AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – Thomas Ford, Jr. enters his second season leading the Idaho Vandals football program, and his squad already looked impressive in fitted new suits during the 2026 Big Sky Media Day today.
Ford and the team emphasized this offseason’s preparation and not looking back at their underperforming 4-8 record from a year ago.
“I think this off-season we’ve really been focused on the process, right?” Ford said. “Let’s not worry about making the playoffs. Let’s not worry about winning the Big Sky. Let’s worry about getting better. And I think our guys have really taken that to heart.”
The Vandals open the season with a rare Friday conference kickoff, traveling to the Cal Poly Mustangs for their first meeting in two years, and one the V’s won at home under a former head coach-quarterback duo.
“Nobody’s playing around, messing around at all during, you know, player practices because we know how serious this first game is, with it being a conference game; it’s going to be a little weird,” starting quarterback Joshua Wood said. “Just because we also haven’t seen them with their new coaching staff and everything. So, it’s going to be fun for sure.”
Idaho begins fall camp this Wednesday, and it’ll run through August 19. Kickoff against Cal Poly is on August 28 under the lights at 7:00 p.m.
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