In fact, Idaho and Nevada happen to be ahead of Boise in the WAC standings. And either the Vandals or the Wolf Pack will remain that way after they meet Saturday, Oct. 24, at Reno, Nev.
Idaho (6-1 overall, 3-0 WAC) has won five straight games since a 42-23 loss at Washington. The Vandals, who have shown a penchant for clutch play, are coming off a 35-23 conference win over Hawaii.
Nevada (3-3, 2-0) is on a three-game winning streak. The Wolf Pack turned back Utah State 35-32 last Saturday to stay perfect in WC play.
Boise, the overwhelming WAC favorite, has played only one conference game and thus has ground to make up. The No. 6-ranked Broncos are at Hawaii on Saturday.
In any case, undefeated Boise State is no longer the only team creating good cheer in the state of Idaho. The Vandals were 1-11 in 2008, which was Robb Akey's first season as head coach. But now he has them one win away from clinching their first winning season since 1999.
If they do it Saturday, they'll have to overcome a Nevada team that boasts the No. 1-ranked rushing attack in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. And the Wolf Pack owns a 17-9 series edge and four consecutive wins over the Vandals.
The game is scheduled for Noon PST. It will be telecast by the Nevada Sports Network.
Vandals Make Big Plays in 4th Quarter
Throughout its winning streak, Idaho has delivered pivotal fourth-quarter plays. The Vandals scored two TDs in the final period to pull away from Hawaii last Saturday, and edged San Jose State the previous weekend with a touchdown with 1 minute 10 seconds left.
Also, Idaho stopped a 2-point conversion in the final two minutes to halt Colorado State 31-29, and scored twice in the fourth quarter to turn back San Diego State 34-20.
The Vandals are averaging 420.3 yards and 29.6 points per game, utilizing a balance offense guided by junior quarterback Nathan Enderle. Idaho is giving up 25.1 points and 364 yards, being very solid against the run (96.0 yards per game).
QB Enderle Accurate for Idaho
The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Enderle was particularly effective vs. Hawaii, completing 14 of 17 passes for 226 yards and a TD. On the season, he's hit 64.4 percent of his passes for 1,735 yards and nine touchdowns, against six interceptions.
Max Komar has been his most frequent target, making 33 catches for 538 yards and two touchdowns. But the Vandals also have sound targets in Eric Greenwood (25 receptions, 367 yards, 2 TDs), Daniel Hardy (19 receptions, 322 yards, 2 TDs in 6 games) and Preston Davis (18 catches, 214 yards).
The running game features DeMaundray Woolridge, who has churned up 530 yards and 12 TDs on 5.8 yards per carry. The 5-9, 240-pound senior is tied for seventh in the FBS with an average of 10.29 points per game.
Another good running option for the Vandals is Princeton McCarty. The sophomore has rushed for 432 yards, averaging six yards per carry.
Safety Keo Leads Vandals Defense
Safety Shiloh Keo paces Idaho in tackles with 64, and also leads the Vandals in interceptions with three. The junior sealed his team's wins over Colorado State and Hawaii with late picks.
Linebacker JoJo Dickson has made some big plays of his own, compiling 39 tackles along with two interceptions.
Jeromy Jones has recorded 35 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered two of them, and blocked a kick. Tre'Shawn Robinson, a reserve linebacker, paces the Vandals with six tackles for losses.
The Idaho kicking game has been efficient as well, with two freshmen carrying the load. Trey Farquhar is 11-for-14 on field goals with a season-high kick of 52 yards. Bobby Cowan is averaging 44.5 yards per punt.
Kaepernick-led Nevada Offense Ranks 4th in FBS
Coach Chris Ault's pistol offense has been ringing up huge numbers after a slow start. Nevada ranks No. 1 in the FBS with 292.8 rushing yards per game and fourth with average of 479.5 yards of total offense.
The main producer is Colin Kaepernick, the swift-footed 6-foot-6 junior quarterback, who has rushed for 461 yards and three TDs on 6.4 yards per carry. Kaepernick has completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,109 yards and nine touchdowns, with five interceptions.
Freshman Brandon Wimberly has a game-high 27 receptions for 433 yards and four TD receptions. Sophomore Trey Session is No. 2 on the team with 22 catches for 232 yards, and Chris Wellington is third with 14 receptions for 147 yards. Tight end Virgil Green (13 catches, 146 yards) has three TD catches.
Wolf Pack Features Multi-Faceted Ground Attack
Nevada's ground game features a deep, experienced group of backs, with Kaepernick sharing carries with Luke Lippincott and Vai Taua. Lippincott leads Nevada rushers with 497 yards and two TDs on a 7.0 average, and Taua has added 463 yards and three TDs, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.
Mike Ball has scored a team-high five touchdowns, and all came in a 63-28 rout of UNLV in which the freshman filled in for an injured Taua with 184-yards.
Turnovers have been a problem for Nevada, which has committed 16 – including11 fumbles. And Nevada's attempted just three field goals all season, hitting one.
Nevada No. 4 in Tackles for Loss
Nevada ranks low nationally, giving up 29.17 points and 400 yards a contest. But the Wolf Pack is tied for fourth in the FBS with a per-game average of 8.83 tackles for loss.
Defensive Dontay Moch has made 15.5 of them and leads the FBS with a 2.58 average. The junior has 32 tackles overall.
Another Wolf Pack lineman, Kevin Basped, has eight tackles for loss and five sacks among his 22 total stops.
Safety Jonathon Amaya heads the Pack in total tackles with 43. Linebacker Brandon Marshall is second with 36, and DB Mo Harvey has 35. Linebacker James-Michael Johnson's made 33 tackles, including 5.5 for losses.
