The opening week of league play is upstaged by a nonconference showdown in the desert of the Beehive State. Locally, those V’s should find themselves on the right side of .500 for the first time in three years.

Northern Arizona at No. 7 Montana State

NAU just lost its best defensive lineman to transfer. That’ll be kryptonite against the burly, battering Bobcats.

Idaho at Northern Colorado

Winnie or Boo Boo. Corny, sure. But either applies to the Bears’ offense.

No. 18 Montana at No. 4 UC Davis

Remember last year? UM led 21-3 at the break, then didn’t score again and GAVE UP 36 IN THE FOURTH. Griz won’t be able to forget it.

North Dakota at No. 21 Eastern Washington

Eagles are battered left and right. A notable running back is leaving. What the ... did Idaho, of all teams, break EWU?

Portland State at Idaho State

Three combined D-II wins, none D-I. ISU can’t figure out its QBs; PSU probably exploits that in an interesting one between two of the league’s mainstay middle-classers.

No. 9 Northern Iowa at No. 5 Weber State

It’ll be as anti-offense as it gets in Ogden. No. 106 vs. No. 117 overall. Got a bellringer-heavy 6-3 ballgame in the making.

Cal Poly at Southern Utah

At least the T-birds have neat uniforms. But that’s it. Poly rolls.

— Colton Clark