UTSA at South Alabama
TIME/SITE: 1:00 p.m. CT; Mobile, Ala.; Ladd-Peebles Stadium (33,471/FieldTurf)
TELEVISION: ESPN3; Jonathan Yardley (PbP), Cole Cubelic (Analyst)
SERIES LOOK: South Alabama leads the series 1-0 after a double overtime win, 30-27, at UTSA last season.
COACHES: UTSA's Larry Coker is in his second season with the Roadrunners and is 4-6. Overall, he is 64-21 in eight years as a head coach. South Alabama's Joey Jones is in his fourth season with the Jaguars and is 23-4. Overall, he is 26-11 in five years as a head coach.
GAME NOTES: The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30, but postponed to Saturday due to Hurricane Isaac. UTSA - begins its second season of football after a 4-6 record last year ... blocked five kicks in 2011 ... junior QB Eric Soza threw for 2,148 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 285 yards and three scores last season in his first year with the Roadrunners. South Alabama - has won its last three season openers (all at home) by a combined score of 106-13 ... begins its fourth year of football ... blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt against the Roadrunners last year to force overtime and eventually get the win.
Texas State at Houston
TIME/SITE: 7:00 p.m. CT; Houston, Texas; Robertson Stadium (32,000/Grass)
TELEVISION: CSS; Matt Stewart (PbP), Chuck Oliver (Analyst), Rachel Baribeau (Sidelines)
SERIES LOOK: Texas State leads the series 3-1. The teams last met in 2010 in Houston where the Cougars won, 68-28. Texas State last won in 1948, 3-0, in San Marcos.
COACHES: Texas State's Dennis Franchione is in his fourth season with the Bobcats and is 19-15. Overall, he is 193-107-2 in 27 years as a head coach. Houston's Tony Levine is in his first full season with the Cougars and is 1-0.
GAME NOTES: Texas State - begins its first season in an FBS conference ... is opening on the road for the third straight year ... has not won its season-opener when on the road since 1992 ... Dennis Franchione's 37 WAC victories (at New Mexico and TCU) rank 11th all-time ... TE Chase Harper returns after catching 20 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns last year. Houston - is playing its final season in Conference USA before moving to the Big East in 2013 ... the 13 wins by the Cougars last season were the most by any team in the country ... has won its last 10 home openers.
Sacramento State at
New Mexico State
TIME/SITE: Thursday; 6:00 p.m. MT; Las Cruces, N.M.; Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343/Grass)
TELEVISION: AggieVision; Glen Cerny (PbP), Danny Knee (Analyst); ESPN3; Altitude
SERIES LOOK: This is the first meeting between the two schools.
COACHES: Sacramento State's Marshall Sperbeck is in his sixth season with the Hornets and is 24-32. New Mexico State's DeWayne Walker is in his fourth season with the Aggies and is 9-29.
GAME NOTES: Sacramento State - has faced an FBS team every season since 2002 with its only win coming last year at Oregon State, 29-28 ... Sam McCowan is the lead returning running back for the Hornets, averaging 27.9 yards per game in 2011 ... RB A.J. Ellis played at Fresno State the previous three years and rushed for 281 yards and scored five touchdowns in 2010. New Mexico State - QB Andrew Manley returns to the field after suffering a season-ending injury in 2011 against UTEP ... in three games, Manley threw for 892 yards and six touchdowns ... senior DE Donte Savage is back for his final year after sitting the 2011 season ... he played 12 games in 2010, recording 36 tackles and three sacks.
Southern Utah at Utah State
TIME/SITE: Thursday; 6:00 p.m. MT; Logan, Utah; Romney Stadium (25,513/AstroTurf)
TELEVISION: KMYU (Salt Lake City); Mychal Clanton (PbP), Kevin White (Analyst); ESPN3
SERIES LOOK: Utah State leads the series 2-0. The teams last met in 2009 Logan where the Aggies won 53-34.
COACHES: Southern Utah's Ed Lamb is in his fifth season with the Thunderbirds and is 21-23. Utah State's Gary Andersen is in his fourth season with the Aggies and is 19-29.
GAME NOTES: Southern Utah - is playing its first season in the Big Sky after eight year in the Great West ... has posted a 6-5 record the last two years ... QB Brad Sorensen is the only FCS player listed on the Johnny Unitas Award watch list after throwing for 6,306 yards and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons. Utah State - has won its last five regular season games ... is opening at home for the first time since 2007 ... has back-to-back home games to start the season for just the third time since 1954 and first since 1996 ... both Chuckie Keeton and Adam Kennedy threw 11 touchdown passes last season ... Gary Andersen was the head coach at Southern Utah for the 2003 season (4-7).
Eastern Washington at Idaho
TIME/SITE: Thursday; 6:00 p.m. PT; Moscow, Idaho; Kibbie Dome (16,000/RealGrass Pro)
TELEVISION: ESPN3; Trey Bender (PbP), Jay Taylor (Analyst)
SERIES LOOK: Idaho leads the series 15-5. Eastern Washington won the last meeting in 2003, 8-5, in Moscow. Idaho on the previous game in 1999, 48-21, at Eastern Washington.
COACHES: Eastern Washington's Beau Baldwin is in his fifth season with the Eagles and is 33-16. Overall, he is 43-19 in six years as a head coach. Idaho's Robb Akey is in his sixth year with the Vandals and is 19-43.
GAME NOTES: Eastern Washington - is ranked in the top 15 of the preseason FCS polls ... the Eagles won the 2010 FCS National Championship ... has lost its last 10 games against FBS opponents with its last win coming against Idaho in 2003 ... faces Washington State in Pullman on Sept. 8. Idaho - was 1-4 in games decided by one score or less last season ... senior P Bobby Cowan is the nation's leading returing punter with a 46.4-yard average per punt last season ... senior LB Homer Mauga changed his number this season from 19 to 55 to honor the memory of his cousin, Junior Seau, who died over the summer.
