Idaho State third, sixth in Big Sky football preseason polls

The Bengals, who are coming off their best season since 2003, received five first-place votes in a preseason poll of league media members and were tied with Montana for the No. 3 spot behind reigning conference champion Eastern Washington and Montana State.

Idaho State was picked sixth in the Big Sky coaches’ poll behind Montana State, Eastern Washington, Montana, Cal Poly and Northern Arizona.

The Bengals (8-4, 6-2 Big Sky) tied for second last year and have six preseason all-conference players — Xavier Finney, Christian Diehm, Madison Mangum (Timberline High), Taison Manu, Mario Jenkins (Columbia High) and Tyler Kuder (Payette High). They open the season Sept. 5 in Pocatello against Black Hills State.

BIG SKY PRESEASON POLLS

First-place votes in parentheses

COACHES

1. Montana State (6) 134

2. Eastern Washington (6) 133

3. Montana (1) 121

4. Cal Poly 111

5. Northern Arizona 95

6. Idaho State 90

7. Sacramento State 66

8. Southern Utah 64

9. (tie) Portland State 51

9. (tie) North Dakota 51

11. Weber State 43

12. UC Davis 33

13. Northern Colorado 22

MEDIA

1. Eastern Washington (17) 553

2. Montana State (17) 541

3. (tie) Montana (5) 446

3. (tie) Idaho State (5) 446

5. Cal Poly (1) 433

6. Northern Arizona (1) 399

7. Sacramento State 278

8. Southern Utah 255

9. North Dakota 226

10. Weber State 160

11. UC Davis 145

12. Portland State 133

13. Northern Colorado 127

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 11:54 PM with the headline "Idaho State third, sixth in Big Sky football preseason polls."