The University of Idaho Vandals’ 2026 football campaign began with disappointment Friday night, as the team surrendered a game-winning touchdown with seconds remaining to fall 38-34 to Cal Poly at Mustang Memorial Field in San Luis Obispo, California.
The loss came on a fourth-and-8 play late in the fourth quarter, when Cal Poly quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr., a fifth-year senior, connected with receiver Tayvion McCoy on a 34-yard touchdown pass on a post route. The play capped a furious rally by the Mustangs, who scored touchdowns on their final two possessions to overcome an Idaho lead.
Idaho had taken a 34-31 advantage with 1:03 remaining when kicker Owen Forsman made a 40-yard field goal. The Vandals mounted an offensive performance that created multiple scoring opportunities throughout the contest, but defensive lapses proved costly.
Vandals Offense Creates Explosive Plays
Senior quarterback Joshua Wood led Idaho’s attack with efficiency through the air, completing 18 of 25 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Wood orchestrated several big-play drives, including a 75-yard touchdown strike to receiver Tony Harste that gave Idaho a 31-24 lead at one point in the game.
Harste was Wood’s primary target, hauling in nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns on the evening. Receiver Ryan Jezioro added three catches for 93 yards on a single deep completion of 65 yards from Wood, while receiver Pitts contributed five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Idaho’s offense also converted a two-point conversion attempt in the second half, with Wood executing a successful shovel pass to Noah West-Baranco to tie the game at 24-24. Forsman, the Vandals’ kicker, made four field goals on the night from 23, 40, 44, and 40 yards out, keeping Idaho competitive throughout.
Despite the explosive offensive output, Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. acknowledged the missed defensive opportunities that defined the game’s outcome. “At the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays. There were opportunities to make plays out there, especially defensively, and we didn’t make them,” Ford told the Lewiston Tribune following the loss.
Ford also praised the offensive performance in the pass game. “We created a lot of explosive plays offensively. Our wide receivers and our quarterback and our offensive line all did a really good job in the pass game,” he noted.
Discipline Issues Add to Offensive Burden
The Vandals’ defense was not alone in struggling to execute. Idaho committed eight penalties totaling 61 yards, lapses that compounded the team’s difficulty in controlling the game’s momentum.
Cal Poly’s Grigsby Jr. completed 26 of 35 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns, adding 62 rushing yards on 14 carries and one rushing touchdown. McCoy was the star of the Mustangs’ offensive showing, catching 10 passes on 12 targets for 170 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
The loss sets the tone for a challenging schedule ahead. Idaho’s football program has built depth and physical strength heading into the 2026 season, but the opening loss demonstrates the distance the team still needs to travel.
What Comes Next
Idaho returns to action Thursday evening when the Vandals travel to face No. 21-ranked Utah. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will give Ford’s team an immediate opportunity to respond and demonstrate the offensive potential displayed against Cal Poly can translate into a victory against a ranked opponent.
The Vandals will need to tighten their defensive execution and limit penalties if they hope to compete at the Football Championship Subdivision level. The week between games offers time for adjustments, though the quick turnaround leaves little margin for error in preparation.
The University of Idaho football program has also drawn recognition through a hand-painted player portrait campaign created by a Lewiston art student, highlighting the connection between the Vandals and the local community that will be watching to see how the team responds to this season-opening setback.