Idaho Vandals Vandals

The good news for Oregon State and Washington State -- spurned by power conferences -- is that teams have been left behind before. Some, like TCU, eventually survived.

The California native and former soccer player kicks and punts, but that isn't the only trait that makes him special.

Idaho kicker Ricardo Chavez kicks a winning field goal to send the Vandals to the FCS quarterfinals.

The defending champion Jackrabbits will be hard to catch. Here's a look at who has the best shot as the FCS playoffs get underway.

— Jack Layne threw six touchdown passes in a 56-point first half and the Idaho Vandals rolled to a 63-21 victory over Idaho State on Saturday night.

— Adrian Cormier put Weber State on top for good with a 13-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and the Wildcats knocked off FCS No. 4 Idaho 31-29 on Saturday.

— Gevani McCoy hit Hayden Hatten with the go-ahead touchdown and Idaho defeated Montana State 24-21 on Saturday in a game that saw three lead changes in the fourth quarter and created a three-way tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference.

— Clifton McDowell threw a touchdown pass and ran for a TD, Grant Glasgow kicked three field goals and Montana held on to beat Idaho 23-21 Saturday night in a battle of two of the top teams in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Clifton McDowell finds Junior Bergen for a 76-yard house call and Montana goes up 10-0.

— Gevani McCoy ran for a touchdown and passed for another score, wide receiver Hayden Hatten threw his second touchdown pass of the season and Idaho beat Cal Poly 42-14 Saturday night.