Idaho Vandal Football: Head Coach Thomas Ford Discusses Spring Game Results and Offseason Plans
Vandals Complete Second Spring Camp Under Ford at Kibbie Dome
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho Vandals football program wrapped up its second spring camp under second-year head coach Thomas Ford Jr. with the program’s annual spring game held inside the Kibbie Dome in Moscow. The event gave fans, coaches, and players a chance to assess where the program stands heading into the offseason and ultimately the 2026 season.
The spring game featured a mix of big plays on offense alongside flashes of a physical, opportunistic defense — a combination that signals the Vandals are continuing to develop depth and identity on both sides of the ball. For Ford, now entering his second full offseason leading the program, the spring camp provided meaningful evaluation time for the roster as the team looks to build on its foundation in Moscow.
According to reporting on the event, the Kibbie Dome served as the backdrop for what observers described as an up-tempo and competitive showing. The offense displayed explosiveness in key moments, while the defense demonstrated a physical approach that Ford has emphasized during his tenure with the program. Taken together, the spring game offered a promising glimpse at the direction the Vandals are headed.
Ford Emphasizes Maturity and Execution Heading Into Offseason
In the lead-up to the spring game, Ford spoke publicly about the growth the team has experienced during the spring camp period. The Vandals head coach pointed to improved maturity within the program as a key area of development — a notable milestone for a roster that is now more familiar with Ford’s system and expectations heading into his second year at the helm.
Execution has also been a central theme for the coaching staff. Ford and his staff have placed an emphasis on the Vandals being able to perform consistently and carry the lessons of spring practice into summer workouts and fall camp. For a program working to establish sustained competitiveness, the mental and physical maturity of the roster can be as important as raw talent.
Fans eager to revisit the spring game action can find highlights and additional coverage from the Kibbie Dome event. For more on how the coaching staff viewed preparations leading into the game, see the earlier report: ‘Improved our maturity’: Ford, Vandals eye growth, execution for Friday’s spring game. Full spring game coverage and additional context is also available in the Idaho Vandals spring game showdown preview.
On the recruiting and roster-building front, the Vandals have also been active in the transfer portal. Moscow-area fans will note that Ryan Lafferty, a Mt. Spokane graduate and transfer from St. Thomas, recently committed to the Idaho men’s basketball program — a sign that the broader Vandals athletic department is making moves to strengthen its rosters across multiple sports heading into the next academic year.
Building Toward the Fall in Moscow
Spring camp and the annual spring game represent one of the most important evaluation windows of the football calendar. For Ford and his staff, the opportunity to put players in competitive situations — with coaches watching every snap — allows the program to identify starters, develop depth, and install the offensive and defensive schemes that will define the fall season.
For Latah County residents and University of Idaho supporters, the spring game is more than a scrimmage. It is a community event that draws fans to the Kibbie Dome and signals the return of football to Moscow after months of offseason quiet. The Vandals faithful turned out to see what Ford’s program has been building, and by most accounts, the program showed encouraging signs of growth in its second year under his leadership.
The Vandals will now transition into summer workouts before fall camp opens ahead of the 2026 season. For statewide coverage of Idaho athletics and other sports developments across the state, readers can follow Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.
What Comes Next
With spring camp now complete, the Idaho Vandals football program shifts its focus to the offseason conditioning period and summer workouts. Fall camp is expected to open later this year ahead of the 2026 season opener. Fans and supporters can expect roster updates, transfer portal activity, and scheduling announcements as the program continues to build toward the fall. Check back with Latah County News for continued coverage of Vandals football and University of Idaho athletics throughout the offseason.