College football's opening weekend usually saves its chaos for Saturday. Cal Poly and Idaho didn't get the memo. The two FCS programs played a Friday night season opener at Mustang Memorial Field in San Luis Obispo that turned into an instant classic, and it happened before most fans had even set their Saturday couch plans.
Idaho cal poly is in game of the year territory
Idaho came in as the favorite and for good reason. The Vandals had won 5 straight meetings against Cal Poly dating back to 1996, and they brought in a Fresno State transfer quarterback and a loaded transfer class after a coaching overhaul. Cal Poly, meanwhile, was still sorting out its starting quarterback under new head coach Tim Skipper. On paper, this was supposed to be a get-right game for Idaho. On the field, it turned into a shootout that had Cal Poly trailing 34-31 late.
“College Football starts on Saturday” YEAH?! TELL THAT TO CAL POLY!
The moment that decided it all came on 4th-and-8. Facing a season-opening loss to a program that hadn't lost to them in nearly 3 decades, Cal Poly dialed up a shot play and connected. Receiver Tayvion McCoy, a JUCO transfer out of Ventura College who set a school receiving-touchdown record there, hauled in a 34-yard score to put Cal Poly ahead 37-34 with just 9 seconds on the clock.
INSANE WIN FOR CAL POLY! Underdog ML cashes on 4th and 8!
For a program that opened as a multi-point underdog against a historically dominant rival, that's about as good as a season-opening moneyline cash gets. Idaho still gets a full season to figure out its new-look offense, but they'll do it having blown a late lead to a team many expected them to handle comfortably.
It's the kind of finish that makes college football's opening slate worth clearing your schedule for, even on a Friday most people weren't watching. Cal Poly and Idaho gave everyone tuned in a preview of just how unpredictable this FCS season is shaping up to be.