On July 16, 2018 during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Washington , the Thunderbirds were predicted to finish in sixth place in both the coaches and media poll.[ 1]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Eastern Washington
134 (6)
2
Weber State
124 (3)
3
Northern Arizona
121 (3)
4
Idaho
101 (1)
5
Sacramento State
94
6
Southern Utah
91
7
Montana
82
8
Montana State
76
9
UC Davis
64
10
Cal Poly
40
11
Northern Colorado
30
12
Idaho State
29
13
Portland State
21
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Eastern Washington
651 (27)
2
Weber State
636 (19)
3
Northern Arizona
535 (1)
4
Montana
496 (2)
5
Idaho
483 (3)
6
Southern Utah
449 (1)
7
Sacramento State
415
8
Montana State
391 (1)
9
UC Davis
331 (1)
10
Idaho State
170
11
Cal Poly
169
12
Northern Colorado
166
13
Portland State
103
Preseason All-Conference Team
edit
The Thunderbirds had five players selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.[ 2]
Marquez Tucker – Sr. OT
PJ Nu’usa – Jr. OG
Zach Larsen – Jr. C
Chinedu Ahanonu – Sr. LB
Jalen Russell – So. CB
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 6:00 p.m. North Alabama * Pluto TV 236L 30–348,912
September 8 6:00 p.m. at Oregon State * P12N L 25–4836,448
September 15 9:00 p.m. at Arizona * P12N L 31–6241,493
September 22 4:00 p.m. at Northern Arizona Pluto TV 239 L 23–315,832
October 6 2:00 p.m. at No. 5 Eastern Washington ATTRM L 17–558,887
October 13 6:00 p.m. Sacramento State Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT Pluto TV 236 W 48–2710,424
October 20 3:00 p.m. at Idaho Pluto TV 242 L 12–3112,798
October 27 6:00 p.m. Northern Colorado Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT Pluto TV 236 L 39–427,106
November 3 1:00 p.m. Montana Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT ATTRM L 14–577,162
November 10 5:00 p.m. No. 3 Weber State ELVN L 18–317,415
November 17 5:00 p.m. at Cal Poly Pluto TV 244 L 24–384,520
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions
3
10
7
14
34
Thunderbirds
0
16
7
7
30
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
0
7
9
9
25
Beavers
17
24
0
7
48
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
0
17
0
14
31
Wildcats
7
17
24
14
62
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
0
7
16
0
23
Lumberjacks
7
7
10
7
31
At Eastern Washington
edit
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
3
7
7
0
17
No. 5 Eagles
14
20
21
0
55
1
2
3
4
Total
Hornets
21
3
0
3
27
Thunderbirds
7
20
14
7
48
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
0
0
0
12
12
Vandals
10
14
7
0
31
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears
14
10
18
0
42
Thunderbirds
8
3
14
14
39
1
2
3
4
Total
Grizzlies
20
10
21
6
57
Thunderbirds
7
7
0
0
14
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 3 Wildcats
7
14
7
3
31
Thunderbirds
6
6
6
0
18
1
2
3
4
Total
Thunderbirds
14
7
0
3
24
Mustangs
0
21
7
10
38