Idaho football boasts the preseason Big Sky MVP, but where did Vandals land in polls?

Expectations were already high inside the University of Idaho football program after a record-setting season in 2022 that included a trip to the FCS playoffs.

But the Vandals won’t be taking anyone by surprise this season in the second year under head coach Jason Eck.

In the preseason polls released Monday at the annual Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Idaho was picked to finish second in the media poll — receiving eight first-place votes — and fifth in the coaches poll. Montana State was the favorite in both polls.

“We’re not going to sneak up on anybody,” Eck told The Lewiston Tribune. “Everyone is going to be excited to play Idaho, and we have to embrace that. That’s something you have to embrace, and that’s part of the process of building a program.”

Six Vandals received Preseason Big Sky All-Conference honors, led by redshirt junior wide receiver Hayden Hatten, who was named the Big Sky Offensive Preseason MVP.

Hatten is coming off a record-setting season that saw him set the Idaho single-season touchdown record (16) and single-game touchdown record (4). He now has 24 career touchdowns, just three short of Jerry Hendren’s school record of 27.

He finished with 1,209 yards last season, fourth all-time on the school record list.

“These preseason polls and awards are like the practice exam,” Hatten told The Lewiston Tribune. “You study all week, take the practice exam, and get 100%. It doesn’t mean you get 100% on the real exam. You have to go take it.”

Joining Hatten on the all-conference team were quarterback Gevani McCoy, receiver Jermaine Jackson, running back Anthony Woods, defensive back Marcus Harris and kicker Ricardo Chavez.

Idaho State, which begins this season under new head coach Cody Hawkins, was picked last in both preseason polls.