MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho Vandals football team will begin the 2025 season ranked No. 12 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 poll, released Monday morning. Idaho earned 747 points in the rankings and carries high expectations following back-to-back FCS Playoff Quarterfinal appearances.
The Vandals closed the 2024 season ranked No. 7 in the nation, finishing with a 10-4 record and placing third in the Big Sky Conference — their first 10-win season since 1993. Now under the direction of first-year head coach Thomas Ford, Idaho returns a strong core with 56 letterwinners, the second-most in the conference.
In addition to its veteran leadership, Idaho added several key transfers during the offseason. Among them is quarterback
Joshua Wood, a Graham, Wash. native who appeared in 13 games last season for Fresno State, rushing for six touchdowns and throwing for another. Defensively, the Vandals brought in cornerback
Hysan Dalton (Furman), defensive end
Donovan Parham (Mississippi Valley State), and safety
Zach Wusstig (Portland State) — all expected to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball.
The Vandals were previously ranked No. 10 in the Hero Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 Media Pol
l, and with this new ranking, they will extend their streak of consecutive weeks ranked to 35 — the second-longest in program history.
The 2025 schedule is packed with marquee match ups. Idaho will face four Top 25 opponents, including two in the top 10, and will appear on national television three times:
- Washington State (Aug. 30 on The CW)
- Montana (Sept. 27 on ESPN2)
- Northern Arizona (Oct. 31 on ESPN2)
Idaho is one of six Big Sky Conference ranked in the Top 25.
The season opener is set for Aug. 30 when the Vandals travel across the Palouse to take on long-time rival Washington State. Tickets in Idaho's section are sold out.
Stats Perform's full preseason poll release can be found here.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow the Vandals on
Facebook,
Instagram, and
X for the latest updates.
TICKETS: Season tickets, mini plans, and single-game tickets are available here or by calling the Idaho Ticket Office at
(208) 885-6466.
