MOSCOW, Idaho - Another week, another ranked opponent for the Vandals. Fourth-ranked Idaho heads to the Lone Star State for a battle with No. 19 Abilene Christian. The Wildcats have one of the most potent offenses in the FCS and will face a Vandal team that boasts one of the best defensive units. It is the first meeting for the two programs. ACU and Idaho have played probably the best games against Power-4 schools this season with ACU falling in overtime to Texas Tech and Idaho battling No. 3 Oregon before falling 24-14. 

ABOUT IDAHO: Idaho dominated UAlbany to the tune of a 41-13 finish. Idaho scored touchdowns on special teams with an Andrew Marshall Punt Return TD and a Tommy McCormick Pick Six. The Vandal offense added  four more in the most complete performance of the year. Keyshawn James-Newby leads the FCS with six sacks through three games. The Vandals are ranked seventh 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 two starts. Jake Cox, Jordan Dwyer and Nate Thomas lead the Vandals with two touchdowns each on the season. 

ABOUT ACU: The Wildcats have a pair of wins over FCS foes after taking Texas Tech to the brink. ACU is third in total offense and sixth in scoring offense. Quarterback Maverick McIvor is among the most prolific passers in the FCS while running back Isaiah Johnson had five touchdowns to his name in three games. Veteran coach Keith Patterson leads the Wildcats while former Idaho Head Coach Nick Holt is the Co-DC and Associate Head Coach. 
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 opens 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. The Vandals close the non-conference with a game at Abilene Christian before traveling to UC Davis for the Big Sky opener. The Vandals opened the 2023 season with five of the first six games on the road and went 5-1 in that stretch, the only loss coming against Cal. 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. He has yet to turn over the ball. 

5. EXPERIENCE IN THE TRENCHES: Idaho needs to replace 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 the 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 leads the FCS with six 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.