MOSCOW, Idaho - The 14th-ranked Idaho football team hits the road to face the second-ranked Sacramento State Hornets. The Vandals bring a five-game win streak into the match up while Sacramento State is 7-0 on the year after posting a 31-24 overtime win over Montana last Saturday in Sacramento. The two teams are two of the most balanced teams in the FCS on offense and defense and in the pass and rush on the offensive side of the ball. The Vandals and Hornets are two of three teams left in the Big Sky with an undefeated league mark.  

ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals are on a five-game winning streak and haven't lost to an FCS opponent this year. Gevani McCoy is fifth in the FCS in completion percentage while still stretching the field at sixth in the FCS in yards per completion. The Vandals are first in time of possession, second in turnover margin and fifth in redzone offense in the FCS. On the defensive side of the ball, Idaho has allowed just 78 yards per game rushing against FCS opponents. The Vandals are 14th in the FCS in total defense. Fa'avae Fa'avae is second in the Big Sky in tackles and Tommy McCormick has five takeaways on the year, including four interceptions. 

ABOUT SACRAMENTO STATE: The job that fourth-year Sacramento State coach Troy Taylor has done is nothing short of outstanding. He took the previously middling Hornet program and has put up a 25-7 record in two plus seasons (the Hornets did not play in spring 2021). He has a 19-1 Big Sky record in Taylor's tenure. The Hornets are third in the FCS in Total offense and lead the league in a bevy of categories on offense and defense. Cameron Skattebo is among the nation's leaders in rushing yards, averaging 168.57 yards per game. Jake Dunniway and Asher O'Hara share QB duties. Dunniway is the passing leader at 113-181 for 1,405 yards and 13 TDs. O'Hara is the runner for the QB position and had 480 yards and 13 TDs on 97 carries. The Sacramento defense is very solid and is led by Armon Bailey with 47 total tackles and 6.5 TFLs. 
1. QB PERFORMANCE: In just seven games this season, Gevani McCoy has been a revelation. He is fifth in the FCS in completion percentage (71.3%) and fourth in the FCS in efficiency (177.7). When you include just FCS games, those numbers jump to 75.9% completion percentage and 194.5 efficiency rating.  In just six games, he has passed for more yards (1,359) than any Vandal player a year ago. McCoy was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List last week and was the Big Sky Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vandals to the win over Montana. Idaho still has a pair of quarterbacks with game experience to back him up in CJ Jordan and J'Borre Gibbs. True freshman quarterback Jack Layne was given time at the QB position against Drake in a chance to get him playing experience while preserving his redshirt.

2. INTO THE RANKINGS: The Vandals jumped into the FCS Rankings after topping Montana 30-23 on the road in the Battle for the Little Brown Stein. Idaho jumped to 14th in FCS stats poll while moving to 23rd in the AFCA Coaches Poll after the win over Portland State. 

3. TURNOVERS: Despite playing games against Power Five opponents, the Vandals are up big time in the turnover margin. Idaho has 15 takeaways to just four turnovers. Good enough for the second-best turnover margin in the FCS. In just five games, the Vandals topped the takeaway number from a season ago.  Combined with the best time of possession mark in the FCS, Idaho is controlling the ball. 
 
4. IMPACT TRANSFERS: Six new transfers are listed on the Vandal defensive two-deep, two transfers are listed on the offensive list and one special teams player a and made an immediate. Paul Moala, a linebacker transfer from Notre Dame  forced a fumble against WSU, made a goalline stop against Indiana and has two interceptions on the season. Juliano Falaniko, a defensive end transfer from USC had seven tackles and a sack so far. Mathias Bertram a safety from New Mexico had nine total tackles in the season opener. Former NAIA All-American Jason Hahlbeck, a transfer from Morningside College, was back in the lineup after missing the WSU game.  Junior college transfer Ricardo Chavez is 12-14 on the year for field goals and is among the leaders in the FCS in made field goals and percentage. JC transfer Murvin Kenion III has three interceptions and a forced fumble this year and led Idaho in tackles against Portland State.

5. RECEIVERS: Hayden Hatten had a breakout game against Northern Colorado with 131 yards receiving and two touchdowns and followed that up with 149 yards and two scores against Montana, earning NCAA.com FCS Player of the Week honors. Jermaine Jackson has emerged as a big play receiver. He is first in the Big Sky in yardse per reception at 21.16. Jackson is  second in the Big Sky in Yards per game and Hatten is fifth. Terez Traynor and Jordan Dwyer have all had big impacts, but have had injuries that have limited their availability. 

6. NEW BUT VETERAN STAFF: With the coaching staff change, head coach Jason Eck changed the entire staff. Among the 10 assistant coaches, seven have served as a coordinator in a college football setting and running backs coach Thomas Ford is a former DII head coach. Stanley Franks Jr. and Matt Linehan both had outstanding careers as players at the University of Idaho.