Northwest Notes April 30, 2026

Vandals to host spring football game Friday

MOSCOW — After a month of opportunities to compete against one another in practice, Idaho football is set to host the annual spring game on Friday at 6 p.m. at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. 

The Vandals have notched 13 spring practices so far, most of which kicked off at 6 a.m., installing the new, up-tempo systems under first-year coordinators Ian Shoemaker, Lee Stalker and Joe Begnal. Head coach Thomas Ford Jr. has been vocal about his team’s processing of the new schemes and development into a complete football team. 

“That’s what you want to see,” Ford said after Tuesday’s practice. “To be able to climb that ladder and get better every day. I think what you saw [Tuesday] was a culmination of that. All three phases really did a nice job.”  

Friday’s contest will feature Black vs. Gold for four 12-minute quarters with a running clock, stopping only for possession changes to simulate media timeouts. Halftime will be an 8-minute stoppage in play, and players will remain on the field following the game to sign autographs.

Concessions will be available for purchase at the game, but alcohol will not be offered. The VandalStore will be on-site, giving away free 2026 Vandal Football schedule magnets. The Vandal ticket office will be available in the ESI construction center. 

Following the scrimmage, there will be a postgame social at the Best Western Plus University Inn’s gold and silver rooms.