View source for Idaho Vandals football

{{Short description|Football team representing the University of Idaho}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NCAA football school
| TeamName = Idaho Vandals football
| CurrentSeason = 2024 Idaho Vandals football team
| FirstYear = {{Start date and age|1893}}
| Image = Idaho Vandals logo.svg
| ImageSize = 125
| AthleticDirector = Terry Gawlik <!-- (Sept 1, 2019- ), (Pete Isakson (interim, 2018-19) --> 
| HeadCoach        = [[Jason Eck]]
| HeadCoachYear    = 3rd <!-- 1st in 2022 -->
| HCWins           = 21
| HCLosses         = 12<!-- 21-12 thru 20 Oct 2024 -->
| HCTies = 
| PlayoffApps = 13 &nbsp; {{small|''(Div. I-AA/FCS)''}}<!-- As of the end of the 2023 season-->
| Playoffs = {{winning percentage|6|11|record=y}}
| Stadium = [[Kibbie Dome]]
| FieldName = 
| StadiumBuilt = [[1971 Idaho Vandals football team|1971]] (enclosed in [[1975 Idaho Vandals football team|1975]])
| StadCapacity = 15,250
| StadSurface = RealGrass Pro
| Location = [[Moscow, Idaho]]
| NCAAdivision = I FCS
| Conference = [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]
| ConfDivision = 
| PastAffiliations = [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (2014–2017)<br>[[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Independent]] (2013)<br>[[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (2005–2012)<br>Sun Belt (2001–2004)<br>[[Big West Conference|Big West]] (1996–2000)<br>Big Sky (1965–1995) <!-- Idaho did not participate in league play for football until Big Sky's third year--><br>Independent (1959–1964)<br>{{nowrap|[[Pacific Coast Conference|Pacific Coast]] (1922–1958)}}<br>{{nowrap|Independent (1894–1921)}}<!-- Northwest (1905) https://issuu.com/bpaull/docs/2015_yearbook pg 182 refers to just this season as "Northwest 3-0 1st" apparently in informal reference to play with other Independents --><!-- Northwest (1905) https://issuu.com/bpaull/docs/2015_yearbook pg 182 refers to just this season as "Northwest 3-0 1st" apparently in informal reference to play with other Independents -->
| ATWins = 460 <!-- 460 thru 2019 season http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/fetch-team.pl?team=Idaho -->
| ATLosses = 614 <!-- 614 thru 2019 season-->
| ATTies = 26 <!-- 26 thru 2019 season-->
| BowlWins = 3 <!--  3 thru 2016 season-->
| BowlLosses = 0
| NatlTitles = 
| ConfTitles = 11
| DivTitles = 
| Heismans = 
| AllAmericans = {{American college football All-Americans|Idaho}}
| uniform = 
| FightSong = ''[[Go, Vandals, Go]]''
| MascotDisplay = Joe Vandal
| MarchingBand = ''The Sound of Idaho''
| PagFreeLabel = Outfitter
| PagFreeValue = [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
| Rivalries = [[Idaho State Bengals football|Idaho State]] ([[Idaho-Idaho State football rivalry|rivalry]])<br>[[Montana Grizzlies football|Montana]] ([[Little Brown Stein|rivalry]])<br>[[Eastern Washington Eagles football|Eastern Washington]]<br>[[Boise State Broncos football|Boise State]] ([[Boise State-Idaho football rivalry|rivalry]])<br>[[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]] ([[Battle of the Palouse|rivalry]])
| WebsiteName = GoVandals.com
| WebsiteURL  = http://www.govandals.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=17100&SPID=10352&SPSID=87195Go
}}
The '''Idaho Vandals''' are the [[college football]] team that represents the [[University of Idaho]] and plays its home games at the [[Kibbie Dome]], an indoor facility on campus in [[Moscow, Idaho]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://idptv.state.id.us/buildingbig/domes/kibbie.html |title=Kibbie Dome |publisher=IdahoPTV |access-date=December 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718221241/http://idptv.state.id.us/buildingbig/domes/kibbie.html |archive-date=July 18, 2011  }}</ref> Idaho is a member of the [[Big Sky Conference]] in the [[Football Championship Subdivision]] (FCS). The Vandals are coached by [[Jason Eck]].

The Idaho football program began {{Years or months ago|1893}} in 1893,<ref name="CFBDW history">{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sunbelt/idaho/index.php |title=Idaho Historical Data |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |access-date=January 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222112229/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sunbelt/idaho/index.php |archive-date=February 22, 2015  }}</ref> and through the [[2019 Idaho Vandals football team|2019]] season, the Vandals have an all-time record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|460|614|26|record=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/fetch-team.pl?team=Idaho |title=Football Bowl Subdivision Records |publisher=NCAA |page=66 |access-date=September 2, 2011}}</ref>}} They have played in three [[bowl game]]s in their history, all victories in the [[Famous Idaho Potato Bowl|Humanitarian/Famous Idaho Potato Bowl]] in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] in [[1998 Humanitarian Bowl|1998]], [[2009 Humanitarian Bowl|2009]], and [[2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl|2016]].<ref name="bowl history">{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/bowl_history.php |title=Idaho Bowl History |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |access-date=December 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205144823/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/bowl_history.php |archive-date=December 5, 2010  }}</ref> As a [[Football Championship Subdivision|Division I-AA]] (FCS) program for 18&nbsp;seasons {{nowrap|([[1978 Idaho Vandals football team|1978]]–[[1995 Idaho Vandals football team|1995]]),}} Idaho made the playoffs eleven times and advanced to the national semifinals twice ([[1988 Idaho Vandals football team|1988]], [[1993 Idaho Vandals football team|1993]]).

On April 28, 2016, university president [[Chuck Staben]] announced the football program would return to the Big Sky and FCS in [[2018 Idaho Vandals football team|2018]]. This followed the [[Sun Belt Conference]]'s announcement on March 1 that the associate membership of Idaho and [[New Mexico State Aggies football|New Mexico State]] for football would end after the {{nowrap|[[2017 Idaho Vandals football team|2017]] season.}} Idaho is the first FBS program to voluntarily drop {{nowrap|to FCS.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/15415691/idaho-vandals-drop-fbs-fcs|title=Idaho to be 1st school to drop from FBS to FCS|publisher=ESPN|access-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref>}}<!-- it last played football in the Big Sky in 1995-->

==History==
{{Main|History of Idaho Vandals football}}
{{See also|List of Idaho Vandals football seasons}}
[[File:John George Griffith.jpg|thumb|110px|Coach [[John G. Griffith|Griffith]], head coach from 1902–1906 and 1910–1914.]]
The University of Idaho fielded its first football team in 1893.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksl.com/?sid=18016717|title=Across the Cougar sideline: Scouting the Idaho Vandals – KSL.com|website=ksl.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> It wasn't until 1917 that the program earned its nickname, the Vandals, after the [[Idaho Vandals men's basketball|UI basketball team]] under alumnus [[Hec Edmundson]] played defense with such ferocity that they "vandalized" their opponents and, thus, the nickname of Vandals was adopted for all school sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govandals.com/news/2011/5/24/the_story_of_joe_vandal.aspx|title=The Story of Joe Vandal|date=May 24, 2011 }}</ref> 

==Conference affiliations==
===Timeline===
* Independent (1894–1921)
* [[Pacific Coast Conference]] (1922–1958)
* [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|Independent]] (1959–1964)
* [[Big Sky Conference]] (1965–1995){{efn|Starting in 1968, the Big Sky competed at the highest level (university division) in all sports except football ([[1968 NCAA College Division football season|college division]]). The sole exception was the Vandals, in the university division for football through [[1977 Idaho Vandals football team|1977]] (except [[1967 Idaho Vandals football team|1967]] and [[1968 Idaho Vandals football team|1968]]).<ref name=bsstpsup>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vK1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6772%2C2599312|work=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Big Sky steps up|date=May 24, 1968|page=12}}</ref> Football moved to the new Division I-AA in [[1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season|1978]], including Idaho. So, the Vandals football team competed in: 
** University Division from [[1965 Idaho Vandals football team|1965]] to [[1966 Idaho Vandals football team|1966]]
** College Division from [[1967 Idaho Vandals football team|1967]] to [[1968 Idaho Vandals football team|1968]]
** University Division from [[1969 Idaho Vandals football team|1969]] to [[1972 Idaho Vandals football team|1972]]
** Division I from [[1973 Idaho Vandals football team|1973]] to [[1977 Idaho Vandals football team|1977]]
** Division I-AA (now [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]]) from [[1978 Idaho Vandals football team|1978]] to [[1995 Idaho Vandals football team|1995]].}}
* [[Big West Conference]] (1996–2000)
* [[Sun Belt Conference]] (2001–2004)
* [[Western Athletic Conference]] (2005–2012)
* [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|FBS Independent]] (2013)
* Sun Belt Conference (2014–2017)
* Big Sky Conference (2018–present)

===Conference history===
The Idaho football program began competing {{Years or months ago|1893}} in 1893,<ref name="CFBDW history" /> and was a member of the [[Pacific Coast Conference]] from 1922 to 1958. It was then an [[NCAA Division I FBS independent schools|independent]] until 1965, when it began league play in the Big Sky Conference. At the time, the other four football programs in the conference were members of the College Division (today's [[NCAA Division II|Division II]]), while Idaho remained a member of the University Division (today's Division I) through [[1977 Idaho Vandals football team|1977]], except for an involuntary demotion for 1967 and 1968.<ref name="invol">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1jdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4374,2583457|title=Ostyn says Pacific cost major status |work=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington|agency=Associated Press|date=August 9, 1967|page=15}}</ref><ref name="ups69">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P8pRAAAAIBAJ&pg=2968,291028|title=NCAA ups 4 colleges |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=July 2, 1969|page=22}}</ref> It maintained its status by playing a majority of games against University Division opponents.<ref name="aflss">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TEJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7218%2C3708589 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Washington |title=Axe falls on Idaho football program|agency=UPI |date=December 7, 1973 |page=7}}</ref>

A charter member of the Big Sky in 1963, Idaho did not participate in league play for football until [[1965 Idaho Vandals football team|1965]],<ref name="vvbs">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z7BYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4734%2C7437086 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |last=Johnson |first=Bob |title=Vandals versus Big Sky |date=January 31, 1964 |page=11}}</ref><ref name="owwsfy">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Tr5YAAAAIBAJ&pg=7274%2C4101510 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Only winning will satisfy Idaho this gridiron season |date=September 14, 1965 |page=18 }}</ref><ref name="iocfbsc">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1q9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6074%2C2365549 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Idaho opens campaign for Big Sky crown |date=October 23, 1965 |page=11 }}</ref> the Big Sky's third year, after the conference demanded it. With its upper division status, the Vandals were ineligible for the College Division (D-II) playoffs.  Notably, in [[1971 Idaho Vandals football team|1971]], the Vandals won their first outright conference title in school history.  However, runner-up Boise State received the Big Sky's automatic berth. Because of its hybrid status, Idaho requested to retain its higher allotment of football scholarships (75) than the other conference members (62),<ref name="aflss" /><ref name="evohrtf">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NJFYAAAAIBAJ&pg=3412%2C3399668|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Johnson |first=Bob |title=Even 110 rides too few  |date=November 27, 1972 |page=17 }}</ref> which was expectedly disallowed.<ref name="irejlv">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=spFYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7022%2C388836 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho bid is rejected again |date=July 17, 1973 |page=15 }}</ref> The university received an invitation in 1973 to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (later the [[Big West Conference]]),<ref name="igpbd">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8x5OAAAAIBAJ&pg=7040%2C3056700 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho given PCAA bid |date=June 8, 1973 |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqFYAAAAIBAJ&pg=7250%2C2594528 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=League accepts Vandals; Big Sky vote key factor |date=June 8, 1973 |page=17 }}</ref> but the [[Idaho#Education|state board of education]] (concurrent board of regents) rejected it by a vote of 4 to 3.<ref name="irejlv" /><ref name="rbgtsysm">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IB1OAAAAIBAJ&pg=3624%2C2435626 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Robbins:'Gotta say something...'|date=July 22, 1973 |page=1–sports }}</ref><ref name="idbddel">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_xtOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6958%2C97972 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho board delays withdrawal action |date=June 16, 1973 |page=16 }}</ref> The Big Sky moved up to the new [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Division I-AA]] in 1978 (while Idaho moved down).

Idaho experienced its best years in football from [[1985 Idaho Vandals football team|1985]] to 1995, when it made the I-AA national playoffs in ten of 11 seasons with four different head coaches, reaching the semifinals twice. After 18 years in Division I-AA, Idaho returned to [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I-A]] competition (now called the FBS) in 1996 in the Big West.

Idaho rejoined the Sun Belt Conference in [[2014 Idaho Vandals football team|2014]] after a season as an independent in 2013, and eight seasons in the [[Western Athletic Conference]] (WAC), which dropped football after the [[2012 Idaho Vandals football team|2012]] season.  The Vandals were previously in the Sun Belt (also football only) from 2001 through [[2004 Idaho Vandals football team|2004]], after the Big West dropped football.

On August 18, 2012, Idaho was cleared to stay in the Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent<ref>{{cite news|title=State board approves Idaho becoming FBS independent|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/wac/story/2012-08-17/board-votes-to-allow-Idaho-to-be-independent/57123388/1|newspaper=USAToday|access-date=October 20, 2012|date=August 17, 2012}}</ref> after the WAC announced it would drop football effective with the end of the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Brian|title=WAC adds Utah Valley, CSU Bakersfield; Will it be able to keep Idaho?|url=http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/09/bmurphy/wac_adds_utah_valley_cal_state_bakersfield_will_it_be_able_keep_|access-date=October 20, 2012|newspaper=Idaho Statesman|date=October 9, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126102238/http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/09/bmurphy/wac_adds_utah_valley_cal_state_bakersfield_will_it_be_able_keep_|archive-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref> Idaho would only remain a football independent for the 2013 season; on March 27 of that year, the Sun Belt Conference announced that Idaho would return as a football-only member starting with the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sunbeltsports.org/General/Article/tabid/1069//Article/19996/Title/idaho-and-new-mexico-state-to-join-sun-belt-conference-as-football-members-in-2.aspx |title=Idaho and New Mexico State to Join Sun Belt Conference As Football members in 2014 |publisher=Sun Belt Conference |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=March 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703201423/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/General/Article/tabid/1069//Article/19996/Title/idaho-and-new-mexico-state-to-join-sun-belt-conference-as-football-members-in-2.aspx |archive-date=July 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Nearly two years later in 2016, the Sun Belt Conference announced via teleconference that neither the University of Idaho nor New Mexico State University would be renewed after the 2017 football season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunbeltsports.org/news/2016/3/1/FB_0301161055.aspx |website=Sun Belt Conference |title=Sun Belt Football to be 10 Teams in 2018 |date=March 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> In 2018, Idaho resumed full membership in the Big Sky Conference, which participates in the Football Championship Subdivision.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigskyconf.com/news/2016/4/27/FB_0427165139.aspx |website=Big Sky Conference |title=Idaho Moving Football to Big Sky Conference |access-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref>

==Conference championships==
The Vandals have won 11 conference championships in their history, nine in the Big Sky.<ref name="Conference champs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/conf_champs.php |title=Idaho Conference Championships |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |access-date=December 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020094351/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/conf_champs.php |archive-date=October 20, 2012  }}</ref>

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals |Season|Conference|Head coach|Overall record|Conference record}}
|-
| &nbsp; [[1927 Idaho Vandals football team|1927]]{{sup|†}} || [[Pacific Coast Conference|Pacific Coast]] || [[Charles F. Erb|Charles Erb]] || {{spaces|3}}4–1–3 || {{spaces|3}}2–0–2
|- 
| &nbsp; [[1965 Idaho Vandals football team|1965]]{{sup|†}} || [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] || [[Steve Musseau]] || 5–4 || 3–1
|- 
| &nbsp; [[1968 Idaho Vandals football team|1968]]{{sup|†}} || Big Sky || [[Y C McNease]] ||5–5 ||3–1
|- 
| [[1971 Idaho Vandals football team|1971]] || Big Sky || [[Don Robbins]] ||8–3 ||4–1
|- 
| &nbsp; [[1982 Idaho Vandals football team|1982]]{{sup|†}} || Big Sky || [[Dennis Erickson]] || 9–4 || 5–2
|- 
| [[1985 Idaho Vandals football team|1985]] || Big Sky || Dennis Erickson || 9–3 || 6–1
|- 
| [[1987 Idaho Vandals football team|1987]] || Big Sky || [[Keith Gilbertson]] || 9–3 ||7–1
|- 
| [[1988 Idaho Vandals football team|1988]] || Big Sky || Keith Gilbertson  ||11–2 &nbsp; ||7–1
|- 
| [[1989 Idaho Vandals football team|1989]] || Big Sky ||[[John L. Smith]]||9–3 ||8–0
|- 
| &nbsp; [[1992 Idaho Vandals football team|1992]]{{sup|†}} || Big Sky || John L. Smith || 9–3 ||6–1
|- 
| [[1998 Idaho Vandals football team|1998]] || [[Big West Conference|Big West]] || [[Chris Tormey]] || 9–3 || 4–1
|}
:{{sup|†}} Co-champions

==Division I-AA/FCS playoffs==
For eighteen seasons ([[1978 Idaho Vandals football team|1978]]–[[1995 Idaho Vandals football team|95]]), Idaho was a member of Division I-AA, and in 2018 returned to compete in what is now called the FCS Subdivision. The Vandals have participated in the I-AA/FCS playoffs thirteen times to compile a {{winpct|7|13|record=y}} playoff record.  The Vandals are 5–5 at home and 2–8 on the road, with a 4–8 record in the first round (2–4 at home, 2–4 away).<!-- bye in 2023-->

The best advancements were to the national semifinals in [[1988 Idaho Vandals football team|1988]] and [[1993 Idaho Vandals football team|1993]], but both seasons ended with road losses by large margins to the eventual national champions. The [[1982 Idaho Vandals football team|1982]] and 1990 teams advanced to the quarterfinals, but both lost close road games to the eventual national champions.<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://www.fcspreview.com/history.html |title=FCS Championship History (Known as I-AA from 1978–2006) |publisher=The FCS College Football Weekly Preview |access-date=December 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122072555/http://fcspreview.com/history.html |archive-date=November 22, 2010  }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|Season|Round|col3span=4|Score|Head coach}}
|-
|rowspan=2 align=center| [[1982 Idaho Vandals football team|1982]] || [[1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || @ Idaho || 21 || [[1982 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]] || 7 || rowspan=3 align=center|[[Dennis Erickson]]<br/>{{small|(1–2)}}
|-
| Quarterfinal || @ [[1982 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team|E. Kentucky]] || 38 || Idaho || 30
|-
| align=center|[[1985 Idaho Vandals football team|1985]] || [[1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || [[1985 Eastern Washington Eagles football team|E. Washington]] || 42 || @ Idaho || 38
|-
| align=center|[[1986 Idaho Vandals football team|1986]] || [[1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || @ [[1986 Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada-Reno]] || 27 || Idaho || 7 || rowspan=5 align=center|[[Keith Gilbertson]]<br/>{{small|(2–3)}}
|-
| align=center|[[1987 Idaho Vandals football team|1987]] || [[1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || [[1987 Weber State Wildcats football team|Weber St.]]||59|| @ Idaho||30
|-
| align=center rowspan=3| [[1988 Idaho Vandals football team|1988]] ||[[1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]]||@ Idaho||38||[[1988 Montana Grizzlies football team|Montana]]||19
|-
| Quarterfinal || @ Idaho || 38 || [[1988 Northwestern State Demons football team|Northwestern St.]] || 30
|-
| Semifinal || @ [[1988 Furman Paladins football team|Furman]] || 38 || Idaho || 7
|-
| align=center|[[1989 Idaho Vandals football team|1989]] || [[1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]]  || [[1989 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team|E. Illinois]] || 38 || @ Idaho || 21 || rowspan=8 align=center|[[John L. Smith]]<br/>{{small|(3–5)}}
|-
| align=center rowspan=2| [[1990 Idaho Vandals football team|1990]] || [[1990 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || Idaho || 41 || @ {{cfb link|year=1990 |team=Missouri State Bears | title=SW Missouri St.}} || 35
|-
| Quarterfinal || @ [[1990 Georgia Southern Eagles football team|Georgia So.]] || 28 || Idaho || 27
|-
| align=center|[[1992 Idaho Vandals football team|1992]] || [[1992 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || [[1990 McNeese State Cowboys football team|McNeese St.]] || 23 || @ Idaho || 20
|-
| align=center rowspan=3 | [[1993 Idaho Vandals football team|1993]] || [[1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || Idaho || 34 || @ [[1993 Northeast Louisiana Indians football team|NE Louisiana]] || 31
|-
| Quarterfinal || @ Idaho || 21 || [[1993 Boston University Terriers football team|Boston U.]] || 14
|-
| Semifinal || @ [[1993 Youngstown State Penguins football team|Youngstown St.]] || 35 || Idaho || 16
|-
| align=center|[[1994 Idaho Vandals football team|1994]] || [[1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || @ [[1994 McNeese State Cowboys football team|McNeese St.]] || 38 || Idaho || 21
|-
| align=center|[[1995 Idaho Vandals football team|1995]] || [[1995 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|First]] || @ [[1995 McNeese State Cowboys football team|McNeese St.]] ||33 || Idaho || 3 |||[[Chris Tormey]] {{small|(0–1)}}
|-
| align=center|[[2022 Idaho Vandals football team|2022]] || [[2022_NCAA_Division_I_FCS_football_season#Bracket|First]] || @ [[2022 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team|Southeastern Louisiana]] ||45 || Idaho || 42 ||rowspan=4 align=center| [[Jason Eck]]<br>{{small|(1–2)}}
|-
| align=center rowspan=3 |  [[2023 Idaho Vandals football team|2023]] || [[2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season#Bracket|First]] || colspan=4 align=center|''Bye – (#4 seed)''
|-
| Second || @ Idaho || 20 || [[2023 Southern Illinois Salukis football team|Southern Illinois]] ||  17
|-
| Quarterfinal  || [[2023 Albany Great Danes football team|Albany]] || 30 || @ Idaho || 22
|-
|}
* <small>I-AA/FCS [[NCAA Division I Football Championship#History|playoff field]]: 4 teams ([[1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|1978]]–[[1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|80]]), 8 teams ([[1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|1981]]), 12 teams ([[1982 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|1982]]–[[1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|85]]), 16 teams ([[1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season#Postseason|1986]]–[[2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season#Postseason|2009]]), 24 teams ([[2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season|2013]]–present)</small>

==Bowl games==
In their time in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Idaho participated in three bowl games, all in Boise. The Vandals had a 3–0 record.<ref name="bowl history"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|Year|Coach|Bowl|Opponent|Result}}
|-
| [[1998 Idaho Vandals football team|1998]] || [[Chris Tormey]] || [[1998 Humanitarian Bowl|Humanitarian Bowl]]  || [[1998 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team|Southern Miss]] || '''W''' 42–35
|- 
| [[2009 Idaho Vandals football team|2009]] || [[Robb Akey]] || [[2009 Humanitarian Bowl|Humanitarian Bowl]]  || [[2009 Bowling Green Falcons football team|Bowling Green]] || '''W''' 43–42
|- 
| [[2016 Idaho Vandals football team|2016]] || [[Paul Petrino]] || [[2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl|Famous Idaho Potato Bowl]]  || [[2016 Colorado State Rams football team|Colorado State]] || '''W''' 61–50
|}

==Head coaches==
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|Coach|Tenure|Seasons|Wins|Losses|Ties|Pct.|Conf. Championships|Playoffs/Bowls}}
|-
|align=left|[[Fred Herbold]] ||1900–1901||2||4||2||1||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|4|2|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[John G. Griffith]] <small>(a)</small>||1902–1906||5||13||9||1||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|13|9|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|John R. Middleton||1907–[[1908 Idaho football team|1908]]||1||3||4||0||{{Winning percentage|3|4|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|John S. Grogan||[[1909 Idaho football team|1909]]||1||2||3||0||{{Winning percentage|2|3|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[John G. Griffith]] <small>(b)</small>||[[1910 Idaho football team|1910]]–[[1914 Idaho football team|1914]]||5||15||13||1||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|15|13|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|Charles<!-- M.--> Rademacher||[[1915 Idaho football team|1915]]||1||1||4||1||{{Winning percentage|1|4|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Wilfred C. Bleamaster]]||[[1916 Idaho football team|1916]]–[[1917 Idaho football team|1917]]||2||5||8||0||{{Winning percentage|5|8|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Ralph Hutchinson]]||[[1919 Idaho Vandals football team|1919]]||1||2||3||0||{{Winning percentage|2|3|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Thomas Kelley (coach)|Thomas Kelley]]||[[1920 Idaho Vandals football team|1920]]–[[1921 Idaho Vandals football team|1921]]||2||8||5||1||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|8|5|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Robert L. Mathews|Matty Mathews]]||[[1922 Idaho Vandals football team|1922]]–[[1925 Idaho Vandals football team|1925]]||4||16||14||2||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|16|14|2}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Charles F. Erb|Charles Erb]]||[[1926 Idaho Vandals football team|1926]]–[[1928 Idaho Vandals football team|1928]]||3||10||9||bgcolor=#C0C0C0|5||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|10|9|5}}|| '''1''' (1927)||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Leo Calland]]||[[1929 Idaho Vandals football team|1929]]–[[1934 Idaho Vandals football team|1934]]||6||21||30||0||{{Winning percentage|21|30|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Ted Bank]]||[[1935 Idaho Vandals football team|1935]]–[[1940 Idaho Vandals football team|1940]]||6||18||33||3||{{Winning percentage|18|33|3}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Francis Schmidt]]||[[1941 Idaho Vandals football team|1941]]–[[1942 Idaho Vandals football team|1942]]||2||7||12||0||{{Winning percentage|7|12|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[James Brown (American football coach)|Babe Brown]]||[[1945 Idaho Vandals football team|1945]]–[[1946 Idaho Vandals football team|1946]]||2||2||15||0||{{Winning percentage|2|15|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Dixie Howell]]||[[1947 Idaho Vandals football team|1947]]–[[1950 Idaho Vandals football team|1950]]||4||13||20||1||{{Winning percentage|13|20|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Raymond A. Curfman|Babe Curfman]]||[[1952 Idaho Vandals football team|1951]]–[[1953 Idaho Vandals football team|1953]]||3||7||19||1||{{Winning percentage|7|19|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Skip Stahley]]||[[1954 Idaho Vandals football team|1954]]–[[1961 Idaho Vandals football team|1961]]||8||22||51||1||{{Winning percentage|22|51|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Dee Andros]]||[[1962 Idaho Vandals football team|1962]]–[[1964 Idaho Vandals football team|1964]]||3||11||16||1||{{Winning percentage|11|16|1}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Steve Musseau]]||[[1965 Idaho Vandals football team|1965]]–[[1967 Idaho Vandals football team|1967]]||3||13||17||0||{{Winning percentage|13|17|0}}|| '''1''' (1965)||0
|-
|align=left|[[Y C McNease]]||[[1968 Idaho Vandals football team|1968]]–[[1969 Idaho Vandals football team|1969]]||2||7||13||0||{{Winning percentage|7|13|0}}|| '''1''' (1968)||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Don Robbins]]||[[1970 Idaho Vandals football team|1970]]–[[1973 Idaho Vandals football team|1973]]||4||20||24||0||{{Winning percentage|20|24|0}}|| '''1''' (1971)||0
|-
|align=left|[[Ed Troxel]]||[[1974 Idaho Vandals football team|1974]]–[[1977 Idaho Vandals football team|1977]]||4||16||25||3||{{Winning percentage|16|25|3}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Jerry Davitch]]||[[1978 Idaho Vandals football team|1978]]–[[1981 Idaho Vandals football team|1981]]||4||15||29||0||{{Winning percentage|15|29|0}}|| 0||0
|-
|align=left|[[Dennis Erickson]] <small>(a)</small>||[[1982 Idaho Vandals football team|1982]]–[[1985 Idaho Vandals football team|1985]]||4||32||15||0||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|32|15|0}}|| '''2''' (1982, 1985)||'''2''' (1982, 1985)
|- 
|align=left|[[Keith Gilbertson]]||[[1986 Idaho Vandals football team|1986]]–[[1988 Idaho Vandals football team|1988]]||3||28||9||0||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|28|9|0}}|| '''2''' (1987, 1988)||'''3''' (1986–1988)
|- 
|align=left|[[John L. Smith]]||[[1989 Idaho Vandals football team|1989]]–[[1994 Idaho Vandals football team|1994]]||6||bgcolor=#C0C0C0|53||21||0||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|53|21|0}}|| '''2''' (1989, 1992)||'''5''' (1989, 1990, 1992–1994)
|- 
|align=left|[[Chris Tormey]]||[[1995 Idaho Vandals football team|1995]]–[[1999 Idaho Vandals football team|1999]]||5||33||23||0||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|33|23|0}}|| '''1''' (1998)|| '''2''' (1995, 1998)
|-
|align=left|[[Tom Cable]]||[[2000 Idaho Vandals football team|2000]]–[[2003 Idaho Vandals football team|2003]]||4||11||35||0||{{Winning percentage|11|35|0}}|| 0||0
|- 
|align=left|[[Nick Holt]]||[[2004 Idaho Vandals football team|2004]]–[[2005 Idaho Vandals football team|2005]]||2||5||18||0||{{Winning percentage|5|18|0}}|| 0||0
|-
|align=left|Dennis Erickson <small>(b)</small>||[[2006 Idaho Vandals football team|2006]]||1||4||8||0||{{Winning percentage|4|8|0}}|| 0||
|- 
|align=left|[[Robb Akey]]||[[2007 Idaho Vandals football team|2007]]–[[2012 Idaho Vandals football team|2012]]||6||20||50||0||{{Winning percentage|20|50|0}}|| 0|| '''1''' (2009)
|- 
|align=left|{{spaces|3}}''[[Jason Gesser]]'' ^||align=center|''2012'' ||1^||0||4||0||{{Winning percentage|0|4|0}}||0||
|- 
|align=left|[[Paul Petrino]] || [[2013 Idaho Vandals football team|2013]]–[[2021 Idaho Vandals football team|2021]]||bgcolor=#C0C0C0|9||34||bgcolor=#C0C0C0|66||0||{{Winning percentage|34|66|0}}|| 0|| '''1''' (2016)
|-
|[[Jason Eck]]||[[2022 Idaho Vandals football team|2022]]– || 2 || 16 || 9 || 0 ||style="background:#B3A369;color:black;"|{{Winning percentage|16|9|0}}||0||'''2''' (2022, 2023)
|}
:^ <small>Interim head coach – Gesser coached the final four games of [[2012 Idaho Vandals football team|2012]] after Akey was relieved on October 21.</small>

==Rivalries==

===Boise State===
{{main|Boise State–Idaho football rivalry}}
The University of Idaho formerly enjoyed an in-state rivalry with [[Boise State University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/7/27/1591470/boise-state-idaho-rivalry-fans-series|title=Boise State-Idaho Rivalry Exists, Is Very Mean|date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> The [[Boise State–Idaho football rivalry|Boise State–Idaho rivalry]] began with a Bronco victory in the first meeting in 1971. They met every year through 2010, and with the exception of four years, (2001–2004), the matchup was a conference game. The rivalry was dominated by streaks as Idaho won 12 straight years from 1982 to 1993, while Boise State won the most recent 12 games between 1999 and 2010, mostly by large margins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/series/id/boise.shtml|title=mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Idaho vs. Boise St|website=mcubed.net}}</ref> BSU leads the rivalry with a series record of 22–17–1 ({{winpct|22|17|1}}). Since Boise State's move to the [[Mountain West Conference]] in 2011, Boise State has refused to play Idaho [[wiktionary:home-and-home|home-and-home]] in football.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/07/30/boise-state|title=Andy Staples: Boise State becoming what it once fought against|first=Andy|last=Staples|date=July 30, 2010 }}</ref> In response, Idaho has refused to play Boise State at [[ExtraMile Arena]] for men's basketball.<ref name="auto1"/> As of 2017, no future games for football or men's basketball are scheduled. To add a humorous and somewhat frivolous twist to the rivalry in 2009, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear refused to board a [[Horizon Air]] flight on November 11, after learning the plane bore Boise State's blue and orange colors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4646622|title=Idaho AD won't ride Boise State-themed plane|date=November 12, 2009|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Idaho State===
{{main|Idaho–Idaho State football rivalry}}
The University of Idaho enjoys another in-state rivalry with [[Idaho State University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isubengals.com/news/2017/9/6/general-idaho-state-university-of-idaho-athletics-unveil-multi-year-rivalry-series-entitled-battle-of-the-domes.aspx|title=Idaho State and Idaho Athletics UnveilL Multi-Year Rivalry Series Entitled "Battle of the Domes"|website=Idaho State University|date=September 6, 2017 }}</ref> Known as the [[Idaho–Idaho State football rivalry|Battle of the Domes]],<ref name=uiv17>{{cite web|title=Battle of the Domes Unveiled |publisher=Idaho Athletics|url=http://www.govandals.com/news/2017/9/6/general-battle-of-the-domes-unveiled.aspx|access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> the rivalry was at its most competitive in the 1970s and 1980s, with neither team [[three-peat]]ing. Idaho has won twelve of the last fifteen and leads the overall series at {{winning percentage|30|13|record=y}}. Idaho's move into the Football Bowl Subdivision put the rivalry on hold for several years, the two schools only playing each other four times during Idaho's stay in the FBS. The series was revived in 2018 when Idaho dropped back to FCS and rejoined the Big Sky Conference in football (its other sports rejoined in 2014). 

The "Battle of the Domes" theme began in 2017, and is applied to multiple sports.<ref name=uiv17/><ref name=isu17>{{cite web|title=Idaho State and Idaho Athletics unveil multi-year rivalry series entitled "Battle of the Domes" |date=September 6, 2017 |publisher=Idaho State Athletics|url=http://www.isubengals.com/news/2017/9/6/general-idaho-state-university-of-idaho-athletics-unveil-multi-year-rivalry-series-entitled-battle-of-the-domes.aspx|access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> Idaho State was the first of the pair to play its home games indoors, opening the [[Holt Arena]] (originally ASISU Minidome) in 1970. The Kibbie Dome in Moscow was enclosed in [[1975 Idaho Vandals football team|1975]], after four years as an outdoor venue; the last two outdoor games in this series were played there in [[1971 Idaho Vandals football team|1971]] and [[1973 Idaho Vandals football team|1973]],  then known as new Idaho Stadium.<ref name=ibbbrd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FaNfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3031%2C4589566 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |last=Emerson |first=Paul |title=Idaho bruises Bengals behind rugged defense |date=November 18, 1973 |page=17}}</ref> In opposite regions of [[Idaho]] and in different time zones, the driving distance between the campuses is over {{convert|530|mi|-1}}, and further if routed through [[western Montana]].

===Montana===
{{main|Little Brown Stein}}
The University of Idaho also enjoys a rivalry with the [[University of Montana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/article176009611.html|title=Game on! Idaho, Montana will renew longtime football rivalry beginning in 2018}}</ref> Known as the [[Little Brown Stein]] game, Idaho and Montana first played {{Years or months ago|1903}} in 1903 and have played 84 times, and the stein was introduced {{Years or months ago|1938}} in 1938,<ref name="vsskawin">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qfw0AAAAIBAJ&pg=6615%2C2113817 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|title=Vandals still seeking a win|date=October 20, 1948|page=18}}</ref><ref name="trtgws">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uh9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=7105%2C1200594 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|last=Payne |first=Bob |title=Tips riding two-game win streak|date=October 18, 1974|page=29}}</ref><ref name="gom43fb">{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1943/236 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook |title=Football |year=1943 |page=233}}</ref> at the 25th meeting. Idaho has dominated the overall series {{winning percentage|55|27|2|record=y}},<ref name="idtwbrego">{{cite news |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/montana-state-university/jeff-welsch-idaho-s-twice-bruised-ego-offers-cautionary-tale/article_6eaf9758-37d0-56d6-89dd-566b11f4a429.html |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Montana|last=Welsch |first=Jeff |title=Idaho's twice-bruised ego offers cautionary tale for Griz, Cats |date=April 30, 2016 |access-date=October 4, 2016}}</ref> which also includes two Division I-AA playoff wins at home in the 1980s. Montana has had the upper hand since 1991, winning eight of the last ten.  Since Idaho moved back up to Division I-A<!--from [[Division I-AA]]--> in [[1996 Montana Grizzlies football team|1996]], the teams have met five times, with Montana winning the last four.<ref name=icimt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i9wnAAAAIBAJ&pg=4080%2C6240646 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|last=Meehan|first=Jim|title=Idaho collapses in Montana |date=September 28, 2003 |page=C13}}</ref><ref name=gcvwpdn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8c1eAAAAIBAJ&pg=3975%2C3410308 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|last=Bauer|first=Doug |title=Griz catch Vandals with pants down|date=September 28, 2003 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=cfbdwhs>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/i/idaho/opponents_records.php?teamid=2087 |work=CFB Data Warehouse |title=Idaho opponents: vs. Montana |access-date=October 4, 2009 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912172723/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/i/idaho/opponents_records.php?teamid=2087 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The schools are about {{convert|200|mi}} apart; Moscow and [[Missoula, Montana|Missoula]] are on opposite sides of the lower [[Idaho Panhandle]], separated by the [[Bitterroot Mountains]] over [[Lolo Pass (Idaho–Montana)|Lolo Pass]].

Both were members of the old Pacific Coast Conference (the forerunner of today's [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]]);<ref name=melvnwv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U4o1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2596%2C4869869 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=Oregon |agency=United Press |title=Montana eleven wallops Vandals |date=November 8, 1947|page=2}}</ref> Montana departed after the 1949 season, and the PCC disbanded in the summer of 1959. The universities were charter members of the Big Sky Conference in 1963,<ref name=srsixwst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AKtWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6973%2C3408852 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference |date=February 26, 1963 |page=12 }}</ref><ref name=bsrdflc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WXYzAAAAIBAJ&pg=4093%2C6223691 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Big Sky is ready for league action |date=February 26, 1963 |page=13}}</ref> (although Idaho remained an independent in football until [[1965 Idaho Vandals football team|1965]]) and their final season as conference opponents was in 1995. While Montana has been in the Big Sky since its inception, Idaho has changed its conference affiliation no fewer than five times since 1995: Idaho moved to the Big West for all sports in 1996, returning to Division I-A after 18 years in I-AA. After the 2000 season, the Big West dropped football. Idaho became a football-only member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2001 while remaining a full Big West member. Idaho joined the WAC for all sports in 2005 as part of [[2005 NCAA conference realignment|a major NCAA conference realignment]]. After the WAC experienced [[2010–13 Western Athletic Conference realignment|a near-complete membership turnover]] in the [[2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment|early 2010s]], it dropped football after the 2012 season. Idaho football was an FBS independent for one season in 2013, then returned to the Big Sky in [[2014 Idaho Vandals football team|2014]] except for football, which rejoined the Sun Belt. Idaho will drop back to FCS in 2018 and resume football membership in the Big Sky.<ref name=idtwbrego/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigskyconf.com/news/2016/4/27/FB_0427165139.aspx |website=Big Sky Conference |title=Idaho football to Big Sky Conference|access-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref>

===Washington State===
{{main|Battle of the Palouse}}
Known as the [[Battle of the Palouse]], the first football game between the University of Idaho and [[Washington State University]] was played in November 1894 and resulted in a win for Washington State.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The game in 1898 was not played because Idaho had an ineligible [[List of sports idioms#R|ringer]] from [[Lapwai, Idaho|Lapwai]], F.J. McFarland, a recent [[All-America]]n from [[Carlisle Indians football|Carlisle]].<ref name=anvibb75>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fU9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6746%2C1012489 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Brown |first=Bruce |title=Another View |date=August 20, 1975 |page=45}}</ref><ref name=ftherc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YlVNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4258%2C5570204 |newspaper=Lakeland Ledger |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=For the record; Idaho, Washington St. game erased |date=August 21, 1975 |page=3B }}</ref><ref name=fjisr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iiBOAAAAIBAJ&pg=2385%2C2801249 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Just forget it |agency=Associated Press |date=August 22, 1975 |page=31}}</ref> The Vandals' first-ever forward pass was attempted against the Cougars in 1907: it was completed for a touchdown from a drop-kick formation in the fourth quarter and led to a 5–4 victory.<ref name="https">{{cite news|date=October 22, 1959|title=WSU-Idaho series has sparkling past|page=13|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=isxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5184%2C3399173}}</ref>

Washington State has dominated the local rivalry, holding a {{nowrap|73–16–3}} lead.<!-- 73–16–3 thru 2022--> The record since 1926 is even more dominant, with a {{nowrap|58–5–2}}<!-- 58–5–2 thru 2022--> advantage for the Cougars. The longest winning streak for Idaho was three games ([[1923 Idaho Vandals football team|1923]]–[[1925 Idaho Vandals football team|1925]]), and has only five victories since that three-peat (1954, 1964, 1965, 1999, & 2000) and two ties (1927, 1950) to offset the 56 losses. The games were skipped in 1969 and 1971, which was unfortunate for Idaho as the [[1971 Idaho Vandals football team|1971 Vandals]] posted one of the best records (8–3) in school history, while WSU was 4–7. The rivalry became increasingly one-sided as WSU dominated in the 1970s (except for 1974) and the original series ended, following the 1978 game.<ref name=iwsgrsdim>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C_tLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3090%2C1463826 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=WSU-Idaho grid series diminishes |date=January 21, 1978 |page=10 }}</ref> From [[1979 Idaho Vandals football team|1979]] to 1997, the game was played just twice ([[1982 Idaho Vandals football team|1982]], and [[1989 Idaho Vandals football team|1989]]) until the ten-year renewal from 1998 to 2007. Since their last wins in 1999 and 2000, Idaho has been physically outmatched in most of the ten games; the game has been played only three times since 2007: in 2013, 2016, and 2022, the most recent was a competitive seven-point margin.

As two universities are in close proximity, from [[1938 Idaho Vandals football team|1938]] to 1968 there was a tradition called The Loser's Walk, where during the week following the game students of the losing school walked from their own campus to the winners', then receive rides back home from the winning side. This has frequently been misreported as students walking back to their own campus immediately following the game. In 1954, the walk made national news when about 2,000 students from Washington State College made the trek east from Pullman to Moscow after the Cougars lost to Idaho for the first time in 29 years.<ref name=sarb>{{cite web|url=http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/orgs/Advancement/Alumni/Sarb_trdtns_pgs |title=Become a University of Idaho Tradition Keeper |publisher=Student Alumni Relations Board – University of Idaho|page=3/7 |access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref><ref name=sdc54>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GwNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5876%2C6504624|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|title="Win Made Us Ball Club", says Skip Stahley|date=October 25, 1954|page=17}}</ref><ref name=gem55walk54>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1955/30|publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=WSC walks|year=1955|access-date=August 16, 2012|page=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0i7XAplps  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/WJ0i7XAplps |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title= Battle of the Palouse – Losers' Walk|date=November 3, 1959|agency=(video)|publisher=Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections|access-date=September 15, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In a span of less than five months, from November 1969 to April 1970, both schools' aged wooden stadiums (Idaho's [[Neale Stadium]] and WSU's [[Rogers Field (Washington)|Rogers Field]]) burned down due to suspected arson. The WSU–Idaho game in 1970 was dubbed the Displaced Bowl, which was held in [[Joe Albi Stadium]] in [[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] on September 19. The Cougars won the game (their only win that season), as well as the next ten against the Vandals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/243292.html |work=Cougfan.com |title=The Smilin' Irishman |last=Fry |first=Richard B. |date=March 17, 2004 |access-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002011344/http://washingtonstate.scout.com/2/243292.html |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The 1970 game was the first in the rivalry played on [[AstroTurf]], which was new to Joe Albi that season. In 1978, the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] split [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] football in two: I-A (now FBS) and I-AA (now FCS). Washington State was in Division I-A as part of the Pac-10 Conference and Idaho downgraded to I-AA as part of the Big Sky Conference, whose other football members moved up from [[NCAA Division II|Division II]]. In the late 1970s, I-A football programs were allowed 50% more [[Athletic scholarship|scholarships]] and twice as many assistant coaches as I-AA teams.<ref name=iwsgrsdim/> During the years they were in different divisions, the schools met only twice, 1982 in Spokane and 1989 in Pullman. In 1996, Idaho moved back up to Division I-A in the [[Big West Conference]], and Idaho and WSU rekindled their century-old rivalry. Since the rivalry was reinstated in 1998, every game has been played at [[Martin Stadium]] in Pullman, except for the matchup in 2003, which was played at [[Seattle]]'s [[Seahawks Stadium]]. The last game played on the Idaho side of the border was in 1966, a come-from-behind 14–7 Cougar victory on a very muddy field to prevent a Vandal three-peat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WrJfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4122%2C3769782 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|title=Mud replaces turf in football's annual Battle of Palouse in Moscow |agency=(photos) |date=October 23, 1966 |page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hmtYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6016%2C1928337|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|title=Kennedy en route to a TD |agency=(photo) |date=October 24, 1966 |page=18}}</ref>

After ten years of the renewed rivalry, Vandals head coach [[Robb Akey]], previously WSU's defensive coordinator, said in 2008 that he preferred the game not be played every year, instead saying he would prefer it as a "once-in-a-while thing."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/cougars/2003488062_coug21.html |newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Cougars: Akey talks of commitment at Idaho |date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> Only one game was played during Akey's tenure, in his first season in 2007, and he was fired in October 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/22/2318817/vandals-fire-akey-after-1-7-start.html |last=Murphy|first=Brian|newspaper=Idaho Statesman|location=Boise|title=Vandals fire Akey after 1–7 start|date=October 21, 2012|access-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref> The meeting in 2013 on September 21 was a one-year revival,<ref name=bop2013>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050112aaa.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105113101/http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050112aaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |publisher=Washington State University Athletics |title=Cougars add Idaho to 2013 football schedule |date=May 1, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2012 }}</ref> and WSU won 56–6 in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/university-of-idaho/article102518187.html|title=Idaho Vandals fall to Falk, Washington State 56–6}}</ref> The Cougars won 24–17 in 2022, but the Vandals were significantly more competitive under first-year head coach [[Jason Eck]].

==College Football Hall of Fame==
{|class="wikitable
|- align="center" 
! colspan=5 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals|color=white}}"| College Football Hall of Fame
|-
! Name
! Position
! Year
! Inducted
! Ref

|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| [[Dennis Erickson]] || [[Head Coach]] || [[1982 Idaho Vandals football season|1982]]–[[1985 Idaho Vandals football season|1985]], [[2006 Idaho Vandals football season|2006]] || 2019 || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2446 | title=Dennis Erickson (2019) - Hall of Fame }}</ref>
|}
Erickson began his head coaching career in 1982 at Idaho, where he became the first Vandal head coach since [[1938 Idaho Vandals football team|1938]] to post consecutive winning seasons and the first in program history with four consecutive winning seasons. He&nbsp;led Idaho to the [[Big Sky Conference]] title in 1985 and had two trips to the Division I-AA (FCS) Playoffs (1982, 1985).

==National award winners==
{|class="wikitable
|- align="center" 
! colspan=5 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals |color=white}}"| Chris Schenkel Award
|-
! Year
! Name
! Position
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 2008|| Bob Curtis || Broadcaster
|}

*'''[[Walter Payton Award]]'''
{|class="wikitable
|- align="center" 
! colspan=5 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals|color=white}}"| Walter Payton Award
|-
! Year
! Name
! Position
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1989|| [[John Friesz]] || [[Quarterback]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1993|| [[Doug Nussmeier]] || [[Quarterback]]
|}
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most 

outstanding offensive player in the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision]] (formerly Division I-AA) of [[college football]].

* '''[[Jerry Rice Award]]'''

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=5 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals |color=white}}"| Jerry Rice Award
|+
!Year
!Name
!Position
|-
|2022
|[[Gevani McCoy]]
|[[Quarterback]]
|}
The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually in the United States to the most outstanding freshman player in the [[NCAA Division I]] Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of [[college football]] as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.

==All Americans==
Ray McDonald was a Consensus All-American in 1966.
{|class="wikitable
|- align="center" 
! colspan=5 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals |color=white}}"| All Americans
|-
! Year
! Name
! Position
! Team
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1924|| [[Skippy Stivers]] || [[Quarterback|QB]] || 3rd
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1965|| [[Ray McDonald (running back)|Ray McDonald]] || [[Running back|RB]] || AP-2nd
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1965|| [[Ray McDonald (running back)|Ray McDonald]] || [[Fullback (gridiron football)|FB]] || 3rd
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| '''1966'''|| '''[[Ray McDonald (running back)|Ray McDonald]]''' || '''[[Running back|RB]]''' || '''Time 1st, TSN 1st/ AP-2nd, UPI-2nd'''
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1976|| [[John Yarno]] || [[Center (gridiron football)|C]] || AP-1st
|}

==Notable players==
{{see also|Category:Idaho Vandals football players}}
===NFL===
*[[Jesse Davis (American football)|Jesse Davis]] – [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] for the [[2017 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] (2017–21) and [[Minnesota Vikings]] (2022–present)
* [[John Friesz]] – quarterback in the College Football Hall of Fame, 1989 [[Walter Payton Award]], NFL (1990–2000)<ref>{{College Football HoF|id=2170|name=John Friesz<!-- |access-date=2010-12-23-->}}</ref>
* [[Mike Iupati]] – consensus [[2009 College Football All-America Team|All-American]] guard, <!--first round-->17th overall pick in [[2010 NFL draft]], (2010–20); [[2010 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks
* [[Jerry Kramer]] – five-time All-Pro guard (five NFL & two [[Super Bowl]] titles) with the [[Green Bay Packers]] (1958–68); author and Pro Football Hall of Famer (2018)
* [[Benson Mayowa]] – [[defensive end]] for the [[Arizona Cardinals]] (2018), [[Dallas Cowboys]] (2016-17), [[Oakland Raiders]] (2014–15, 2019), [[Seattle Seahawks]] (2013, 2020-21), including [[Super Bowl XLVIII]].
* [[Ray McDonald (running back)|Ray McDonald]] – 13th overall pick in [[1967 NFL/AFL draft|1967 draft]], running back for the [[Washington Football Team|Washington Redskins]], 1967–68.
* [[Jim Norton (safety)|Jim Norton]] – [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|safety]], all-time [[American Football League|AFL]] interceptions leader, first number retired (#43) by the [[Houston Oilers]] (1960–68)
* [[Jeff Robinson (American football)|Jeff Robinson]] – 1993–2009, [[Denver Broncos]], Rams, Cowboys, Rams, Seahawks.  Super Bowl Champion in [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] (Rams).
* [[Mark Schlereth]] – two-time Pro Bowl guard, three Super Bowl titles with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos (1989–2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchlMa00.htm |title=Mark Schlereth Statistics |publisher=Pro-football-statistics.com |access-date=December 23, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Jake Scott (guard)|Jake Scott]] – guard for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (2012), [[Tennessee Titans]] (2008–11), [[Indianapolis Colts]] (2004–07), including [[Super Bowl XLI]].
* [[Wee Willie Smith (American football)|Wee Willie Smith]] – [[1934 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] ([[1934 NFL Championship Game|1934 NFL Champions]])
* [[Korey Toomer]] – [[linebacker]] (2012–18): Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers
* [[David Vobora]] – [[Mr. Irrelevant]] of the [[2008 NFL draft]], linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks
* [[Wayne Walker (linebacker)|Wayne Walker]] – All-Pro linebacker with the [[Detroit Lions]] (1958–72), started 200 games; sportscaster<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft10/news/story?id=5070884 ESPN.com] – NFL Draft 2010 – ''"Idaho's '58 Specials"'' – April 10, 2010</ref>
* [[Marvin Washington]] – defensive end (1989–1999) for Jets, 49ers, Broncos.  Super Bowl Champion  ([[Super Bowl XXXIII|XXXIII]], Broncos).
* [[John Yarno]] – first of two [[1976 College Football All-America Team#Centers|All-American]]s from Idaho at [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]] level, five-year starter at center for the Seattle Seahawks (1978–82)

===CFL===
* [[Brian Allen (wide receiver)|Brian Allen]] – [[wide receiver]], [[Edmonton Eskimos]] (1984)
* [[Jerry Campbell]] – LB, (1966–75), inducted into [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]] in 1996
* [[Ken Hobart]] –  [[quarterback]] (QB), [[United States Football League|USFL]] (1984–85), [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] (1985–90), winner of [[Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy]] in 1985
* [[Craig Juntunen]] –  QB, (1978–79)
* [[Rolly Lumbala]] – [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]], [[BC Lions]] (2008–2018)
* [[Aaron Grymes]] –  [[defensive back]], [[Edmonton Elks]] (2013–2024)
* [[David Ungerer]] – [[wide receiver]], [[Toronto Argonauts]] (2023–present)

===Coaches===
(former Vandal football players coaching in either college or professional football)
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Steve Belko]]
*[[Steve Buratto]]
*[[Tom Cable]]
*[[Tony Knap]]
*[[Mike Kramer]]
*[[Scott Linehan]]
*[[Don Matthews]]
*[[Doug Nussmeier]]
*[[Bud Riley]]
*[[Lyle Smith]]
*[[Chris Tormey]]
{{div col end}}

===Other===
* [[Anthony Curcio]], author, public speaker, and former career criminal
* [[Dennis Eichhorn]], writer
* [[Bill Fagerbakke]], actor
* [[Dan Monson]], college basketball coach
* Kendrick Trotter, entrepreneur

===Retired numbers===
{{see also|List of NCAA football retired numbers}}
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|- 
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|No.|Player|Position(s)|Seasons|No. ret.|Ref.}}
|-
| '''9''' || [[Ken Hobart]] || QB || [[1980 Idaho Vandals football team|1980]]–[[1983 Idaho Vandals football team|83]] || || <ref>[https://www.ncaa.com/news/volleyball-women/article/2016-09-30/idaho-volleyball-father-daughter-share-vandal-ties Father, daughter share Vandal ties] at NCAA.com</ref>
|-
| '''17''' || [[John Friesz]] || QB || [[1986 Idaho Vandals football team|1986]]–[[1989 Idaho Vandals football team|89]] || 2006 || <ref>[https://govandals.com/honors/hall-of-fame/john-friesz/23 John Friesz] at Govandals.com</ref>
|-
| '''53''' || [[Wayne Walker (linebacker)|Wayne Walker]] || LB / C / LS || [[1955 Idaho Vandals football team|1955]]–[[1957 Idaho Vandals football team|57]] || || <ref>[https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/college/university-of-idaho/article151648517.html Former Boise High, Idaho, NFL star Wayne Walker dies at 80] at Idahostatesman.com, 20 May 2017</ref>
|-
| '''56''' || [[John Yarno]] || C || [[1973 Idaho Vandals football team|1973]]–[[1976 Idaho Vandals football team|76]] || 1977 || <ref>[https://govandals.com/honors/hall-of-fame/john-yarno/62 John Yarno] at Govandals.com</ref>
|-
| '''64''' || [[Jerry Kramer]] || G / DT / K || [[1955 Idaho Vandals football team|1955]]–[[1957 Idaho Vandals football team|57]] || 1963 || <ref name=frhnr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0MleAAAAIBAJ&pg=5574%2C3156415 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Friends honor Jerry Kramer at Sandpoint|date=January 24, 1963 |page=2}}</ref><ref name=iret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DdtYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4346%2C5786601 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Idaho retires jersey No. 64 |date=January 24, 1963 |page=16}}</ref>
|}

==Top NFL Draft selections==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|Player|Position|Overall|Round|Draft|Franchise}}
|-
|[[Ray McDonald (running back)|Ray McDonald]] &nbsp; || [[Running back|RB]]  || 13 || 1st  ||[[1967 NFL/AFL Draft|1967]] || [[1967 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
|-
|[[Mike Iupati]] || [[Guard (gridiron football)|G]]|| 17 || 1st  || [[2010 NFL draft|2010]] || [[2010 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]
|-
|[[Jerry Kramer]] || G / [[Placekicker|PK]]  || 39 || 4th || [[1958 NFL draft#Round four|1958]] || [[1958 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]
|-
|[[Wayne Walker (linebacker)|Wayne Walker]] || [[Linebacker|LB]] / [[Center (gridiron football)|C]] / [[Long snapper|LS]] / PK || 45 || 4th || [[1958 NFL draft#Round four|1958]] || [[1958 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]
|-
|Carl Kiilsgaard || [[Tackle (American football)|T]] || 61 || 5th || [[1950 NFL draft#Round five|1950]] || [[1950 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals]]
|-
|[[Ryan Phillips (American football)|Ryan Phillips]] || LB  || 68 || 3rd || [[1997 NFL draft#Round three|1997]] || [[1997 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
|-
|[[Jim Prestel]] || [[Defensive tackle|DT]]  || 70 || 6th || [[1959 NFL draft#Round six|1959]] || [[1960 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]<!-- played 1959 at Idaho -->
|-
|[[Jim Norton (safety)|Jim Norton]] || [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|S]] / [[Punter (football)|P]]  || 75 || 7th || [[1960 NFL draft#Round seven|1960]] || [[1960 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]
|-
|[[John Yarno]] || C  || 87 || 4th || [[1977 NFL draft#Round four|1977]] || [[1977 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
|-
|[[Jerry Hendren]] || [[Wide receiver|WR]] || 89 || 4th || [[1970 NFL draft#Round four|1970]] || [[1970 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]
|-
|[[Jeff Robinson (American football)|Jeff Robinson]] || [[Defensive end|DE]] / [[Tight end|TE]] / [[Long snapper|LS]] || 98 || 4th || [[1993 NFL draft#Round four|1993]] || [[1993 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]
|-
|[[Reggie Carolan]]|| TE  || 102 || 8th || [[1961 NFL draft#Round eight|1961]] ||[[1961 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]
|-
|[[Doug Nussmeier]] || [[Quarterback|QB]] || 116 || 4th || [[1994 NFL draft#Round four|1994]] || [[1994 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]]
|-
|[[Ron Porter]] || LB || 126 || 5th || [[1967 NFL/AFL Draft#Round five|1967]] || [[1967 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]]
|-
|[[Mao Tosi]] || DT || 136 || 5th || [[2000 NFL draft#Round six|2000]] || [[2000 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]]
|-
|[[John Friesz]] || QB || 138 || 6th || [[1990 NFL draft#Round six|1990]] || [[1990 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]
|-
|[[Jake Scott]] || G || 141 || 5th || [[2004 NFL draft#Round Five|2004]] || [[2004 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]
|-
|[[Marvin Washington]] || DE || 151 || 6th || [[1989 NFL draft#Round six|1989]] || [[1989 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
|-
|[[Korey Toomer]] || LB  || 154 || 5th || [[2012 NFL draft#Round five|2012]] || [[2012 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
|-
|[[Sam Merriman]] || LB  || 177 || 7th || [[1983 NFL draft#Round seven|1983]] || [[1983 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
|-
|[[David Vobora]] || LB  || 252 || 7th || [[2008 NFL draft#Round seven|2008]] || [[2008 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]]
|-
|[[Mark Schlereth]] || G  || 263 || 10th || [[1989 NFL draft#Round ten|1989]] || [[1989 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
|}

==Future non-conference opponents==
Announced schedules as of August 11, 2024. 
{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Idaho Vandals|2024|2025|2026|2027|2028|2029|2030}}
|-
| at [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]]
| at [[San Jose State Spartans football|San Jose State]] 
| at [[Utah Utes football|Utah]]
| at [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]]
| at [[Oregon State Beavers football|Oregon State]]
| [[Utah Tech Trailblazers football|Utah Tech]]
| at [[Utah Tech Trailblazers football|Utah Tech]]
|-
| at [[Wyoming Cowboys football|Wyoming]]
| at [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]]
| [[Lamar Cardinals football|Lamar]]
| at [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks football|North Dakota]]
| [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks football|North Dakota]]
| at [[South Dakota Coyotes football|South Dakota]]
| [[South Dakota Coyotes football|South Dakota]]
|-
| [[Albany Great Danes football|Albany]]
| at [[St. Thomas Tommies football|St. Thomas]]
| [[Abilene Christian Wildcats football|Abilene Christian]]
| [[St. Thomas Tommies football|St. Thomas]]
|
| at [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]]
| 
|-
| at [[Abilene Christian Wildcats football|Abilene Christian]]
| [[Utah Tech Trailblazers football|Utah Tech]]
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
|}
*{{small|Source:}}<ref name="nonconfopp">{{cite web| title=Idaho Vandals Football Schedules and Future Schedules|publisher=fbschedules.com| url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/sun-belt/idaho-vandals.php|access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Idaho}}
* {{Portal-inline|American Football}}
* {{Portal-inline|Sports}}

==Notes and references==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

<!-- NavBoxes: Generically, going from most specific to least specific...-->
{{Idaho Vandals football navbox}}
{{University of Idaho}}
{{Big Sky Conference football navbox}}
{{Idaho}}

[[Category:Idaho Vandals football| ]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1893]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in Idaho]]