THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: 'Much-needed' pause for the Vandals before the home stretch

Not all byes are “much-needed.”

Just like not every emotional person “sobs uncontrollably” (as opposed to those “controlled sobs”).

And not all overtime games are “thrillers” — in some instances, both teams are just inept enough to not be able to win the game in regulation, so they have to keep playing. Them’s the rules.

THAT SAID, a case could be made that the Idaho Vandals football team is on the proverbial “much-needed bye” this week.

Of the first seven games for the Vandals (5-2, 3-1 Big Sky), five have been on the road — two vs. FBS opponents, one of those a victory (at Nevada).

So, coming off an emotional 23-21 loss to “heated rival” Montana, which featured a “furious fourth-quarter comeback” by Idaho, before the first sellout crowd at the Kibbie Dome in 13 years, now seems as good a time as any to take a break and hit the reset button.

(Editor’s note: Had Idaho converted that last two-point attempt in the final 2 minutes, the game would have indeed become an “overtime thriller.” However, the losing team “sobbing uncontrollably” afterward might have been a stretch.)

A few Vandals who are “dinged up” get an extra week to heal. Also, Idaho lost a starting offensive lineman for the season in practice the week of the Montana game, so an extra week of work for the new starter to get in tune with the other linemen can’t hurt.

(Funny thing about linemen. Most people don’t notice them unless they’re getting beat on pass protecting, or committing holding penalties. But they’re kinda important to an offense.)

OF ALL the talking points heading into last week’s Idaho-Montana game, “big-game jitters” wasn’t one of them.

But it came up afterward, after Idaho’s shaky start in falling behind 20-0. The Griz have been in big games in recent years, and weren’t fazed by playing in front of a rare big crowd at the Dome.

Now the Vandals have that experience, and can put it to use this Saturday, when another big game, this time vs. league-leading Montana State, which played in the FCS championship game last year, visits the Kibbie Dome with its two-headed running quarterback duo.

Moving forward, barring a “shocking collapse,” the Vandals are on track for their second straight playoff appearance since the return. After playing the Bobcats, Idaho travels to Northern Colorado and Weber State, then hosts Idaho State in the regular season finale.

If so, the question will be, where will the Vandals end up in the 24-team bracket? A top-eight seed, which would mean a first-round bye and likely a second-round home game? If not, a first-round home game? If the Vandals and Griz are matched up again in the playoffs, will the game be in Missoula this time, where the Griz can attract as many as 26,000 to Washington-Grizzly Stadium?

WHATEVER HAPPENS, Idaho doesn’t seem to have any gaping areas of concern, if the offensive line gets back on track after injury, with a week off to rest and prepare.

The Vandals defense is solid from back to front, and Idaho is balanced on offense. The Vandals have two powerful running backs, and if defenses want to take that away, quarterback Gevani McCoy has a bevy of talented receivers to throw to. And if defenses pressure the QB, McCoy can hurt teams with his legs this year. Those legs extended plays last week, and nearly helped Idaho pull out the Montana game.

This is not “breaking news”, but the Vandals are built to be successful in the playoffs, under any conditions.

Sans “big-game jitters”, of course.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.