3 TO WATCH: WESTERN OREGON

WR/KR/PR Paul Revis

The 5-foot-9 senior accounted for 35 percent of his team's receptions and 42 percent of yards receiving last season, when he hauled in 70 catches for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference-best 1,057 yards and eight touchdowns. Revis also led Division II with 24.3 yards per punt return to earn first-team GNAC honors at receiver and return specialist.

Revis returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown to help WOU beat Sacramento State 38-30 last season. He was named a HERO Sports preseason first-team All-American as an all-purpose player.

“One of the best players you'll see come to Holt Arena this year, and arguably one of the best in Division II,” ISU head coach Rob Phenicie said. “He's quick, he's tough and he makes plays. Out in open space, he's a dangerous player.”

LB Bo Highburger

Highburger was second in the GNAC with 111 tackles last season, and his 6.3 solo tackles per game ranked 12th in Division II. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior was named to the HERO Sports preseason All-America second-team defense.

“He's been having a really good fall camp,” Western Oregon head coach Arne Ferguson said. “We expect him to run around and make some plays.”

QB Nick Duckworth/Phillip Fenumiai

Both of the Wolves' quarterbacks are expected to play against the Bengals, and each presents different challenges. Duckworth is a 6-foot-6 senior who completed 62.9 percent of his passes last season, while the 6-foot-3 senior Fenumiai was WOU's second-leading rusher with 311 yards in addition to 1,387 yards passing.

It's unclear who will start against ISU. Last season, Fenumiai started nine games and Duckworth made one start.

“Both have increased their athletic ability, and both increased their throwing,” Ferguson said. “One is built more for running, and one I built more for throwing.”

3 TO WATCH: IDAHO STATE

DE Rasheed Williams

Williams is listed as the starting left defensive end and will see his first action since 2015. The 6-foot-1, 275-pound redshirt sophomore missed last season with a foot injury after leading the Bengals with 4.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman. Williams' return is critical to a defense that ranked 11th in the 13-team Big Sky Conference in total defense a season ago.

RB/WR Michael Dean

Dean showcased his explosiveness in spurts last season, when he was mostly utilized as a running back. Dean made the transition to slot receiver this spring and should be a primary target in the Bengals' uptempo passing game.

The 5-foot-6, 155-pound sophomore was eased back into the backfield as fall camp wound down and figures to see action at both positions this season.

LB Mario Jenkins

At 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Jenkins is hard to miss. He's the focal point of ISU's 4-3 defensive alignment, and there are few moments in a game when Jenkins isn't in a pile of bodies.

Jenkins was third in the Big Sky with 9.3 tackles per game last season — a year after suffering a torn ACL — cementing himself as one of the league's top defensive players. Despite his success, Jenkins was left off the preseason all-conference list, potentially fueling his final season as a Bengal.

IDAHO STATE'S KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Special teams success

Special teams have caused more harm than good in recent years for Idaho State, and Western Oregon has one of Division II's most dangerous kick and punt returners in Paul Revis. Revis returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown last season in WOU's 38-30 win at Sacramento State, and Steven Long returned a kickoff 75 yards to end the first half.

The Bengals had multiple special teams-only practices during fall camp, and coaches emphasized treating special teams equally to offense and defense. Michael Dean, Kieran Yancy and Trey Bell are among ISU's players who were rotated as kick and punt returners during fall camp. All possess the lateral quickness and straight-ahead speed needed to break free for a long return.

2. Quarterback contain

Idaho State put mobile quarterbacks on the run last season, but oftentimes, would-be sacks turned into scrambles for gains. The Bengals have potential for an elite pass rush with Chance Salutregui and Rasheed Williams off the edge of the defensive line, while outside linebackers Mario Jenkins and Joe Martin combined for 13.5 tackles for loss last season.

Phillip Fenumiai, half of Western Oregon's two-headed quarterback attack, rushed 87 times last season for 311 yards, good for second on the team. Bengals head coach Rob Phenicie said the Wolves run read-option sets on offense, which will test ISU's pass-rushers and linemen.

3. Win the turnover battle

Idaho State was 11th in the 13-team Big Sky Conference last season with a minus-7 turnover margin, and the Bengals' 22 giveaways were tied for second-most in the league.

Western Oregon won the turnover battle 3-0 in last year's win against Sacramento State and clinched the win on an interception with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

“Turnovers will be a huge factor,” Phenicie said.