PREVIEW: Bears Journey to Sacramento State for Receiving Votes Matchup

GAMEDAY INFO & TIMELINE

Kickoff – 7 p.m. MDT / 6 p.m. PDT

TICKETS & PARKING

Ticket and parking data for Saturday’s sport can be found here.

 

WEEK 7 RECAP: Northern Colorado made a press release on Saturday, knocking off No. 11/13 Idaho 49-33 in one of many program’s greatest wins of the Division I period. The Bears (3-3, 1-1 Big Sky) silenced the Homecoming crowd contained in the Kibbie Dome with a dominant first half, scoring 35 factors, their second-highest in a half since becoming a member of Division I, and piling up 482 complete yards of offense. Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. continued his sturdy play, finishing 22 of 34 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third 300-yard efficiency of the season. Brayden Munroe led the receiving corps with 151 yards and a rating on 5 catches, whereas Carver Cheeks added 9 receptions for 120 yards and a speeding landing. Mathias Price contributed two complete touchdowns and 89 yards of offense. UNC jumped out early and by no means appeared again, scoring on seven of its first 9 drives. The Bears’ protection additionally rose to the event, forcing three takeaways and three sacks to maintain the Vandals in examine. Cam Chapa led the way in which with 10 tackles and a pivotal interception returned 43 yards, whereas Darrell Bryant Jr. added an interception of his personal. Hudson Voggesser, Zach Nowatzke, and Dominic Butts every recorded a sack as Northern Colorado handed Idaho its first house loss since 2023.

SERIES HISTORY

• The collection started in 2006 after Northern Colorado joined the Big Sky Conference.
• Sacramento State has dominated the matchup, successful 14 of 16 conferences.
• Northern Colorado’s final victory got here in 2016, a 27-19 house win.
• Five of UNC’s seven house losses have been determined by 10 factors or fewer, together with one-possession heartbreakers in 2007 (17-20), 2009 (35-38), 2014 (38-43), 2018 (25-28), and 2021 (24-27).
• Sacramento State has posted 50+ factors thrice (2008, 2017, 2019, 2022).
• UNC’s offense has surpassed 30 factors simply twice within the collection (2009, 2014).
• The Hornets have gained the final six matchups since 2016, together with a 21-13 win in Greeley in 2023.

THE LAMB ERA: In his third season, Ed Lamb continues to outline Northern Colorado’s identification on his personal phrases. A two-time Eddie Robinson Award finalist, Lamb’s emphasis on self-discipline, participant growth, and in-state recruiting is yielding tangible outcomes. After a 1-11 (1-7 Big Sky) end in 2024, the Bears have already matched and surpassed that complete win rely in 2025, whereas demonstrating competitiveness in practically each contest. The season kicked off with a 17-3 win over Chadron State (first season-opening victory since 2017), then a 21-17 near-upset at FBS Colorado State. UNC pushed No. 20/12 South Dakota to extra time (24-17) earlier than edging Houston Christian 26-23 in OT to succeed in 2-2. The Bears’ 49-33 highway conquer No. 11/13 Idaho propelled them to 3-3 (1-1 Big Sky) and earned nationwide consideration. That stated, their earlier 26-18 loss to Idaho State underscored areas nonetheless needing consistency. What stands out: Lamb’s method is forming a aggressive, resilient program that now calls for respect within the Big Sky.

GIBSON JR. SPARKS HIGH-POWERED ATTACK: Quarterback Eric Gibson Jr. continues to raise the offense. The redshirt junior torched No. 11/13 Idaho for 350 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-34 passing, his third 300-yard sport of the season. Gibson has surpassed 1,400 yards via six contests, rating among the many Big Sky’s best passers. Earlier this 12 months, he threw for a career-high 396 yards in opposition to Idaho State, the ninth-best single-game mark in UNC’s Division I historical past.

CHEEKS KEEPS MOVING THE CHAINS: Junior wideout Carver Cheeks has been Gibson’s go-to possibility all season. Against Idaho, Cheeks hauled in 9 receptions for 120 yards and added a speeding landing. He’s topped 90 yards in a number of video games and continues to steer the Bears in receptions and yards, bringing reliability and explosiveness to each drive.

CHAPA CHARGES THE DEFENSE: The Bears’ protection powered the upset in Moscow with three takeaways and three sacks, led by standout linebacker Cam Chapa. The sophomore completed with 10 tackles, a 43-yard interception return, and a sort out for loss, incomes Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform National Defensive Honorable Mention honors. Fellow defenders Hudson Voggesser, Zach Nowatzke, Darrell Bryant Jr., and Dominic Butts all contributed key performs as UNC restricted Idaho’s offensive assault.

SPECIAL TEAMS SETS THE TONE: Kicker Jacob Willig stayed sharp, changing a 52-yard area aim and each PATs within the Idaho win. He’s now 8-of-11 on area objectives and ideal on additional factors via six video games. Leo Blumentritt continues to flip the sphere with precision punting, whereas UNC’s protection models have stored opponents in examine.

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOR THE BLUE & GOLD: UNC’s assertion win over a top-15 opponent earned nationwide consideration:

• Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
• Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week: Cam Chapa
• Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week honorable point out: Cam Chapa
• Receiving Votes within the Stats Perform FCS Top 25

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