Bill Speltz

They've been close the past three years, but the Idaho Vandals have never been able to get over the hump and earn royalty status in the Big Sky Conference since returning to the league in 2018.

It must be a thorn in their side after earning a bowl bid in 2016, just two years prior to dropping back down to the FCS level. They played Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22, 2016, and won a memorable shootout that was aired on ESPN, 61-50.

After that the Vandals suffered through five losing seasons before breaking through in 2022 with a 6-2 record in Big Sky play. They went 6-2 again in 2023 and 2024 in conference action, but have gone 2-3 in the playoffs over the past three seasons.

Enter coach Thomas Ford Jr., who played running back at NCAA Division III Li

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