It’s been a long time coming. If you follow Big Sky football, you know the grind. Usually, the Idaho State Bengals find themselves packing bags and heading for FBS "guarantee" games—those matchups where you get a fat check to go play a powerhouse and, more often than not, take a beating. But things are looking weirdly different for the upcoming season.
The Idaho State Bengals football schedule for 2026 was recently dropped, and the big headline isn't a game against a Top 10 SEC school. It's the number seven.
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Specifically, seven home games.
For the first time since 1990, the Bengals will be spending more time in the ICCU Dome than on a bus. This isn't just a scheduling quirk. It is a massive strategic shift by Athletic Director Pauline Thiros and Head Coach Cody Hawkins. They are betting big on Pocatello. They want to turn the Dome into a place where teams come to lose, not just a place where students go between classes.
Breaking Down the 2026 Idaho State Bengals Football Schedule
Honestly, the way this slate is built is kinda brilliant. You’ve got a mix of "first-time ever" matchups and the kind of rivalries that make people throw things at their TVs.
The season kicks off right at home on August 29. The Bengals are hosting VMI (Virginia Military Institute). It’s the first time these two programs have ever stepped onto the same field. It’s a bold way to start—no warm-up against a lower-tier school, just straight into Division I FCS action.
After that, things get real.
On September 5, they head over to Logan to face Utah State. That’s the lone FBS game on the docket. It’s a regional trip, which is nice for the travel budget, but it’ll be a massive test for Hawkins’ offense. Then it’s back to the Dome on September 12 to face San Diego.
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The Big Sky Expansion Chaos
If you haven't been keeping up, the Big Sky is getting crowded. With Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining the party, the conference schedule has gone from a standard eight games to a nine-game gauntlet. This means some teams are going to have very lopsided schedules.
For Idaho State, that expansion starts on September 26. They travel to Cedar City to take on Southern Utah after an early bye week.
Here is how the rest of that fall stretch looks:
- October 3: Northern Arizona (Home)
- October 10: Cal Poly (Home)
- October 17: At Weber State (The Battle for the Train Bell)
- October 24: Portland State (Home)
- October 31: At Utah Tech (Halloween in St. George)
That October stretch is basically the season. If the Bengals can protect the ICCU Dome against NAU and Cal Poly, they head into the Weber State rivalry game with some serious momentum. And let’s talk about that Halloween game. Playing in St. George against one of the newest conference members? That’s going to be a weird environment.
The Brutal November Finish
If you thought the first half was manageable, November is here to humble everyone. The Bengals close out with three of the toughest programs in the West.
First, Montana State comes to Pocatello on November 7. The Bobcats have been a perennial powerhouse lately, and they don't exactly travel light. Expect a lot of blue and gold in the stands. Then, the Bengals have to go to Missoula on November 14 to face the Griz. Washington-Grizzly Stadium is probably the loudest, most hostile environment in the FCS. It’s a nightmare for any quarterback trying to call a play at the line.
Finally, the regular season ends on November 21.
The Potato State Trophy.
The Idaho Vandals come to the ICCU Dome. After the Bengals pulled off a dominant 37-16 win against Idaho in 2025, you can bet the Vandals have this date circled in blood. It’s the kind of game that defines a season regardless of what the record looks like.
Why the Seven Home Games Matter
You might think, "Okay, so they play at home more, so what?"
It’s about the "ICCU Dome Advantage." Playing indoors in Pocatello is its own beast. The turf is fast. The noise bounces off the ceiling and stays there. For a "Run and Shoot" offense like the one Cody Hawkins runs, having a controlled environment for 60% of your games is a massive tactical edge.
Plus, there’s the recruiting angle.
When you can tell a high school kid they’ll be playing seven games in front of a home crowd, it changes the conversation. It shows the school is investing in the program. Coach Hawkins has been vocal about this, saying he wants to build something that makes the community proud. You don't do that by playing "buy games" in front of 100,000 fans who don't know your name in Alabama or Texas. You do it by winning in Idaho.
Looking Back to Move Forward
To understand why this 2026 schedule is so hyped, you have to look at 2025. The Bengals finished that year 6-6. While that sounds like a "meh" record to a casual observer, it was actually the program's first non-losing season since 2018.
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They finished 5-3 in the Big Sky.
They beat #6 UC Davis on the road. They hammered Weber State 31-3. They ended the year by taking the Potato State Trophy away from the Vandals in Moscow. The momentum is real. The "Hawkins Era" has officially moved past the "rebuilding" phase and into the "contender" phase.
But there are limitations. The defense has struggled at times, giving up big chunks of yards on the ground. In 2025, opponents were averaging over 300 yards rushing in the early games. If the Bengals want to survive a November that includes Montana State and Montana, that run defense has to get stouter. You can't just out-shoot those teams; you have to stop them.
Real Talk on Ticket Strategy
If you're planning on catching these games, the school is doing something pretty smart with season tickets. They’ve been bundling them with perks to get people into the Dome earlier. The goal is simple: sell out the lower bowl.
The 2026 season is arguably the most "fan-friendly" schedule the school has ever put together. No weird Thursday night games (so far), a high-profile non-conference home game against San Diego, and the biggest rivalry game of the year happening right in Pocatello to close the season.
Actionable Steps for Bengal Fans
If you want to stay on top of this season, don't just wait for the local news. Here is how you actually track the progress:
- Monitor the Portal: With the 2026 schedule being so home-heavy, watch for key defensive transfers. The Bengals need interior linemen to handle the Big Sky's heavy hitters.
- Lock in Season Tickets Early: The ICCU Dome is relatively small, and with seven home games, the demand for the Idaho and Montana State games will likely drive prices up on the secondary market.
- Watch the VMI Matchup: This August 29 opener is the "tell." If the Bengals look sharp and disciplined against a disciplined military academy team, it’s a sign the summer camp was successful.
- Follow the Radio Feed: KISU 91.1 FM is the place for real-time updates. Scott Gross usually has the call, and it's often more informative than the national broadcasts.
The Bengals are no longer the Big Sky’s doormat. The 2026 schedule is proof that the administration is tired of just participating—they want to host a playoff game. Whether the roster can hold up through that brutal three-game November stretch remains to be seen, but for now, Pocatello has every reason to be loud.
Grab your tickets through the ISU ticket office at 208-282-FANS and keep an eye on the official athletics site for those TBA kickoff times, which usually get set once the TV networks (likely ESPN+) make their picks.