MOSCOW, Idaho — The Idaho Vandals are preparing to face their fifth ranked team in a row in their early season gauntlet.
This matchup may be the toughest one yet as the Vandals must travel to Bozeman to take on third ranked Montana State.
After rotating quarterbacks last Saturday against Northern Arizona, Idaho head coach Jason Eck says he will wait to see how practice unfolds this week to determine if the Vandals will rotate quarterbacks again or roll with just one of Jack Wagner and Nick Josifek.
As for the Bobcats, they are led by senior quarterback Tommy Mellott, who is off to a terrific start to the season throwing for 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. Coach Eck knows the mighty test ahead of his team on Saturday night.
"Business picks up," Eck said. "This is a great team we are going to play in Montana State. They have one of the best venues and one of the best true homefield advantages in college football, so it is going to be a great challenge for us."
Apart from one half against New Mexico, Montana State's offense has been a juggernaut this season thanks to tremendous play from Mellott and running back Scottre Humphrey.
"They are really outstanding on both sides of the ball," Eck said. "They have one of, if not the best offensive line in FCS football, a great quarterback who has played a ton of football for them and is a great passer. He is also a tremendous runner as well and a great athlete that you have to account for. The running back is excellent. Scottre Humphrey may be the best back in the league."
Eck also was very complimentary of the always tough Montana State defense and knows what awaits his team Saturday.
"It is going to be a great challenge going up against this team, but we are excited to go play in a nationally televised game," Eck said. "It is going to be an awesome day for football and we are playing a great team. We really need to play our best football to compete with these guys because they are very, very good, they are deserving favorites heading into this game and it is going to be a hard challenge."
Eck's son, linebacker Jaxton Eck, was named the Big Sky co-defensive player of the week for his performance in the Northern Arizona game.
Jaxton had 11 tackles and picked off PJ London for the first interception of his young career.
The Vandals and Bobcats will kick it off at 7:15 pm on Saturday night in Bozeman. You can catch the game on ESPN 2.