"Looking forward to this weekend. Obviously a very big matchup with a storied rival in Montana […] I know, as an assistant, it was pretty awesome getting that thing and taking it back to Moscow. I know, also as an assistant, it hurt pretty bad seeing them leave with it here in Moscow back in 2023. Very excited for the matchup, it's going to be a big time game. ESPN game, Big Sky Game of the Week, all these things. At the end of the day, it's our first Big Sky Conference game and that what matters the most." Head Coach Thomas Ford Jr.
 
No. 8 Idaho (2-2) vs. No. 5 Montana (3-0)

• Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217) | Missoula, Mont,
• 7:15 p.m. PT : Kickoff on ESPN 2 (Clayton Matvick, Chase Daniel)
• Listen: Vandal Football Radio Network | The Varsity Network App (Dennis Patchin and Trent Cowan)
• Live Stats
• Game Notes
• 2025 Football Record Book

MOSCOW, Idaho – The No. 8 Idaho Vandals (2-2) head east for a primetime matchup on ESPN 2, where they will open the Big Sky Conference season against the No. 4 Montana Grizzlies (3-0) for The Battle of the Little Brown Stein. Clayton Matvick and Chase Daniel will have the call on the Worldwide Leader in Sports, while Dennis Patchin and Trent Cowan can be heard over the airwaves on the Vandal Football Radio Network. 

The Battle for the Little Brown Stein is one of the most storied rivalries and unique trophies in the nation. Idaho takes on Montana for the 90th time in program history in a series that dates back to 1903 – a game the Vandals won 28-0. In 1938, The Little Brown Stein was introduced as the traveling trophy which goes with the winner of the matchup. Idaho won the inaugural Battle for the Little Brown Stein 19-6 in Missoula that season.  The Vandals lead the overall series 56-31-2, and left Missoula with the Stein after a 30-23 victory in 2022. The Vandals have a 23-16 record against Montana in Missoula. 

Idaho has played Montana the second-most out of any other school in program history, only behind Washington State. 

The top-10 showdown fit for national TV has been labeled as the Big Sky Conference's Game of the Week. It is the only top-10 matchup in FCS this week. 
 
This is Idaho's second of three games on national TV this season. As part of its TV deal, the Big Sky Conference gets four games on ESPN this season, Idaho is taking part in two of them – the other coming on Halloween night against Northern Arizona.  

THINGS TO LOOK FOR

• Two of the top rushing attacks in FCS take the field in Missoula this weekend. With 203 yards per game, Idaho ranks 15^th in the nation and second in the conference, while Montana leads the Big Sky on the ground. Idaho's rush defense only concedes 126 yards per game. 
• Joshua Wood has been one of the most electric players in the nation thus far this season. Having won Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week in week two, Wood has totaled nearly 700 yards and six touchdowns through the air, while adding 314 yards and three touchdowns on the ground making him one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
• The Vandal defense has been stifling this season, surrendering the second least amount of yards per game in the conference. 
• By controlling the ball for over 35 minutes a game, Idaho leads the Big Sky and is third in the nation in time of possession through four games. 

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 50: All year long, the Vandals are celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, one of the most unique and celebrated venues in all of college sports
• 3: Idaho is one of three FCS teams to record multiple wins over FBS programs since 2023 (Idaho beat Nevada 33-6 in 2023, Idaho beat Wyoming 17-13 last season)
• 6: Idaho is ranked in six major polls across the nation, ranking as high as No. 5, and as low as No. 10
• 8: Idaho went 6-0 in the Dome last season and has now won eight consecutive games in the Dome.
• 11: Per Massey Ratings, Idaho's strength of schedule was ranked 11^th in the nation entering the season.
• 19: Amount of transfers Thomas Ford Jr. brought in to this year's squad
• 39: Consecutive weeks the Vandals have been ranked in Top 25 – the second longest streak in school history (42, 1992-95)
• 56: Amount of letterwinners returning from last season
• 71: Players on this year's team are from the Pacific Northwest (64% of the total roster)
• 165: Games Idaho has won in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome

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TICKETS: Season tickets, mini plans, and single-game tickets are available here or by calling the Idaho Ticket Office at (208) 885-6466.