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(STATS) - Who's next?
The Big Sky is known to have a hand in the success when FCS teams count up the wins over the larger FBS programs. Idaho State provided one of the nine overall upsets last year by defeating Nevada 30-28.
As FCS programs seek to make a mark again in this year's 111 matchups, here's a look at the ones involving Big Sky teams:
The Matchups (14) - Eastern Washington: Washington State (Sept. 15); Idaho: Fresno State (Sept. 1) and Florida (Nov. 17); Idaho State: Cal (Sept. 15) and Liberty (Oct. 20); Northern Arizona: UTEP (Sept. 1); Portland State: Nevada (Sept. 1) and Oregon (Sept. 8); Sacramento State: San Diego State (Sept. 8); Southern Utah: Oregon State (Sept. 8) and Arizona (Sept. 15); UC Davis: San Jose State (Aug. 30) and Stanford (Sept. 15); Weber State: Utah (Aug. 30)
Glamour Game - UC Davis at Stanford (Sept. 15). It's The Farm versus The Farm. UC Davis recorded one of the more memorable victories in program history in 2005 by winning at Stanford 20-17. Quarterback Jake Maier and wide receiver Keelan Doss seek to put on a show.
Upset Alert - Northern Arizona at UTEP (Sept. 1). Redshirt junior quarterback Case Cookus (72 touchdown passes in 27 career games) seeks to pick apart a UTEP team that went 0-12 as the only winless team in the FBS last year.
Notable - Four Big Sky programs - Cal Poly, Montana, Montana State and Northern Colorado - are not playing FBS opponents, but each is playing at least two FCS opponents that won seven or more games last season. The Big Sky's 14 FBS games tie for the FCS high with the MEAC and the SWAC. … While Idaho is rejoining the Big Sky after 22 seasons on the FBS level, it has two FBS opponents on its schedules through 2022. … On Sept. 15, Eastern Washington returns to Washington State, where the Eagles pulled a 45-42 upset in 2016 as quarterback Gage Gubrud, now a senior, totaled a then-school-record 551 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in his first career start. … Defending Big Sky co-champ Southern Utah is making two trips into Pac-12 territory against Oregon State and Arizona. … FCS playoff hopeful Sacramento State is playing San Diego State for the first time and then coming back with another visit to the SDCCU Stadium in 2020. … Idaho State's games against Cal and Liberty are first-time matchups. … Portland State is 2-6 against Nevada and 0-4 versus Oregon. … Defending Big Sky co-champ Weber State is 0-4 against Utah, having lost the last meeting 70-7 in 2013. … North Dakota, whose games will count for opponents in the Big Sky standings while it starts to transition to membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2020, will play at Washington on Sept. 8.
