The Idaho Vandals started the season on the road against an FBS team, but it wasn’t much of a hassle for the team to travel nine miles to Pullman. After two consecutive home victories, the Vandals hit the road this week for their second road game against an FBS team. However, this week four trip will be the first legitimate commute for this Idaho team.
“Excited for the first true road game, excited for the challenge,” head coach Thomas Ford said at his weekly press conference. “I think there’s going to be some balance this week and that’s kind of what we aim for every week.”
The Vandals travel to San Jose, California to take on the Spartans of San Jose State at CEFCU Stadium. The Spartans, despite being predicted to finish among the top three in the Mountain West, currently stand at 0-2.
Though their most recent loss, playing on the road against Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns, was expected, the Spartans began their 2025 campaign on the wrong foot when they lost at home against Central Michigan. The Spartans had a chance to win the game, but it withered away as they missed two late field goals, losing 16-14.
Despite the loss, quarterback Walker Eget threw 308 yards and two touchdowns. Through two games, wideout Danny Scudero has 16 catches for 249 yards and a score. The Spartans had one of the best receivers in the country last year, Nick Nash, and Scudero has been an efficient replacement for Nash in the offense.
Last week, the Vandals prevailed, victorious in their 50-year Kibbie Dome anniversary celebration, winning 20-6 in a dominant victory against the Utah Tech Trailblazers. Idaho head coach Thomas Ford said in the postgame press conference that Utah Tech is “probably the best 0-3 team in the country.”
Ever since taking the reins of the program, Ford has made it clear that his team will focus on being the more physical team each game they play. Against Utah Tech, they did exactly that. The Trailblazers had less than 100 yards on the ground, and the Vandals rushed for 286. After three weeks, Idaho is first in the Big Sky in total defense and rushing defense.
“Our offensive line is playing at a very high level right now,” Ford said.
While he was happy with his team cleaning up the penalties, as well as their performance on offense and defense, Ford said his team needs to clean some things up on special teams. Redshirt junior placekicker Cameron Pope missed two first-half field goals and was replaced by redshirt freshman Owen Forsman, who nailed two field goals including a 49-yarder. Forsman will be the starter against the Spartans.
The Vandals know that San Jose State poses a threat and that they will be hungry to get their first win of the season.
“They’re tough, they got a defense that plays really hard, their d-line is very good, they play with a high motor,” Ford said. “Our o-line versus their d-line will be a matchup to watch. They spread the ball around and chuck it. It’s going to be a challenge for the secondary.”
Liam Bradford can be reached at [email protected].