eight, losing 15 giveaways (10 interceptions, five fumbles) while gaining seven (three interceptions, four fumbles). WSU has also blocked five kicks this season: three PATs, one field goal, one punt, with the latter two both returned for touchdowns.

Weber leads the Big Sky with 16 sacks on defense while allowing 12.

WSU averages 4.5 penalties per game for 38.3 yards.

In five games, Idaho scores 27.8 points per game on 378 yards, including 5.9 yards per play. Defensively, UI has allowed 40.4 points per game on 462.6 yards, including 6.7 yards per play.

The Vandals usually play in games with few turnovers. They’re minus-four in turnover margin, losing six turnovers (two interceptions, four fumbles) while gaining two takeaways (zero interceptions, two fumbles).

Idaho has recorded seven sacks defensively while allowing 11.

The Vandals average 4.5 penalties per game for 37 yards.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 176 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 266 total teams). Idaho is No. 158. His formula favors Weber State as the home team by one point.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 45 in FCS (128 teams) and Idaho at No. 48. His formula favors Weber State by three points, predicting a win of 38-35.

D Ratings flips those expectations, favoring Idaho by four and predicting a Vandals win of 30-26 at 64% probability.

WEATHER

A long string of beautiful, warm weather in the early fall will give way this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Rachel, which becomes a tropical storm and then a tropical depression, reach Utah.

But, after initial forecasts showed the possibility of thunderstorms Saturday afternoon, as of this writing it appears the four-day hammering that, according to KSL, could bring up to 2 3/4 inches of rain through next Wednesday, will not arrive until late Saturday night or just as Sunday arrives.

So cloudy skies with a slight chance of rain greet fans Saturday with likely winds of 12 mph from the south. Temperatures should be around 69-70 when the game begins and ends.

TV & RADIO

Sinclair Broadcast Group has lined up to broadcast Weber State’s remaining four home games on linear TV in Utah, on channels KJZZ, KMYU or both.

It’s both this weekend, with the usual ESPN+ subscription stream as well. Dave Fox, Alema Harrington and Frank Dolce will be on the call.

Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and former WSU player Dave Stireman, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at coast103.com.

BLACK BEEHIVE

For one game in a second straight season, Weber State will wear a black helmet displaying a hexagonally outlined decal with a yellow beehive inside, a nod to the state of Utah.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Idaho leads the all-time series 19-15-1. Weber State leads 11-5-1 in Ogden, having won two straight at home. The Vandals won the last meeting in 2024.