No small potatoes: No. 7 Idaho fighting for first-round bye against rival Idaho State
The University of Idaho football team wrapped up a perfect home schedule last week with a 31-24 victory over Weber State in Moscow.
It marked the first time the Vandals have gone unbeaten during the regular season in the Kibbie Dome since 1996.
Now Idaho has its sights set on another big goal: earning a first-round bye in the 2024 FCS playoffs.
The No. 7 Vandals (8-3, 5-2) travel to Idaho State (5-6, 3-4) for the sold-out Big Sky finale for both teams. Kickoff is 4 p.m. Saturday at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
“I would expect if we win this game, we will have a first-round bye, which gets the players off Thanksgiving, which is nice,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said during his weekly press conference. “If you lose this game, I would expect to be playing in the first round and practicing on Thanksgiving, so I think that’s certainly a motivation.”
The top eight teams receive a first-round bye in the 24-team playoff bracket. The Vandals are currently ranked seventh in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and eighth in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. They are aiming to push their win streak to five straight games heading into their third straight postseason appearance.
But the Vandals will have to get past a pesky Idaho State team that is eager to send its seniors out with a win. The Bengals lost 77-42 at Eastern Washington last week, tying the program record for most points allowed against an FCS team.
Head coach Cody Hawkins dismissed defensive coordinator Josh Runda after the loss. Safties coach Scott Thiessen will take over defensive coordinator duties against the Vandals under the guidance of staff development director Dan Hawkins, according to a news release.
“It’s been a tough week, but I appreciate the leadership of our guys,” Cody Hawkins said during a press conference. “Our guys have done a great job stepping up, and they’re excited to go out and play together and play hard and do right by Idaho State, and give ourselves an opportunity to play good football one last time this year.”
Saturday’s game will be the 45th meeting between the two schools. The rivalry began in 1916, and Idaho leads the all-time series 31-13, including three straight wins. The teams will battle for the Potato State trophy, which was introduced earlier this year.
The 19.4-pound traveling trophy made of North Idaho Douglas fir features a large, hand-carved potato and a metal cutout of the Gem State engraved with each school’s logo. The Potato State trophy replaces the retired Battle of the Domes trophy, which was discontinued ahead of the 2023 season after the trophy sponsor adjusted its sponsorship with both institutions.
“It’s still a special rivalry,” Eck said. “We see these guys in recruiting, especially with some of the Southern Idaho kids. (The rivalry) certainly means a lot to a lot of people in the state.”
