THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Idaho-WSU game start of intriguing college football season

Three years ago at Gesa Field in Pullman, Idaho gave Washington State all it could handle before the Cougars held on for a 24-17 victory over the Vandals in the season opener. 

Three years later, both coaches are long gone — Idaho’s Jason Eck to New Mexico, WSU’s Jake Dickert to Wake Forest — as are most of the players and coaches. 

The curiosity, however, remains. 

A strong FCS program, albeit with many new faces, taking on an FBS program, albeit with many new faces as well — many of which are former FCS players. 

Generally, these matchups go one of three ways — a close game, with the FBS team eking out a win, or the FCS team pulling off the “upset,” or the FBS team pulling away. 

We’ll find out next Saturday night.

Until then, let’s take a look at the four area Division I teams, and how their seasons might go:  

Idaho: Despite losing their head coach and a dozen or so key players to the transfer portal, the Vandals are still regarded as one of the top teams in the Big Sky. 

The fact Idaho brought in not one, but two quarterbacks after spring ball is somewhat telling. Both sides of the ball have question marks, as a stout defense was hit hard by departures. 

A win over WSU and/or San Jose State would help Idaho’s at-large hopes, because there’s some potentially rugged games in conference — including at Montana, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona and the departing Sacramento State, and at home vs. UC Davis.  

Since the preseason is the time for universal optimism, let’s say Idaho goes 8-4, 6-2 in the Big Sky and earns an at-large bid to the 24-team FCS playoffs.  

Washington State: The funny thing is, there are no games on the schedule that scream “No way will the Cougars win that one!” 

Perhaps the Ole Miss game, because the game is in Oxford, Miss., and as we all know, “It just means more” in the SEC. 

Ha, ha. 

Perhaps the game against vaunted Big Ten foe Washington, though it seems like the Apple Cup “just means more” to WSU. And the game is in Pullman this year. 

New Cougar coach Jimmy Rogers brought several of his players from FCS power South Dakota State with him to Pullman. We’ve seen good FCS teams beat FBS squads on a one-game basis, but how a team with a lot of those players holds up over a FBS schedule will be interesting to watch. 

Having some talented holdovers still around will help. 

In any event, there’s a lot of games on the schedule waiting to be won (the TWO games vs. Oregon State could be swing games as well), and if so, an 8-4 season could be the result. 

Eastern Washington: After 12 trips to the FCS playoffs in 18 seasons, the Eagles are coming off three consecutive losing seasons. 

Offense has usually never been a problem in Cheney, but losing quarterback Kekoa Visperas and returner/running back/whatever else they need player Michael Wortham to the transfer portal, and wide receiver Efton Chism III to the NFL, didn’t help. 

The problem in recent years has been defense. If the Eags can get off the field, more wins should come. 

Still, it’s a rugged opening few weeks, starting with road games at Incarnate Word (ranked No. 5 in FCS0, Boise State and Northern Iowa. 

Optimistically, let’s say (pray for?) 7-5, and in the mix for an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. 

But if things go sideways early, it could be another 4-8 campaign, with that schedule — which includes conference games vs. Idaho, Montana, Montana State and Sacramento State. 

Boise State: The Broncos are back to the point where you look at their schedule and say, "Which game will they lose?” 

Notre Dame, because it’s Notre Dame? Northern Illinois won there last year. 

Games at South Florida and Air Force, and vs. App State early, will get their attention. 

The usual other Mountain West suspects are there — including UNLV, San Diego State, Colorado State and Utah State. 

There’s also two conference games with ties to here — New Mexico, with Eck; and Nevada, coached by former St. Maries star and former Post Falls coach and AD Jeff Choate. 

But really, Boise State should run the table in its last year in that league. No excuses. 

So let’s say the Broncos go 11-1, win the conference title game, and land somewhere in the College Football Playoff again.  

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.