Nevada (1-0) vs. Idaho State (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 11 • 7:30 p.m.
Reno, Nev. • Mackay Stadium
Series: Nevada leads, 18-12
Last Meeting: Idaho State 30, Nevada 28 (Sept. 16, 2017) - Reno, Nev.
TV: Stadium/Nevada Sports Net (PxP: Noah Coslov, Analyst: Jordan Palmer)
Radio: ESPN 94.5 FM (PxP: John Ramey, Analyst: Mike Edwards)
RENO, Nev. - Nevada (1-0), fresh off of a season-opening victory at California, opens its 2021 home slate Saturday night, hosting Idaho State for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Saturday night's contest will be broadcast on Stadium, and locally on Nevada Sports Net, with Noah Coslov (play-by-play) and Jordan Palmer (analyst) on the call.


The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game as well on 94.5 FM with John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 6:30 p.m. PT.

SERIES HISTORY
The series history between Nevada and Idaho State dates back to 1936, when the Pack defeated the Bengals 21-12 in Reno. Nevada holds a 18-12 series edge over Idaho State. The Pack have one nine of its last 10 matchups against Idaho State.

The last time the Pack and Bengals faced off was on Sept. 16, 2017, when Idaho State claimed a 30-28 victory in Reno.


PACK BEATS CAL, MOVES TO 1-0
Nevada opened its 2021 season with a 22-17 victory over the California Golden Bears in Berkeley on Sept. 4. Prior to Saturday, Nevada's last road win at a Power 5 team also came at Cal when Nevada defeated the Golden Bears 31-24 on Sept. 1, 2012. After Cal opened the game with a 14-0 lead, Nevada scored 22 unanswered points to lead the remainder of the game. Carson Strong threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, posting his ninth 300-yard passing game of his career. Kicker Brandon Talton recorded his 12th multi-FG game of his career after going 3-for-4 for Nevada. Romeo Doubs finished with six catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, Cole Turner led all Pack receivers with seven catches (for 75 yards), and WR Tory Horton led the Pack with 94 receiving yards on three catches. Elijah Cooks recorded his first touchdown since the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Jan. 3, 2020. The Pack defense came up clutch to secure Nevada's victory. Cornerback Isaiah Essissima, a transfer from Wake Forest, made his first interception in a Nevada jersey in his Wolf Pack debut, stopping a late fourth-quarter Cal drive with a pick. Sam Hammond and Daniel Grzesiak tallied sacks for the Pack, including Hammond's 13-yard loss which resulted in a missed Cal field goal attempt. JoJuan Claiborne led the Pack defense with 10 tackles (eight solo), and shared a tackle-for-loss.

STRONG NAMED MW OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Quarterback Carson Strong bagged his first Mountain West weekly honor Monday, being named the conference's offensive player of the week following his performance in the win at Cal. In the win, Strong threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, completing 22-of-39 passes, for the ninth 300-yard game of his career.

The honor was the third of Strong's career, after having earned it twice in 2020.

COMEBACK TIME
Nevada overcame a 14-0 first-half deficit Saturday to beat California, marking the team's largest comeback largest against a Power 5 team since overcoming two 17-point deficits (24-7, 31-14) to defeat Purdue, 34-31, on Aug. 30, 2019. Nevada's last comeback win from a 14-point deficit was when it defeated Fresno State, 35-28, after trailing 28-14, on Nov. 23, 2019.

POWER WINS
Saturday night's win at California was Nevada's second in its last three matchups against the Pac-12 (win over Oregon State in 2018, loss at Oregon in 2019, win at California).

The Pack is also 3-4 overall against the Power 5 under head coach Jay Norvell (2017-present), with three wins in its last five such outings.

AIR ESSISSIMA
Isaiah Essissima recorded his first collegiate interception in his first night in a Wolf Pack uniform, grabbing a game-clinching interception with 04:29 left to play. Essissima, a Wake Forest transfer, started in his first game for Nevada and tallied four tackles and an interception.\

GOOD TO BE BACK
WR Elijah Cooks' 16-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter at Cal was his first since the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Ohio on Jan. 3, 2020.

Cooks caught two passes in the second half of last year's season opener against Wyoming, but suffered a season-ending injury in the same contest.

HONORING HIS SISTER
Grad transfer defensive back Bentlee Sanders announced on his Twitter account (@2Bsanders0) that he and the Nevada football program are dedicating the Idaho State home-opener to those who have lost their battle and who are still fighting mental illness. Sanders, who lost his sister to suicide in 2014, wants to raise awareness and build support for mental health. National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 5-11.