Idaho Football’s 2026 Kickoff
The Vandals open the 2026 campaign with a marquee Big Sky showdown against Cal Poly, scheduled for August 28 at 7:00 PM Pacific time at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN, marking the first broadcast of the season and one of three Idaho games slated for the network this year.
Head coach Thomas Ford Jr. entered fall camp with a clear mandate: restore discipline and sharpen focus after a promising spring. His excitement was palpable as he outlined a scheme that leans on a seasoned offensive line and a defense anchored by linebacker Cruz Hepburn, who finished the previous season with 71 tackles and a fumble‑return touchdown.
Idaho’s line features returning starters Charlie Vliem, Layton Vining, Leon Evans and Kiegan Henson, with Vining serving as the team’s longest‑tenured center. At quarterback, Joshua Wood returns to direct the offense, benefiting from four of five starters back in the trenches. Across the field, Cal Poly’s first‑year head coach Tim Skipper brings a résumé that includes upsets over Penn State and a bowl victory with Fresno State, hoping to reverse a 4‑8 record from a year ago.
Broadcast Reach and Historical Context
The Vandals join an elite group of FCS programs that have posted multiple wins over FBS opponents since 2023, having defeated Nevada and Wyoming in recent years. Nine of their twelve regular‑season contests will appear on ESPN or ESPNU, including matchups against Montana State and Utah, underscoring the program’s growing national visibility.
Beyond the field, the team’s 2025 recruiting class set a program high with 17 three‑star prospects, a sign of rising momentum as the university looks to sustain its upward trajectory.