POCATELLO - On paper, this is the biggest mismatch of the Big Sky Conference season. No. 2-ranked Montana comes to Holt Arena today to face winless Idaho State at 3:30 p.m.

The Grizzlies (8-0, 5-0 Big Sky) are looking to claim at least a share of their 12th consecutive Big Sky championship, while the Bengals (0-9, 0-6) are looking for their first win in an upset that would be of biblical proportions.

It may be the ultimate David vs. Goliath scenario, but in this case the little guy doesn't even have a slingshot. Add to it the fact that Goliath will have an estimated 2,000 or so of his fans on hand and it could be a very long afternoon for head coach John Zamberlin and his battered ISU team.

Swirling about this game are reports that Montana is now giving serious consideration to leaving the Big Sky Conference as soon as August 2011 (when an NCAA mandate blocking any moves up to a higher division expires), and this could be the final time the Griz make an appearance in southeastern Idaho.

Injuries and a lack of talent and depth at key positions have hindered the Bengals. Zamberlin said he and his staff must address those things in recruiting.

"We've got to get some speed in our backfield and our linebacking corps is going to be very thin due to graduations," he said. "So we've got to replace that area."

As far as the immediate task of trying to slow down the nation's second ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision, Zamberlin talked about doing the basics.

"To beat them we've got to eliminate giving up big plays, we've got to be sound against the run and we've got to pressure their quarterback," he said.

It also wouldn't hurt to be able to run the football effectively, something ISU simply has not been able to do save for some rare exceptions.

How bad has ISU's run game been? Historically bad.

The Bengals have gained a total of 276 yards and one touchdown via the ground this season. The school's futility mark for rushing came in a 0-11 1988 campaign with two rushing scores and 547 yards.

"Our running game has been sputtering because of all the injuries to our offensive line as well as our running backs," said Zamberlin.

The Bengals may not have one fully healthy running back available today and the offense is ranked among the worst in the country.

The ISU defense has actually played well for long stretches before getting worn down by simply being on the field too much. But Zamberlin said his defensive players don't harbor any animosity toward their offensive teammates.

"I think they're doing a good job of not pointing fingers at one another," he said. "I'm proud of them for not doing that. It would be human nature to do so, but this group of young men has hung together despite everything."