The Big Sky preseason football polls are out. Where did Idaho, Idaho State land?
Even after back-to-back FCS playoff quarterfinal appearances, the University of Idaho football team will have something to prove in 2025.
Under new head coach Thomas Ford, the Vandals were picked fifth and fourth in the Big Sky preseason coaches and media polls, respectively. The polls were released Thursday, with Montana State receiving top billing in both.
Idaho received 81 points in the coaches poll, and 364 points and one first-place vote in the media poll.
Montana State garnered 117 points and seven first-place nods in the coaches poll, and 488 points and 30 first-place votes in the media poll. The Bobcats won last year’s Big Sky title with an 8-0 mark in conference play and are vying for their third league title since 2022.
Idaho, which finished third in last year’s regular-season standings, will try to build on its recent success with the return of five offensive starters, two defensive starters and 56 letter winners overall.
The Vandals also picked up potential key contributors in the transfer portal in quarterback Joshua Wood (Fresno State), offensive lineman Kaden Haeckel (Arizona State), offensive lineman Garrison Hickle (Indiana), offensive lineman Nathan Pritchard (Washington State) and tight end Gabe Hoffmann (Eastern Michigan).
The Vandals open the 2025 season at 8 p.m. Mountain time on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Washington State. The game against the Cougars will air on The CW.
Idaho State, which announced a five-year contract extension through 2030 earlier this year with coach Cody Hawkins, was picked seventh in both polls.
The Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend show will air live on ESPN+ beginning at 10 a.m. Mountain time Monday. The event will include interviews with all 12 football teams in addition to commissioner Tom Wistrcill.
The 2025 Big Sky preseason all-conference team will be announced Sunday.
Big Sky preseason coaches poll
First-place votes in parenthesis; coaches could not vote for their own teams
1. Montana State (7), 117
2. UC Davis (1), 100
3. Montana (2), 96
4. Northern Arizona (1), 94
5. Idaho, 81
6. Sacramento State (1), 73
7. Idaho State, 56
8. Weber State, 55
9. Eastern Washington, 48
10. Portland State, 32
11. Cal Poly, 25
12. Northern Colorado, 15
Big Sky preseason media poll
First-place votes in parenthesis
1. Montana State (30), 488
2. Montana (6), 434
3. UC Davis (4), 399
4. Idaho (1), 364
5. Northern Arizona, 354
6. Sacramento State (1), 282
7. Idaho State, 247
8. Eastern Washington, 225
9. Weber State, 192
10. Portland State, 140
11. Cal Poly, 94
12. Northern Colorado, 57
