ISU marks 125 years with a packed Homecoming celebration
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POCATELLO — Bengal pride will be on full display this week as Idaho State University continues its 2026 Homecoming celebration, with pickleball, a parade, longtime traditions and plenty of football among the festivities.
Homecoming activities will continue through Saturday, bringing together students, alumni and community members as ISU marks its 125th anniversary.
Pickleball, bingo and Bengal traditions
Wednesday’s festivities include Bengal Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Building lobby, followed by ISU’s inaugural Homecoming Pickleball Tournament from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. outside Reed Gym. The free tournament is open to players of all experience levels.
Homecoming Bingo will round out the evening from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Ballroom.
On Thursday, students and graduates can mingle during the Student-Alumni Mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center. The Homecoming Royalty Pageant will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Quad Lounge.
Friday’s activities include the Alumni Awards Recognition Dinner at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center and a Lip Sync Battle from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Quad Lounge.
Late Friday night, students can take part in one of ISU’s longest-running and most recognizable Homecoming traditions. True Bengal will be held from 11 p.m. to midnight at the Red Hill Pillars.
(“There is an old tradition – nobody knows exactly when it started – that you can only become a ‘True Bengal’ if, at midnight on Homecoming, you kiss someone while touching one of the pillars on Red Hill,” according to ISU’s page on its traditions.)
Parade, tailgating and football
Saturday brings some of the biggest events of Homecoming week, beginning with the annual Homecoming Parade.
Floats, marching bands, student organizations and community groups will make their way up Center Street beginning at 10 a.m. The parade is scheduled to run until noon.
The celebration then shifts toward the ICCU Dome, where the Alumni and Fan Tailgate will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the dome parking lot.
Kickoff follows at 4 p.m., when the Idaho State Bengals take on Cal Poly in the Homecoming football game.
The Bengals enter Saturday’s matchup with plenty of momentum. Idaho State is 4-1 overall and ranked No. 16 nationally in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. The Bengals opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 1995 before falling 38-31 to Northern Arizona last weekend.
History is also on ISU’s side when it comes to Homecoming. The Bengals are 50-40-3 all-time in Homecoming games and have won seven of their last 10. Cal Poly has twice previously served as ISU’s Homecoming opponent — in 2017 and 2022 — with the Bengals winning both games.
A new Homecoming challenge
This year’s celebration also includes a new digital Homecoming Passport Challenge, giving Bengals another way to take part in the week.
Participants who complete at least 15 of 25 challenges will be entered to win two tickets and pregame field passes to ISU’s Nov. 7 football game.
For details and a complete schedule of Homecoming events, visit Idaho State University’s website at isu.edu
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