Weber State football hits road in attempt to repeat late-season disruption for ranked Idaho
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- Weber State’s Easton Payne (53) rushes Idaho quarterback Gevani McCoy (4) on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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- Weber State quarterback Jake Constantine (8) looks downfield to throw against Idaho on Oct. 5, 2019, in Moscow, Idaho.
Weber State football heads to Moscow, Idaho, for the first time in five years to take on Idaho in a similar position as last season’s matchup. The Wildcats (3-7, 2-4 Big Sky) are playing for pride while the No. 8 Vandals (7-3, 4-2) are trying to sure up playoff seeding.
In last year’s matchup, Weber State sprung a 31-29 win against a top-10 Idaho team. But those Wildcats were in the midst of closing the 2023 season with three straight wins and the program’s ninth straight winning record. This year’s squad is trying to snap a four-game losing streak to avoid a disastrous final record.
Idaho, meanwhile, is trying to finish its first undefeated regular-season home slate since 1996.
MEET THE VANDALS
Jack is back. One of them, at least.
Idaho has managed to win football games despite suffering several injuries at the quarterback spot. Sophomore Jack Layne (No. 2) led Idaho to put a scare into now-FBS No. 1 Oregon to open the season, and missed six weeks with a collar bone injury. He returned two games ago, throwing for 235 yards against Eastern Washington, but did not play last week against Portland State.
Freshman Nick Josifek has played and also broke his collar bone. Freshman Jack Wagner (No. 10) has logged the most reps and pass attempts for Idaho, recently throwing for 347 yards against Cal Poly and 205 last week to beat Portland State.
Layne is QB1 for the Vandals but Wagner may again get the start this week against Weber State.
The Vandals can hand the ball to freshman Deshaun Buchanan (No. 8), who has 328 rushing yards on 30 carries in the last two games. Freshman Art Williams (No. 23) is also on the depth chart; he rushed for 96 yards against Cal Poly. Junior Elisha Cummings (No. 20) had a 119-yard game against Northern Arizona but is not on this week’s two-deep.
Jordan Dwyer (No. 6) is the go-to passing target in most receptions (45) and touchdowns (seven), averaging 67 yards per game. Mark Hamper (No. 15, 29 receptions) is next and averages 21 yards per catch. Tight end Alex Moore (No. 84) is reliable in short yardage.
Idaho’s defense has tallied 26 sacks in 10 games after getting PSU’s Dante Chachere six times last week. Prolific defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby (No. 1) has 9.5 of those sacks with 10 more QB hurries. Linemen Xavier Slayton (No. 51) and Dallas Afalava (No. 52) each have four sacks.
TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS
Through 10 games, Weber State has scored 28.8 points per game, averaging 428 yards on 5.9 yards per play. Defensively, WSU has allowed an average of 28.6 points on 393 yards per game, with an average of 5.7 per play.
The Wildcats have eight defensive takeaways (three interceptions, five fumbles) and 12 offensive turnovers (five interceptions, seven fumbles) for a minus-four turnover margin.
In 10 games for Idaho, the Vandals average 26.6 points on 374 yards per game and 6.1 yards per play. Defensively, Idaho has allowed 24.4 points on 367 yards per game, with an average of 5.3 yards per play.
The Vandals have an even turnover margin. Idaho has turned it over 12 times (eight interceptions, four fumbles) while forcing 12 turnovers (six interceptions, six fumbles).
ODDS & PREDICTIONS
Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 173 (down 16 from last week) in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 263 total teams). Idaho is No. 123. Accounting for home-field advantage, his formula favors Idaho by 12 points.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 35 in FCS (129 teams) and Idaho at No. 24. His formula predicts an Idaho victory of 30-23.
D Ratings gives Idaho a 34-21 victory at 83% probability.
WEATHER
Moscow, Idaho, is forecast to be cloudy and 36 degrees at the time of the 5 p.m. PST/6 p.m. MST kickoff, but the game will take place indoors at the Kibbie Dome.
TV & RADIO
The game’s video broadcast will stream on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on ESPN mobile/streaming apps or WatchESPN.com, with Austin Getz and Brian Strandley on the call. Carl Arky and Jerry Graybeal have Weber State’s radio call on 103.1 FM in northern Utah and online at 1031thewave.com.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Idaho leads the all-time series 18-15-1, including 12-4 in Moscow. WSU has won three straight in the series — 1995, 2019, 2023 — and is playing Idaho for only the third time since the Vandals rejoined the Big Sky Conference.
