College Football Upset
Utah State Faces Heavy Scrutiny After Shocking Loss To Idaho State
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Bronco Mendenhall said after the loss, “We played exactly as we were prepared to play,” and described Idaho State as a quality team rather than treating the result as a surprise.
2
The defeat marked Mendenhall’s second loss to an FCS opponent since 2022; the other came when he was coaching New Mexico in a loss to Montana State.
3
Nevada opened its season with a 49-14 victory over Western Kentucky, giving Jeff Choate a 7-19 record in his third season as the Wolf Pack’s coach.
4
Choate helped Montana State rise from a sub-.500 program in 2016 and 2017 to an FCS playoff semifinalist in 2019 before leaving for Texas, where he served three seasons as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.
5
Montana State coach Brent Vigen played down the reunion storyline, saying the Bobcats viewed the game primarily as “an opportunity to play a Mountain West team” that looked strong on film; Nevada’s staff also includes former Bobcat Kane Ioane and assistant special teams coordinator BJ Robertson.
Utah State's stunning 29–17 loss to FCS power Idaho State has put head coach Bronco Mendenhall under intense scrutiny, despite the Aggies being favored by two touchdowns. Standard-Examiner reported that Mendenhall defended his team's preparation after the defeat, saying "We played exactly as we were prepared to play," but critics pointed to four turnovers and inconsistent execution as evidence of poor planning.
Meanwhile, top-ranked defending FCS champion Montana State heads to Nevada on September 12 to face coach Jeff Choate, who built the Bobcats into a semifinal contender before leaving for Texas. Texas Tech, listed as a 26½-point favorite, visits Oregon State the same day seeking to snap a four-game nonconference road losing streak.
Idaho State Stuns Utah State Despite Two-Touchdown Underdog Status
Idaho State kicker Mason Lindberg carried the FCS squad, booting five field goals for 17 individual points in the 29–17 victory. Utah State quarterback McCae Hillstead threw three interceptions and was benched in the fourth quarter. The defeat marks Mendenhall's second loss to an FCS opponent since 2022; his previous one came when coaching New Mexico against Montana State.
Mendenhall resisted narratives framing the result as a shock, instead describing Idaho State as a quality Big Sky opponent. Local Media analysts highlighted Utah State's four turnovers and quarter-by-quarter inconsistency. Idaho State earned a guaranteed $400,000 payout for the nonconference matchup, according to conference records.
Nevada Hosts Montana State in Coach Reunion Storyline
Jeff Choate, now Nevada's head coach, transformed Montana State from a sub-.500 program in 2016–2017 into an FCS playoff semifinalist by 2019 before joining Texas as co-defensive coordinator. Nevada opened its 2026 season with a dominant 49–14 win over Western Kentucky, giving Choate a 7–19 record entering his third season with the Wolf Pack.
Montana State coach Brent Vigen downplayed personal drama, telling Skyline Sports the Bobcats view the matchup as "an opportunity to play a Mountain West team" that looked sharp on film. Nevada's staff includes former Montana State figures Kane Ioane and assistant special teams coordinator BJ Robertson, deepening organizational ties between the programs.
Texas Tech Favored Heavily Over Oregon State in Road Test
No. 12 Texas Tech arrives in Corvallis on September 12 as a 26½-point favorite, seeking to end a four-game nonconference road losing streak at Reser Stadium. Sportsbooks have modeled Texas Tech with a 94–96 percent win probability over the Beavers, reflecting the dominant spread.
The Red Raiders defeated Abilene Christian 33–10 in their opener, posting a controlled performance. Oregon State enters as a significant underdog after struggling in nonconference play, making this a prime opportunity for Texas Tech to restore confidence on the road.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
53
Articles
7
Reach
60
A
AnonymousAuthor
