The University of Idaho football program is generating notable momentum heading into the 2026 season, with multiple nationally televised games secured and a string of transfer portal additions giving Vandal fans plenty to watch ahead of the fall campaign.
Big Sky Kickoff Brings Idaho Into the Spotlight
Head coach Thomas Ford Jr., junior quarterback Joshua Wood, and senior linebacker Cruz Hepburn are all set to represent the Vandals at the 2026 Big Sky Kickoff, scheduled for July 25–27 at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Spokane. The event draws all 13 conference football programs along with commissioner Tom Wistricill, and Monday coverage will feature more than four hours of live interviews broadcast on ESPN+ and Scripps Sports beginning at 9 a.m.
The conference itself will look a bit different this fall. Southern Utah and Utah Tech are joining the Big Sky, while Sacramento State is departing. Commissioner Wistricill and team representatives will have plenty to discuss as the league enters a new chapter.
Among the highlights of the Kickoff will be the induction of Dennis Erickson into the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame on July 25. Erickson’s connection to Idaho runs deep — he coached the Vandals from 1981 to 1985, posting a 32-15 overall record and going 31-12 in regular season play. His teams went a perfect 4-0 against rival Boise State during that stretch. Erickson later moved to Washington State in 1987, inheriting a program that had gone 3-7-1 the prior year and quickly turning it into a 9-3 squad with an Aloha Bowl victory — the Cougars’ first bowl win since the 1916 Rose Bowl. He returned to Moscow briefly in 2006 but departed after roughly 10 months.
Three ESPN Games Mark Program’s Biggest TV Slate in Nearly Two Decades
Idaho’s television schedule this fall stands out as the most nationally prominent since 2009. The Vandals will appear on ESPN linear networks three times, a benchmark the program hasn’t reached in well over a decade.
The season opener against Cal Poly on August 28 will kick off at 7 p.m. Pacific on ESPN — a Friday night slot that gives Idaho a strong early-season showcase. A week later, the Vandals face Utah on Thursday, September 3 at 6 p.m. Pacific on ESPNU. The Montana State contest, originally slated for Saturday, October 3, has been shifted to Friday, October 2, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN at P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
That Friday night home game will be the first at Kibbie Dome since November 12, 2010, when the Vandals hosted Boise State. The last non-Saturday home regular season game came on August 31, 2017, against Sacramento State. The return to primetime Friday football at home is a notable milestone for a program that has built considerable national visibility in recent years. Since 2023, Idaho has had six Big Sky contests aired on nationwide platforms — more than any other team in the conference.
Transfer Portal Adds Depth on Both Sides of Ball
The Vandals were also active in the spring transfer portal window, bringing in five players to bolster the roster. On offense, wide receivers Markel Taylor, Zack Card, and Daemon Fagan all signed on, along with quarterback Israel Carter. Taylor arrives after a productive stint at Sacramento City College, where he caught 25 passes for 425 yards and three touchdowns. He was particularly clutch in a September win over Foothill College, hauling in five catches for 94 yards including the game-winning score in a 14-10 victory.
On the defensive side, Da’Vaughn Robinson joins from Moorpark College, where his team led the Southern California Football Association with 34 sacks as a unit. Robinson contributed seven sacks — tied for third in the conference — along with 14 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. His arrival provides an immediate pass-rush presence for a Vandal defense looking to improve. Outgoing transfer Matyus McLain moved to Washington State.
What Comes Next
With the Big Sky Kickoff set for July 25–27 in Spokane, Vandal fans will get their first extended look at the 2026 roster and hear from Coach Ford and his players in a high-profile media setting. The season opener at home against Cal Poly on August 28 marks the beginning of what Idaho hopes will be a memorable year. Fans can follow statewide Idaho sports and Vandals coverage at Idaho News, and stay connected with local game-day updates and community coverage here at Latah County News.