The University of Idaho football program will send head coach Thomas Ford and two key returning players to represent the Vandals at the 2026 Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff weekend, scheduled for July 25 through the following Monday in Spokane.
Joining Ford at the event will be redshirt junior quarterback Joshua Wood and redshirt senior linebacker Cruz Hepburn, both identified as veterans from the 2025 roster. The trio will take part in what marks the first major public gathering of a reconfigured Big Sky Conference, following roster changes that see Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining the league while Sacramento State exits.
A Reshuffled Conference Takes the Stage
The kickoff weekend, presented by Northern Quest Resort & Casino, serves as the preseason media showcase for all 13 football programs now competing under the Big Sky banner. The addition of Southern Utah and Utah Tech reshapes the conference landscape heading into the 2026 season, and the Spokane event will give coaches and players across the league their first shared platform to address the changes publicly.
Monday’s schedule is the centerpiece of the media event, featuring more than four hours of live coverage beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT. The programming will air on ESPN+ and Scripps Sports, with co-hosts Meghan Robinson and Kyle Hansen leading interviews with representatives from all 13 member programs. The format gives each team — including Idaho — a national-facing moment ahead of the fall campaign.
For Vandal fans tracking the program’s direction under Ford, the kickoff provides an early look at how the coaching staff frames the upcoming season. Wood’s presence at the podium signals his expected role under center, while Hepburn’s selection as a representative reflects his standing as one of the defense’s experienced voices heading into his final year of eligibility.
Hall of Fame Weekend Honors Idaho Connections
The kickoff weekend also includes the Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala on Saturday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. PT. The 2026 induction class numbers eight honorees, two of whom carry direct Idaho ties.
Dennis Erickson, a football coaching figure with connections to both Idaho and Montana State, is among this year’s inductees. Jackie Ross Mattox, recognized in the track and field category, is also affiliated with the University of Idaho. Their inductions add a layer of historic significance to what is already a notable weekend for the program and its supporters.
The University of Idaho has maintained a consistent presence in Big Sky football, and the conference’s ongoing expansion underscores how the landscape of mid-major collegiate athletics continues to evolve. For a program rooted in the Palouse, events like the Big Sky Kickoff provide visibility and recruiting exposure at a time when college football’s competitive environment demands it.
Vandal fans interested in the broader scope of University of Idaho athletics and academic programs can find additional coverage of campus developments, including a recent look at how Idaho graduate students explored the state’s potato supply chain as part of their coursework, and details on the university’s recent moves to secure salary flexibility for key administrative hires.
What Comes Next
With the Big Sky Kickoff set for the final weekend of July, Vandal football will use the Spokane platform to set the tone for a season in a restructured conference. Coach Ford’s public remarks and the on-camera appearances by Wood and Hepburn will offer the first formal preview of Idaho’s 2026 goals. Fall camp and the regular season schedule will follow in the weeks after the media event concludes.