SEASON OUTLOOK

Since going 7-4 in 2011, Portland State has slowly faded in the Big Sky standings, finishing no higher than ninth the past three seasons. Considering the Vikings went with Bruce Barnum to take over as their head coach on a one-year interim basis after firing Nigel Burton, it’d be easy to assume they’re destined for another losing season. But Barnum, the team’s former offensive coordinator, is familiar with the talent in place. And make no mistake, PSU, with 16 returning starters, is a dangerous, athletic squad with one of the Big Sky’s better defenses.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

Keiran McDonagh

McDonagh has started 29 of the last 35 games for the Vikings under center. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior has amassed 6,894 total offensive yards and helped power Portland State’s potent rushing attack that’s averaged at least 200 yards a game for five straight seasons.

Steven Long/Nate Tago

Long and Tago combined to rush for 959 yards and five touchdowns a season ago, and should be Portland State’s two featured tailbacks in 2015. Long, a sophomore, isn’t big at 5-7, 180 pounds, but he’s speedy and a home-run threat. Tago (5-11, 215 pounds), a junior, is a bruiser and a nice change of pace from Long.

Jonathan Gonzalez

The junior led the Big Sky Conference in field goals last season after nailing 17 of his 24 attempts. He had a long of 53 yards and was perfect in extra-point attempts (33 for 33). In the high-scoring Big Sky Conference, settling for field goals is dangerous. But having a reliable kicker is a vital weapon in close games.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

Aaron Sibley

As a junior, Sibley was third on Portland State with 53 tackles. He also had eight passes defended and picked up 113 yards returning kickoffs. Along with junior Xavier Coleman, Sibley forms a capable cornerback duo.

Jeremy Lutali

Lutali is a returning senior linebacker who started 12 games last season and led the Vikings with 87 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. He’s part of a ferocious front seven defensively for the Vikings that’s expected to be one of their strengths.

Junior Alexis

Barnum has said Portland State’s greatest asset is a defensive line filled with experienced juniors and seniors. Listed at 6-2, 290 pounds, Alexis had 49 tackles and two sacks as a junior and will bolster a rushing defense (160.8 yards per game) that was third in the Big Sky in 2014.

THREE TO PONDER

Can the Vikings offense cut down on turnovers?

Portland State was minus-12 in turnover margin a season ago. Part of the problem was an offense that coughed up nine fumbles and 17 interceptions. The defense didn’t help much, either, finishing the season with 14 forced turnovers. How much did turnovers hinder the Vikings? They had six against the Bengals, undoing any chance for an upset in a 31-13 defeat.

Who will the Vikings start at quarterback?

McDonagh will be pushed by junior Paris Penn and sophomore Josh Knight in the fall to see who will start. McDonagh has plenty of experience and is a dynamic running threat. But he struggled in the passing game as a junior, completing 51 percent of his attempts and tossing 13 interceptions (compared to 12 passing TDs).

Does Barnum represent the future for PSU football?

When Portland State fired Nigel Burton following PSU’s 3-9 campaign in 2014, the administration tabbed offensive coordinator Bruce Barnum to take over in an interim basis because the Vikings were still searching for a new athletic director. Interim coach or not, Barnum, who has run PSU’s offense since 2010, is in a position to prove he’s the man to lead the Vikings into the future.

WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR THE BENGALS

Idaho State starts the season with up a cupcake against Division II Black Hills State. Portland State will be an entirely different challenge — and a big opportunity. It’s ISU’s first conference game and a shot to start the season 2-0 before taking off for a four-game, month-long road trip. Portland State is no pushover, and should be able to test ISU’s run defense on one side of the ball and the Bengals’ offensive line on the other.