No. 16 Idaho State
Run of Ranked Opponents Begins Saturday as Cal Poly Visits No. 16 Idaho State
10/7/2026 4:44:00 PM | Football
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SAN LUIS OBISPO – Four of the Cal Poly football program’s final six regular season matchups occur against ranked opponents – a stretch that begins Saturday, Oct. 10 as the Mustangs visit No. 16 Idaho State. Kickoff from the ICCU Dome in Pocatello is 3 p.m. PT (4 p.m. MT) for Cal Poly (3-3, 2-1), which enters the matchup in a five-way tie for second place in the Big Sky Conference standings alongside No. 6 Montana State, No. 11 UC Davis, No. 13 Northern Arizona and Weber State. Idaho State (4-1, 1-1), meanwhile, sits just a half-game behind. Cal Poly, featuring three of the Big Sky’s top seven tacklers, sustained its first conference setback last weekend, edged in double overtime at home by Weber State, 42-34. Idaho State, which concedes the second fewest points per game (21.2) among Big Sky programs, also recorded its first conference loss on Saturday, falling at home to Northern Arizona, 38-31. With the Mustangs seeking victory against a ranked foe for the second successive year, here’s the complete rundown for week No. 7.
THE GREEN ZONE
The national FCS leader with 183.5 all-purpose yards per game, junior running back Jaden Green also ranks fourth with 130.5 rushing yards per outing. Averaging 188.3 rushing yards during the last three games – including a 269-yard effort at Eastern Washington (Sept. 26) – Green has rushed for a pair of touchdowns in Cal Poly’s last two matchups. An offseason transfer from Lehigh and Cal Poly’s primary kick returner, Green’s six total touchdowns this season leads the Mustangs.
GRIGSBY CEMENTS PLACE UNDER CENTER
Named Mustang starting quarterback the day of Cal Poly’s 38-34, season-opening victory against Idaho (Aug. 28), Anthony Grigsby, Jr., accounted for all five of Cal Poly’s touchdowns and 319 passing yards versus the Vandals to earn Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week praise. He then averaged 206 passing yards per Cal Poly’s next five matchups – including a 249-yard effort at FBS San Jose State (Sept. 12). Having emerged as one of the top FCS offensive threats, Grigsby ranks fourth nationally with 15 passing touchdowns, 22nd with 1,359 passing yards (exceeding last year’s total after just 13 quarters) and 109 completions and 31st with 226.5 passing yards per game. Responsible for 96 of Cal Poly’s 185 points this season (52.0 percent), Grigsby has thrown just five interceptions in 177 attempts thus year.
OLSON BACK IN BUSINESS
The Big Sky’s second leading tackler last fall, fifth-year linebacker Kenny Olson took over the top spot this week with a nine-tackle performance versus Weber State. Producing a career best 16-tackle performance at Eastern Washington (Sept. 26), Olson ranks fourth nationally with 61 total tackles and 11th with 10.2 tackles per game. Providing Cal Poly three of the Big Sky’s top seven tacklers, Olson now ranks 17th in program history with 256 career tackles.
MILLER TIME
Backed by a career high 12-tackle performance at San Jose State (Sept. 12) and 11 versus San Diego (Sept. 19), senior defensive back RL Miller enters Saturday’s matchup at Idaho State as the Big Sky leader and ranked fifth nationally with 32 solo tackles. An offseason transfer from Fresno State, Miller also ranks 34th nationally with 48 total tackles.
BIG PLAY TAY
With not one (Aug. 28 versus Idaho) but two (Sept. 26 at Eastern Washington) game-winning touchdown receptions in the final minute this season, junior wide receiver Tayvion McCoy enters Saturday’s matchup at Idaho State ranked ninth among FCS players with 490 total receiving yards, 10th with 34 receptions and 22nd with 81.7 receiving yards per game. Only four Big Sky players have caught more touchdown passes than McCoy, who shares the program reception scoring lead with senior Fidel Pitts An offseason transfer from Ventura College, McCoy finished with a collegiate best 170 receiving yards during his Aug. 28 Cal Poly debut.
PLEIS AND DICE
After making just one appearance last fall, sophomore Kaleb Pleis recorded two sacks at Eastern Washington (Sept. 2) and one-a-half versus Weber State (Oct. 3) to quickly rank second among Big Sky performers with four total sacks. Only Montana’s Tyler King (4.5) has more.
THE D IN D’AMATO
An All-Big Sky first team honoree last year and Buck Buchanan Award Watch List selection this season for most outstanding FCS defensive player, senior linebacker Mikey D’Amato ranks second nationally with 12.0 tackles per game and eighth with 60 total tackles. The Big Sky’s leading tackler last season, D’Amato – with a season best 14 tackles against Idaho (Aug. 28) – ranks 19th in program history with 242 during his career.
CAL POLY VERSUS IDAHO STATE
Cal Poly attempts to snap a three-game slide against the Bengals dating to a 32-29 home victory on Nov. 13, 2021. Having dropped four straight in Pocatello, Cal Poly also seeks its first road win against Idaho State since Oct. 27, 2007. The Mustangs lead the all-time series, 13-11, dating to the first matchup – a 13-7 Cal Poly road victory – on Nov. 25, 1937.
LOOKING AHEAD (SATURDAY, OCT. 17)
Cal Poly completes a two-game road stretch when visiting Northern Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN+. The Mustangs have won three straight matchups against the Bears and nine of 10 at the Division I/FCS level. The two programs last met on Sept. 28, 2024 in Greeley, Colo., with Cal Poly prevailing, 28-7.
