Vandals shoot for the FBS double

Today, Idaho at California, 1 p.m. * TV: PAC12 Bay Area * Radio: 92.5 FM

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

The list of FCS schools to beat two FBS teams in the same season since 2000 is rather short.

Portland State defeated Washington State and North Texas in 2015.

In 2007, North Dakota State beat Central Michigan and Minnesota.

That’s it.

Coming off a victory at Nevada last week, Idaho (2-0) can expand the list to three today, when it plays at California (1-1) at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Bay Area.

“There’s no pressure on us in this one, man,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said earlier this week, in his weekly meeting with area media. “We’re going to go turn it loose and give them our best shot. We’ll have to make another jump (from last week). We’ll have to play better; we’ll have to play our best football; we’ll probably need some help from them to beat them.”

Idaho’s win at Nevada last week was the Vandals’ first win as an FCS team over an FBS team since 1994, when Idaho beat UNLV. Idaho played at the FBS level from 1996-2017.

Idaho is also shooting for its first 3-0 start since ‘94.

Cal, which along with Stanford is headed to the ACC next year, won at North Texas in its opener, then lost 14-10 at home last week to Auburn.

Eck cautioned his team about not getting caught up in everyone patting them on the back following the Vandals’ first 2-0 start since 1998.

“You watch the tape, and I think we certainly can play better, and we are going to need it because Cal is by far the best team we’ve played,” Eck said. “They’re talented, they’re really big and long on defense. I’m concerned about some of the matchups up front; we’re going to have to play really well on the O-line. … They’re not a crazy blitz team; they’re going to line up and try to kick your butt.”

Jadyn Ott has rushed for 275 yards in two games for Cal.

“He’s a really dynamic runner, great with the ball in his hands,” Eck said. “He’s an NFL player; a pro.”

Of the two quarterbacks Cal has used, Sam Jackson is more of a runner, and “that was something that we struggled with last week,” Eck said.

Eck said Cal is “huge” up front, starting 320 pounds, 325 and 325 in the interior line.

“Jahkari (Larmond) is not going to be the biggest guy on the field, like he’s been the last couple weeks,” Eck said, noting that Aamarii Notice, Keyshawn James-Newby, Malakai Williams and Tylen Coleman have also played well on the D-line. “This will be our biggest challenge to date, going against their front.”

Cornerback Murvin Kenion III, who suffered an ankle injury last week at Nevada, might not play today, Eck said. Kenion (Vallejo) is one of seven Vandals, including four starters, who hail from the Bay Area or Northern California.

Beating a Pac-12 team would be impressive, but more importantly, mean one more win toward the “unofficial” criteria of teams needing at least seven wins over other Division I teams to be considered for the FCS playoffs.

Idaho already has two, with its eight-game Big Sky Conference schedule starting next week when Sacramento State visits the Kibbie Dome.

“We have to be ready, man, this is going to be a difficult battle,” Eck said. “I hope we can get it like Washington State last year, where at the end of the game we had a chance to win. And hopefully we can execute better in that situation than we did last year (in a 24-17 loss). We’ve got to be ready to play, man, this is a challenge. But I believe in our team. We’ve risen to a lot of challenges over time, but this certainly is going to be one.”