CHADRON – The nation's No. 4 ranked team in a division larger than your own is not the kind of matchup a football team playing its first game under a new head coach would likely choose if it had its druthers.

However, that's the challenge the Chadron State Eagles will have Thursday night when they tangle with the Montana State Bobcats in Bozeman. Kickoff will be at 7:05 p.m.

The Sports Network poll released last week has the Bobcats, who finished 10-3 last season, fourth in the Football Championship Subdivision rankings. Sportswriters and sports information personnel cast the ballots.

Yes, the Eagles will have a tough assignment, but head coach Jay Long and his assistants believe their team is well prepared and that the game, regardless of the outcome, will provide lots of positives.

"We're looking forward to it," Long said. "It's the first night game in school history up there and it's going to be an awesome atmosphere. It's going to be a great challenge and our guys are ready for it."

History would agree with that assumption. The Eagles have played six games against FCS (formerly NCAA IAA) opponents since 1997, including three versus Montana State and have never lost any of them by more than two touchdowns and have won the last two.

The victories include the rousing 35-24 upset of the Bobcats in 2006. CSC also bombarded Northern Colorado 31-0 the following year. 

This will be the first game against a FCS team since 2007.

Things appear to have gone well for the Eagles during preseason camp. The players have embraced Long's philosophies and his enthusiasm. They reported in top physical condition, few frontline players have been banged up and a minimum of mistakes have cropped up during scrimmages.

 Even though just seven seniors are listed as probable starters against Montana State, for the most part, the Eagles are a veteran crew.  All but three projected starters have had at least one previous start.

CSC also has considerable depth. Seven seniors who are not expected to start are listed on the two-deep depth chart.

But an analysis of the Bobcats would indicate that it will take all the experience, savvy and talent the Eagles can muster to keep pace with their opening-game foe.

Montana State is a member of the Big Sky Conference, and during its preseason poll this summer, the Bobcats were voted No. 1 in the 13-team league that spans nine states from North Dakota to California.

Sixteen starters have returned from last year's team, which defeated New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs before losing to Sam Houston State, this year's No. 1 preseason pick in the national poll, in the second round.

Six Bobcats are on the first-team Big Sky all-conference list.

They include linebacker Jody Owens, who was chosen the preseason defensive player of the year. He made 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last fall.

Four of his defensive mates also got first-team nods. They are end Brad Daly, safety Joel Fuller, cornerback Darius Jones and tackle Zach Minter, who, like Owens, was a unanimous choice for the all-league team.

The Bobcats' representative on the offensive unit is running back Cody Kirk, who carried 241 times for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns last fall. The MSU backfield also includes Orenzo David, who rushed for 1,126 yards as a sophomore in 2010.

The Cats also have an outstanding quarterback. DeNarius McGhee was voted the Big Sky's most valuable offensive player in 2010, when he threw for 3,163 yards and 23 touchdowns to go with only six interceptions.

McGhee's numbers weren't quite as good last season, when he passed for 2,527 yards and was picked off 13 times, but he still connected for 23 TDs.

His favorite targets include Everett Gilbert, who is just a junior and already has accumulated 2,538 all-purpose yards as a receiver and return specialist.