CORVALLIS - Most college football fans will look at Saturday's game at Reser Stadium between Idaho State and Oregon State as a payday for the Bengals and a cupcake for the Beavers.

That doesn't change the fact that it's a big game for both teams.

For Idaho State, a member of the Big Sky Conference, it's a chance to make national news by taking a win over a Pacific-10 Conference opponent.

As unlikely as an upset may seem, precedent has been set this season. The most noteworthy example is Appalachian State's stunner over Michigan in the Big House.

"I think it's encouraging," Idaho State linebacker Sterling Mennear said. "I think it's good to see that anything can happen with a little bit of faith. It's encouraging to see these big upsets every once in a while."

Even so, Mennear said the Bengals realize every game is different. The Bengals aren't coming off two Division I-AA championships like Appalachian State. The Beavers don't have the tradition of Michigan.

"We aren't Appalachian State and they aren't Michigan," Mennear said. "You watch that game and I don't think anybody had a doubt in their mind that they could play with Michigan."

The Bengals have played similar travel games in the past, but lost them all. There was a 41-7 loss at Kansas State in 1991, a 38-14 defeat at Mississippi in 1996, a 41-29 loss to Kentucky in 2005 and a

54-10 defeat at UNLV last season.

The Bengals have also lost at San Diego State and at New Mexico twice. They played one Pacific-10 Conference team, going to Eugene in 1988 and leaving with a

52-7 loss to Oregon.

Not a great track record. However, history won't matter Saturday.

Mennear said the game will serve as a measuring stick for the Bengals. He knows the Beavers will be bigger and faster at most positions. He expects OSU to pressure the quarterback and constantly probe the ISU defense for weaknesses.

"It's a good way to judge ourselves," he said. "You have an honest self-examination and get ready for conference play."

The Bengals are in a rebuilding mode. They went 2-9 last year and brought in a new coach, John Zamberlin, to turn the program around.

Idaho State grabbed Zamberlin from Central Washington University, where he spent 10 seasons and finished with a losing record twice. Zamberlin led CWU to an 11-1 record in 2002 and finished the season at

No. 5 in the Division II rankings.

"I think he's doing a good job," Mennear said. "He's come into a tough situation and done what he can."

Zamberlin was an assistant at Massachusetts, Eastern Washington and Richmond before going to Central Washington.

He was a linebacker in the NFL and played for New England and Kansas City.

Mennear said Zamberlin is a disciplinarian when required. Despite the big win over Southern Oregon, the Bengals had too many penalties for Zamberlin's taste and he had the team running after a recent practice.

"It's good for us," Mennear said. "It's good for a young, rebounding program."

Receiver Eddie Thompson, who caught nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 37-11 win over Southern Oregon last week, said the game will be a perfect lead-in to the Big Sky schedule.

Thompson said playing against Oregon State's athletes will give the Bengals a boost for the rest of the season.

"I think we'll go in there and play at a high tempo and that will carry over to the Big Sky games," he said. "That's Pac-10 tempo, so if we keep up with that tempo, it will look good for us."

Win or lose, the Bengals are looking to improve.

"If we line up and are fundamentally sound and disciplined, there's a lot to be said for that," Mennear said.

SATURDAY

Idaho State, 1-0, vs. Oregon State, 1-1, 3:30 p.m., Reser Stadium, Corvallis, FSN (34)