As the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs tried to drive for the winning field goal Saturday in Moscow, all starting quarterback Ross Jenkins could do was watch.

In the Bulldogs' 35-34 loss, Jenkins was pulled before the final drive of the third quarter for freshman Colby Cameron. As the Vandals turned a 34-21 deficit into the final score, Jenkins just had to keep his head up.

"The coaches had told me earlier in the week Colby would play, and I expected it," Jenkins said. "Of course it was very tough for me, because anyone who loves the game wants to be out there."

Jenkins and the Bulldogs (3-5, 2-3) host No. 5 Boise State (8-0, 3-0) on Friday. He was 17-of-30 passing for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the game at Idaho, but Cameron led the Bulldogs on a 15-play, 84-yard scoring drive in his first series.

Last season as a sophomore, Jenkins was 6-2 as a starter, leading Louisiana Tech to an Independence Bowl win. He's completed 123-of-206 passes for 1,467 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

"Ross is still our quarterback, but we're not afraid to put in Colby if we feel we need to," head coach Derek Dooley said.

With the freshman seemingly breathing down his neck, Jenkins said he isn't concerned.

"I don't think there's a shorter leash or anything," he said. "I think it actually helps me. It pushes me to do better, and I think I played decently well in that game, so I just need to keep performing better."

Benching a starter in favor of a younger option, then going back to the starter the next week seemingly would damage the confidence of the elder quarterback, but Boise State showed in recent years that isn't necessarily the case.

The Broncos sat Jared Zabransky against Idaho on Nov. 19, 2005 with the score 21-21 in the third quarter. He was replaced by Taylor Tharp. The Broncos won 70-35, and Zabransky was 10-of-17 with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his next game.

"It can be a wake-up call, sometimes it's what they need," Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. "We've done that ourselves, and I think the next week our quarterback has gone and played better."

During his weekly news conference Monday, Dooley said, "I'm certainly convinced when the guys around him play a little bit better that he can lead our football team to plenty of wins."

Hampering Jenkins' ability to throw the ball — he's had five games with 156 yards passing or less — is the depletion of his receiving corps. Two receivers left school during the season and the versatile Phillip Livas is questionable with turf toe.

"That's been really difficult," Jenkins said. "Still, a good thing that has come out of it is that the guys still here have worked that much harder."

Jenkins' job won't be made any easier against a nasty Boise State defense that is ninth in the nation with 13 interceptions. Then again, Friday's game would be an opportune time to show he is the starter for a reason.

"You can't let it bring you down," Jenkins said. "I'm fired up to test myself against one of the best teams in the country. I'm a competitor, so I'm excited to get back out there and try to beat Boise."