After FCS playoff success, Idaho football gets two games on national TV in ’25

MOSCOW (Idaho Statesman) — The University of Idaho football team will reap the benefits of back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in the FCS playoffs when the 2025 season kicks off.

Four Big Sky Conference regular-season games were picked up by ESPN’s networks this fall, and two of those will involve the Vandals and first-year head coach Thomas Ford Jr.

Idaho and Montana will square off Saturday, Sept. 27, in the battle for the “Little Brown Stein,” the oldest traveling trophy in the conference. The game will air on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, with the kickoff time to be announced at a later date.

Last season, Idaho upset Montana 30-23, ending a seven-game losing streak to the Grizzlies dating to Nov. 13, 1999.

The Vandals’ matchup against Northern Arizona was moved from Nov. 1 to Friday, Oct. 31, and will now kick off at 8:30 p.m. Mountain time on ESPN2.

Idaho is one of just two teams in the Big Sky to have two games broadcast on ESPN networks this season. This is the third consecutive year the Vandals have had at least two games air on an ESPN network.

The Vandals open the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Washington State. Their final regular-season game will be against rival Idaho State on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Moscow.

2025 IDAHO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE All times listed are Mountain

Saturday, Aug. 30: at Washington State, 8 p.m. (The CW)

Saturday, Sept. 6: vs. St. Thomas, TBD Saturday, Sept. 13: vs. Utah Tech, TBD

Saturday, Sept. 20: at San Jose State, 3 p.m. (MW Network)

Saturday, Sept. 27: at Montana, TBD (ESPN networks)

Saturday, Oct. 11: vs. Northern Colorado, TBD

Saturday, Oct. 18: at Eastern Washington, TBD

Saturday, Oct. 25: vs. Portland State, TBD

Friday, Oct. 31: at Northern Arizona, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. UC Davis, TBD

Saturday, Nov. 15: at Sacramento State, TBD

Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Idaho State, TBD