Idaho faces Southern Utah's rushing attack during homecoming Saturday

Idaho and Southern Utah enter their upcoming matchup with similar conference standings and unpredictable recent performances, according to a October 23 report. Both teams have experienced inconsistent results, beating opponents they were expected to lose to while losing to teams they were expected to defeat.

The Thunderbirds hold a 3-4 record and are ranked seventh in the Big Sky Conference, while the Vandals sit at 2-5 and eighth in the conference. Southern Utah enters the contest following a 38-17 victory over 14th-ranked UC Davis. Idaho comes off a win against the Grizzlies.

A primary focus for the game is the Southern Utah rushing attack against the Idaho defense. The Vandals currently hold the worst run defense in the Big Sky, allowing an average of 231.3 yards per game and 5.9 yards per carry. In contrast, Southern Utah leads the league in rushing with 269.1 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry. Floyd Chalk is the Big Sky's leading rusher with 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns. Southern Utah quarterback Will Burns also contributes to the ground game, averaging 93.7 yards per game.

The Vandals' offensive strategy relies heavily on quarterback Joshua Wood, who leads the Big Sky with 291.1 passing yards per game and has thrown all 12 of the team's touchdowns. Southern Utah possesses the conference's worst passing attack, averaging 186 yards per game. Idaho's defense will also look to rely on top tacklers Cruz Hepburn and Khaled Rawls, while safety Zach Wusstig is expected to return to the lineup after missing the Montana game.

Idaho's recent schedule includes a 35-34 victory over reigning national champion Montana State and a 38-27 loss to Weber State. Southern Utah's recent history includes a 28-21 loss to Montana and three consecutive losses to Colorado State, St. Thomas, and Idaho State.