As the 2025 football season comes to an end, one historic rival matchup stands alone on the Idaho Vandals schedule. On Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1:00 p.m.M, the 4-7 Idaho Vandals football team will have the privilege to host their final game of the season at the Kibbie Dome, against bitter rival Idaho State. Similar to the Vandals, the 5-6 Idaho State Bengals will look for one last win in their 2025 season.
With these two teams, out of playoff contention, bragging rights, rivalry history, and most importantly, the Potato State Trophy are all on the line for both teams this weekend, setting up what should be an intense and entertaining matchup. Both teams hope to finish their seasons on a high note, adding extra emotion to this year’s famous rivalry showdown.
“I’m definitely excited for the opportunity and want to send those seniors out the right way, Head coach Thomas Ford Jr said in his weekly press conference.”
Idaho State Bengals
After an impressive 31-3 home win over fellow Big Sky Conference member Weber State on Nov. 15, the 5-6 Idaho State Bengals will head on up to Moscow to compete against their 4-7 rival, the Vandals. The spotlight for Idaho State this season is their offense as a whole. Only twice this season has the Bengals offense produced less than 20 points, both against playoff teams in Montana State and Northern Arizona.
On the offense, Idaho State has multiple stars on the roster such as quarterback Jordan Cooke who has passed for 2,840 yards, 14 touchdowns to only nine interceptions.
Receiver Michael Shulikov leads the team in receiving yards with 908 and receiving touchdowns with seven. Running back Dason Brooks has been very underrated this year. Brooks has rushed for nearly 1,000yards along with cashing in 10 touchdowns. Let us not forget the boys in the trenches either, who have only let up four sacks all season.
On the other side of the ball, Rylan Leathers leads the team in tackles with 92, while also recording an interception. Defensive lineman Camron Willis leads the team in sacks with 5.5 and records 26 tackles as well. With stats like these and currently a three-game winning streak, the Bengals enter the rivalry matchup with plenty of momentum and confidence.
Idaho State will enter Moscow with poise as they aim to close out their season with one final win. This historic matchup first dated all the way back in 1916 where the Vandals were the victors 32-0. Since then, Idaho has still held the series record over the Bengals 33-13, while holding a four-year winning streak against Idaho State as well.
“We genuinely do not like their program. Coach Hawkins is an awesome coach. He’s awesome guy, so there’s no hard feelings by any stretch,” Ford said But when we’re taking the field right, there’s no friends on the field. And I think exposing our young guys to this rivalry is going to be really fun this week.”
This young Vandals team will come into the Kibbie Dome looking to hoist up the Potato State Trophy and ultimately end the season with a bang.
Ford also added that the rivalry brings out extra emotion in his players and that honoring the seniors’ impact on the program is a major motivator heading into the game, especially to the younger players.
“The impact they’ve made within the program is tremendous. I mean, these guys were a part of changing the guard, so to speak,” Ford said. They’ve given everything to make that happen, and again, to lay the blueprint and the foundation for our younger players. And obviously for me, these guys left a huge impact on me.”
With a tough opponent at home and the fact that it is the last game of the season, the Vandals know the stakes are high in one of the most exciting rivalries in the Big Sky Conference. Idaho ultimately hopes to keep the Potato State Trophy where it belongs in Moscow, Idaho.
The Vandals and Bengals will kick off from the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m.
Steve Johnson
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