MOSCOW, Idaho -  Idaho returns home to the P1FCU Kibbie Dome for just the second game this season , but faces its fourth straight ranked team when they welcome 24th-ranked upstart Northern Arizona to Moscow. Idaho head coach Jason Eck compares Northern Arizona to the 2022 Idaho squad that made a playoff run under Eck in his first season. The Lumberjacks under first-year coach Brian Wright have are coming off of an impressive win over Sacramento State in the Big Sky opener. The Vandals are 3-2 after a late rally came up short against UC Davis. 

ABOUT IDAHO: The Vandals' five opponents have either been ranked FCS teams or FBS opponents with four of the first five on the road, leaving Idaho 3-2 after the tough stretch. Keyshawn James-Newby is second the FCS with 6.5 sacks through five games. The Vandals are ranked fifth as a team in the FCS in sacks, despite playing two FBS teams with a strong tradition of offensive line play. Quarterback Jack Wagner has been solid, picking up wins in his first three starts. Nate Thomas lead the Vandals with four rushing touchdowns on the season while Jordan Dwyer has three receiving TDS.  

ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA: Quarterback Ty Pennington came with Wright from DII Pitt State and is justifying the move to FCS football. He has thrown for 843 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions so far this season. He has spread the ball out to 14 different receivers and 12 different players have rushing yards. Alex McLaughlin leads the defense with 34 total tackles and 3.5 sacks so far this year. Brian Wright comes to Idaho after putting up a 33-8 record at Pitt State. He is a veteran coach who has worked in coaching since the mid 90s and has been a head coach since 2020. 
 
1. ECK'S VANDALS TOPPLE THE MOUNTAIN WEST, AGAIN: Idaho is now 2-0 in games against Mountain West programs under Jason Eck after topping Wyoming 17-13 last Saturday in Laramie. The Vandals have given up just 19 total points in two games against Mountain West opponents in the last two seasons and gave up just one touchdown between the two games. The win helps put Idaho in excellent position as it moves into the FCS portion of the schedule. 

2. ROAD WARRIORS: Idaho is home at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome after opening with four of its first five games on the road to start the season. The Vandals played back-to-back FBS opponents in Oregon and Wyoming before hosting a ranked UAlbany team at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome before traveling to Abilene Christian. The Vandals are 3-2 through the first five games after closing the stretch with a loss at UC Davis. In the first two seasons under coach Eck, Idaho won as many road games (eight) as the previous six seasons. 

3. YOUTH ON OFFENSE: There are 54 offensive players listed on the Idaho roster. One, transfer tight end Mike Martinez,  is listed as a senior. Out of the 54, 46 are listed as freshmen or sophomores. The youth movement on the Idaho offense is real, but the talent is there to match after the Vandals put together Top-10 FCS recruiting classes each of the last two years. 

4. STARTING FRESHman:  Season opening starting quarterback Jack Layne was injured in the fourth quarter of Idaho's season opener at Oregon. He is expected to be out for an extended period of time, opening the door for redshirt freshman Jack Wagner to step into the starting roll. Wagner started the Wyoming game by completing his first eight passes before end the game at 12-21 for 101 yards and a touchdown.  He didn't throw an interception and was sacked just once in the 17-13. He had another solid performance against UAlbany, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Idaho is 5-1 under Eck when the season opening back up QBs starts the game.

5. EXPERIENCE IN THE TRENCHES: Idaho has replaced starters at nearly every skilled position on offense, both corner positions and two of three linebackers, but the line is a different story. Seven of the 10 offensive linemen on the final depth chart of last season return, including four starters. On the defense, six of the eight return, including all four starters from last season. Last year, nine of the 10 players on the O-line depth chart were freshmen or sophomores and while there is still not a single senior on the O-line, the group has the game experience of a much older squad. 

6. DOMINANT D-LINE: The Idaho defensive line has shown that it can play with anyone. It faced two strong FBS units and came away with a Big Sky Conference leading seven sacks. Keyshawn James-Newby is second in the FCS with 6.5 total sacks through three games, surpassing his total of five from all of last year. The Vandals held Oregon to just 24 points, the first time an FCS team has ever held Oregon under 35 points. It held both teams scoreless in the third quarter and held Wyoming to just one touchdown on the day. Dallas Afalava has two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Idaho didn't allow a touchdown from the first quarter of the Wyoming game until the final minutes of the UAlbany game. The Vandals also held UC Davis to just 26 rushing yards.