Idaho pulled off the biggest upset of the college football season on Friday night, and nobody saw it except the people who were already awake. The Vandals trailed Montana State 34-27 with eight seconds left and no timeouts, and somehow walked out of the Kibbie Dome with a win.
Here is how it happened.
The Timeout That Cost the Bobcats
Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood was completing a pass for a first down when the clock started ticking toward zero. Then Montana State coach Brent Vigen made a baffling call. He asked for a timeout.
That gift gave Idaho one last play. The Vandals took it, and Wood found wide receiver Ryan Jezioro in the end zone. Instead of kicking a tying extra point, Idaho ran a QB draw to end the game outright. The comeback capped a 14-point fourth quarter, and Idaho won in regulation.
The Numbers Behind the Upset
Idaho entered the game winless this season. Montana State was the opposite — undefeated and the number one team in FCS. The Bobcats also carried a 19-game winning streak into the Kibbie Dome.
The setting matters too. Montana State expected to handle business in a small Idaho town while the rest of the country watched other games. Instead, they got the upset.
A History of Revenge
There might have been extra fuel for Idaho. Montana State knocked Idaho out of the FCS Playoffs in 2024.
That history made the moment feel personal for the Vandals.
Why This Game Matters
High-level Power 5 football is great, there is no question about it. But this game shows why FCS matchups deserve attention too. The Bobcats were the champions of their own division, and they still lost.
The result is a reminder that the best teams do not always win. Sometimes a timeout changes the math.
What Comes Next
The highest level of college football keeps moving forward. Nobody knows what that means for games like this one. For now, the paper is enjoying some damn good football.
Thanks for an entertaining start to the weekend, Idaho.
Key Facts Box
- Idaho trailed 34-27 with eight seconds left and no timeouts
- Montana State was undefeated and #1 in FCS, carrying a 19-game winning streak
- Idaho was winless this season
- Montana State knocked Idaho out of the FCS Playoffs in 2024
Comparison Table
| Team | Record Before the Game | Recent History |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Vandals | Winless this season | Knocked Montana State out of 2024 playoffs |
| Montana State Bobcats | Undefeated, #1 in FCS | 19-game winning streak entering the game |
The upset is the kind of story that makes college football fun. A team nobody expected to win found a way.
Idaho deserves credit for the win, and Montana State deserves credit for showing how quickly things can change. The Bobcats were the champions, and the champions lost.
That is the beauty of college football. One timeout, one play, one game decided in a small Idaho town while the rest of the country slept.
Source material: “Craziest upset of the college football season happened on Friday night while everyone was asleep,” Fox News.
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