Bengal football continues rise up rankings; volleyball riding high

POCATELLO — The Idaho State volleyball Bengals come home for the first time this season Thursday to take part in the Orange & Black Classic.

The tournament begins Thursday afternoon with Wyoming taking Boise State. The Bengals (7-2, 0-0) take the Reed Gym court for the first time in 2026 at 7 p.m., hosting the University of the Pacific, and they do so riding a four-match winning streak.

Idaho State is led by senior middle blocker Jaydin Watts, who was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week last week after recording 19 blocks (1.73 per set) and 14 digs. But the Bengals get significant contributions from a trio of former Madison High School state champions — freshman libero Aspen Boice, sophomore setter Nora Waddoups and freshman outside hitter Mia Walsh.

The Bengals will play three matches during this week’s tournament, including a Saturday afternoon showdown with Boise Sate, whom Idaho State beat 3-2 at the Boise State Classic last Saturday.

Their Thursday matchup with Pacific is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.; Friday’s match against the University of Wyoming is set for 6 p.m.; and the finale against the Broncos will start at 2 p.m.

Idaho State soccer will also be at home Thursday, hosting No. 18 Utah State at 4 p.m. The Bengals come in losers of two straight and three of four.

Like the volleyball team, ISU soccer (2-4-1) is loaded with former local prep stars, including senior forward and Highland High School alum Saydree Cooke, who leads the team with seven points. Fellow former Ram, freshman Devree Bell, scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-0 victory over the University of Nebraska at Omaha — assisted by Cooke. And former Pocatello High School standout, sophomore Kellie Christensen, has logged 98 minutes but has yet to score this season.

The Idaho State football Bengals (3-0, 0-0) continue to climb the STATS Perform FCS top 25 rankings, and are now the No. 16 team in the nation — up from 17 last week.

ISU is joined by Big Sky Conference foes Montana State (No. 1), Montana (No. 3), UC Davis (No. 11) and Northern Arizona (No. 20) on the list.

The Bengals jumped one spot following a 59-17 destruction of the San Diego Toreros inside the ICCU Dome Saturday.

Senior quarterback Jordan Cooke was credited with three touchdown passes of 74 yards or longer in the victory, including a 79-yarder and 90-yarder to sophomore wideout Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio.

The game also featured a pick-six from defensive tackle Collin Lewis.

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The Bengals will be back on the road Saturday, at Southern Utah, before returning on Oct. 3 to host Northern Arizona in their conference opener.

ISU lost 46-24 at Southern Utah last year and will be looking for some revenge this weekend.