Idaho heads to Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday for a Halloween matchup with Portland State, carrying real momentum after its 31-28 Homecoming win over Southern Utah. The Vandals have climbed to 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big Sky Conference after an 0-4 start, and they are now trying to keep their conference push alive with one more road test.
That turnaround has been driven by a strong October stretch. Idaho went 3-1 during the month, with its only setback coming earlier this month in a 38-27 loss to Weber State. The latest result was enough to keep the Vandals moving in the right direction, and Owen Forsman’s 53-yard field goal delivered the final margin against Southern Utah.
Why Portland State is a tougher matchup than the record suggests
Thomas Ford Jr. made it clear this week that Idaho is not treating Portland State like a typical 2-6 opponent. The Vikings are 2-2 in conference play, and Ford pointed to how competitive they have been against stronger teams. Early in the season, Portland State opened against then-No. 6 UC Davis and led 21-0 at halftime before losing, which is part of why Idaho’s staff sees a team that has played better than its record.
Ford described Portland State as a much-improved group and said Chris Fisk is a phenomenal football coach. His point was simple: the tape looks better than the standings, and the Vikings play with effort, structure and cohesion. That matters for Idaho, which is trying to avoid a slow start on the road and put pressure on a defense that has allowed 518.9 yards per game.
What Idaho needs to do on Saturday
Ford said a fast start will be critical. He wants Idaho to get points early and force Portland State into long-yardage third downs, which would help the Vandals control the game script. Idaho’s offense has been productive, and that gives the team a chance to set the tone if it can finish drives and protect an early lead.
The matchup also comes with a clear contrast in recent form. Idaho has found its footing after a rough opening month, while Portland State has shown enough in losses and conference play to suggest it will not be an easy road game. If the Vandals can build on their 3-1 October run, Saturday offers another chance to strengthen their Big Sky standing and keep the season moving forward.
