The Big Sky conference released its 2024 football preseason polls and all-conference selections on July 19, projecting the Portland State Vikings to finish at the back-end of the conference and with one all-conference honoree.
The Big Sky's media poll projected the Viks to finish 10th out of 12 teams, while the coaches poll had them up one spot at nine. The selections come after Portland State finished out 2023 with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 record in conference.
The 2024 schedule will do Portland State no favors. The Vikings have the Big Sky preseason top five — Montana, Montana State, Sacramento State, UC Davis and Idaho — on the 2024 schedule, as well as a 2023 playoff team in South Dakota and two FBS squads in Washington State and Boise State.
If Portland State wants to exceed preseason expectations, a few key contributors on both the offense and defense will be absolutely critical.
On the defense, linebacker Michael Montgomery was the Viks lone all-conference selection following his stellar 2023 campaign. Montgomery recorded a total of 69 tackles, including three for loss, in his first year with Portland State while starting all 11 games as a freshman. The now-sophomore will be critical in the middle of the Vikings defense as he looks to improve in 2024 as well as add his first career sack to his ledger.
Offensively, Portland State will go as far as senior quarterback Dante Chachere can take them. The 6-foot-3 product of Fresno, California, is a dual threat in every sense of the word. In 2023, Chachere completed 61% of his attempts for 1,500 yards and 16 scores while rushing for 629 yards and 10 more scores.
The Vikings' season gets underway at noon on August 31, taking on Washington State in Pullman, Washington.
Big Sky Preseason Media Poll
1 Montana (26)
2 Montana State (9)
3 Idaho (2)
4 UC Davis (1)
5 Sacramento State
6 Eastern Washington
7 Weber State
8 Idaho State
9 Northern Arizona
10 Portland State
11 Cal Poly
12 Northern Colorado
Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll
1 Montana (10)
2 Montana State (1)
3 Idaho
4 UC Davis (1)
5 Sacramento State
6 Weber State
7 Northern Arizona
8 Eastern Washington
9 Portland State
10 Idaho State
11 Northern Colorado
12 Cal Poly
Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team
QB Tommy Mellott, Montana State
RB Lan Larison, UC Davis*
RB Eli Gillman, Montana
FB Rohan Jones, Montana State
WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington*
WR Junior Bergen, Montana
WR Jared Gipson, Sacramento State
TE Coleman Kuntz, Sacramento State*
TE Jake Cox, Idaho
OL Brandon Casey, Montana*
OL Marcus Wehr, Montana State
OL Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
OL Justus Perkins, Montana State
OL Jonny Bottorff, Northern Arizona
OL Nathan Mejia, Sacramento State
DL Brody Grebe, Montana State*
DL Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
DL Brayden Wilson, Weber State
DL Zach Kennedy, UC Davis
DL Dallas Afalava, Idaho
DL Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho
LB Riley Wilson, Montana*
LB Will Leota, Sacramento State
LB Michael Montgomery, Portland State
LB Danny Uluilakepa, Montana State
LB Tommy Ellis, Northern Arizona
DB Rex Connors, UC Davis*
DB Trevin Gradney, Montana
DB Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona
DB Calvin Pitcher, Idaho State
DB Tommy McCormick, Idaho
DB Rylan Ortt, Montana State
K Hunter Ridley, UC Davis
P Brendan Hall, Montana State
KR Abraham Williams, Idaho
PR Junior Bergen, Montana
LS Tommy Sullivan, Montana State
ST Isiah Childs, Montana
AP Junior Bergen, Montana
Offensive MVP: Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Defensive MVP: Brody Grebe, DL, Montana State
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