The “Big Sky Conference After Dark” so often delivers memorable games, and Idaho’s upset of No. 1 Montana State was among the best. Here are six takeaways from the FCS football thriller.
Previously winless Idaho’s 35-34 upset of No. 1-ranked and defending FCS champion Montana State Friday night was surprising – maybe stunning to many people.
But there were signs of something special possibly happening leading into the Vandals’ first-ever win over a top-ranked team.
Said Vandals coach Thomas Ford Jr. afterward: “I told the guys the last two weeks when we beat this team, everyone in the country will be surprised, but not one single person in that room will be surprised, and that was the case.”
Idaho (1-4) dropped Montana State to 5-1 and ended the Bobcats’ 19-game overall winning streak and 18-game conference winning streak.
Following are six takeaways on how Idaho pulled off the upset and what it means for Montana State and the FCS.
THE MOMENT pic.twitter.com/w75lcuUvxi
— Idaho Football (@VandalFootball) October 3, 2026Idaho Perfect in Incredible Final Minute
Idaho, which overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, was productive on every play of its game-winning drive, which began with the Vandals trailing 34-27 and from their 20-yard line with 49 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Joshua Wood scrambled for 16 and 6 yards on the first two plays, then completed a 10-yard pass to Tony Harste to move the Vandals across midfield to the MSU 48.
Wood then connected on a 23-yard pass to Noah West-Baranco to the MSU 25 with 1 second remaining. The Bobcats called what seemed to be an ill-advised timeout because it allowed the Vandals to compose themselves some more and design a final play.
On the final play, Wood stepped up in the pocket and floated a pass into the Bobcats’ end zone to Ryan Jezioro, who dove back toward the ball and hauled in the 25-yarder to pull Idaho within 34-33.
With no time remaining and destiny a two-point conversion away, the Vandals went for the win. Working from a shotgun, Wood took the snap, took a half step backward, then avoided a pass rusher as he powered up the middle into the end zone to set off bedlam inside the Kibbie Dome.
Vandals Weren’t Far Off vs. FCS
Idaho’s winless record entering the game was a little deceiving because it had been playing close games against quality FCS opponents. The Vandals’ three FCS losses were by a combined 12 points, including Cal Poly scoring a go-ahead touchdown with just 9 seconds left in their season opener.
Also, Wood has excelled this season. The dual-threat QB’s 356 total yards (315 passing, 41 rushing) and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) against Montana State were comparable to what he had averaged against the earlier FCS competition.
Just as important was the Vandals had a bye week prior to playing Montana State – a chance to heal up themselves while the Bobcats continued to deal with injuries.
Bobcats Have to Get Healthy
Not many teams are forced to play multiple weeks while missing four All-Americans, which Montana State has done.
Quite simply, few FCS teams even have four All-Americans on their roster.
The Bobcats’ bye next weekend comes at a good time as they try to clear their heads from the surprising loss and, more importantly, get some of their four injured All-Americans – quarterback Justin Lamson, running back Adam Jones, wide receiver Taco Dowler and safety Caden Dowler – back on the playing field.
Montana State’s Likely Need to Win Out
Once considered a lock to have home-field advantage during the 24-team FCS playoffs, Montana State may not be able to lose again if it’s going to earn one of the top two seeds, which guarantees home games through the semifinals prior to the national championship game in Nashville, Tennessee. No team with more than one loss to FCS opponents in the regular season has earned a top-two seed since Rhode Island in 1984 (ironically, Montana State won the national title that postseason).
The Bobcats’ remaining regular-season schedule: bye, at Eastern Washington, Weber State, Cal Poly, at Idaho State, at Northern Colorado and Montana.
Different Feeling For MSU Opponents
While their upcoming Big Sky opponents are accustomed to facing Montana State, the aura of invincibility is gone. They’ve seen the Bobcats lose now and gained insight into how it can be done.
The Idaho game wasn’t the Bobcats’ first struggle, either. In their prior two games, they trailed Central Connecticut State as late as the final minute of the third quarter and were only seven points ahead of Northern Arizona until the final two minutes.
Who’s No. 1?
A win on Saturday by No. 2 South Dakota State at No. 10 Illinois State, the overtime runner-up to Montana State in the 2025 national championship game, makes for a slam-dunk new No. 1 team in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll on Monday.
If SDSU doesn’t win on the road in what’s a close matchup on paper, the new poll will really be interesting. The closest voting difference between two teams in this week’s Top 25 occurred with No. 3 Montana and No. 4 Tarleton State. Both teams are expected to win at home on Saturday – UM against Northern Colorado and TSU versus Chicago State.
No FCS program outside Montana State, SDSU or now-FBS North Dakota State has held the No. 1 ranking since Sam Houston was atop the 2021 final regular-season poll.
For more FCS football coverage, follow at X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
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