Idaho–Idaho State football rivalry
The Idaho–Idaho State rivalry is the intrastate college football game in Idaho between the University of Idaho in Moscow and Idaho State University in Pocatello.
The series was played annually for 31 seasons from 1965 [Idaho Vandals football team|1965] through 1995 [Idaho Vandals football team|1995], until Idaho's move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, leaving Idaho State without an intrastate rival. Weber State, based in nearby Ogden, Utah, served as Idaho State's primary rival during Idaho's stay in the FBS. Annual play has resumed since Idaho's move back to the Football Championship Subdivision in 2018. The rivalry was at its most competitive in the 1970s and 1980s, with neither team three-peating. Idaho leads the overall series, and lead 5-3 since rejoining the Big Sky Conference in 2018.
A notable game of the series was not even played; in the conference finale for both teams in 1978, a night game was scheduled for Moscow on November 11, and ISU planned to fly up to the Palouse that Saturday afternoon in two vintage airplanes. One developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff from Pocatello and returned. Both teams were at the bottom of the Big Sky standings and the game was not rescheduled; Idaho was granted a
Branding
In opposite regions of Idaho and in different time zones, the driving distance between the campuses is over through Boise, and over if routed through western Montana and Coeur d'Alene, a popular choice as it is mostly interstate.Idaho State was the first of the pair to play its home games indoors, opening the ICCU Dome in 1970. The Kibbie Dome in Moscow was enclosed in 1975, after four years as an outdoor venue; the last two outdoor games in this series were played there in 1971 and 1973, then the new
From 1971 through 2010, Idaho's primary intrastate rivalry in football was with Boise State. While all three were in the Big Sky Conference, they competed for the Gem State Trophy.
Battle of the Domes (2018–2023)
In 2017, Idaho Central Credit Union sponsored a rivalry between the two schools, titled "Battle of the Domes", the branding being applied to multiple sports. Five football games were played under the Battle of the Domes branding, Idaho winning in the 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons, and Idaho State winning the inaugural game in 2018, alongside the 2020 season, which was delayed to spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.With the introduction of the Battle of the Domes branding in 2017, a traveling trophy was also introduced. The Battle of the Domes trophy is prominently green, and is mounted on a wooden base. There are 20 small plaques located on the base of the trophy, which were filled in after every football game between the two, detailing the winner, date, and score. The winner of the overall Battle of the Domes competition was awarded temporary possession of the trophy.
Ahead of the 2023 season, the Battle of the Domes branding was officially retired, after Idaho Central Credit Union adjusted their sponsorship with both institutions.
The Potato State Trophy (2024–present)
After the retirement of the Battle of the Domes branding, a temporary rivalry trophy was created by Idaho head coach Jason Eck, who put a Mr. Potato Head on the base of the original Battle of the Domes trophy. On July 21, 2024, a permanent trophy was formally introduced, called the "Potato State Trophy".The trophy weighs 19.4 pounds, and is made of Douglas Fir. It made its on-field debut in the 2024 season, and was first in possession of the Vandals after a 63–21 victory over the Bengals in 2023.
Idaho's Assistant Athletic Director for Brand Engagement & Digital Strategy, Jerek Wolcott, sculpted the potato, and Nick Davis, a wood and metal working teacher at Middleton High School, made the metal cutout.
Notable games
1916
The first game in the series was held in Pocatello on November 27, 1916 [Idaho football team|1916]. The Vandals defeated the Bengals by a score of 32–0.1962
Both the 1916 and 1929 games were in Pocatello; 1962 marks the first time that the rivalry game was played on the Palouse in Moscow. Host Idaho won a low-scoring 9–6 game.1969
Idaho State ended the Vandals' eight-game winning streak in 1969 with a 47–42 upset on the road. Held in Pullman, Washington, it was Idaho State's first-ever win in the series. They won again the following year 35–14, which was also the first game in the series played indoors, at the ASISU Minidome in Pocatello. The next year, Idaho State was the first opponent in Moscow's new outdoor Idaho Stadium, the first game on campus in nearly three years; the Vandals won in a 40–3 rout and went on to become Big Sky champions.1975
1975 was first game held inside the newly enclosed Kibbie Dome in September 1975, visiting Idaho State won by a score of 29–14.1978
Late in the 1978 season, the two were scheduled to play at night in Moscow on November 11, but transportation issues caused Idaho State to forfeit, giving Idaho a 1–0 win. On game day, one of two vintage aircraft carrying the ISU team had mechanical issues and returned to Pocatello; it remains the closest game in the series.1995
On September 30, 1995, Idaho State defeated Idaho 26–21, ending a seven-game losing streak. This was the last time they faced each other in conference play until 2018, with Idaho leaving Division I-AA for Division I-A in 1996. They played four times during Idaho's stay in the FBS, all of which were won by Idaho.2018
Idaho rejoined the FCS and the Big Sky Conference in 2018, renewing the rivalry. Now dubbed the "Battle of the Domes," Idaho State won 62–28 in the first game under the new branding. They have played each other annually in a rivalry game during the last week of the regular season since then.Universities
The University of Idaho was established in 1889 by the territorial legislature and opened its doors three years later. Idaho State's origins date back to 1901; it was a two-year branch campus of the UI, became a four-year college in 1947, and a university in 1963.Game results
- Eight non-conference games: 1916, 1929, 1962, 1963, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008
- Not played in 63 seasons: 1917–1928, 1930–1961, 1964, 1996, 1999–2005, 2007, 2009–2017
Big Sky games
Both schools were charter members of the Big Sky Conference, which launched in 1963. In conference play, Idaho leads the series through 2021. Idaho State was previously a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Idaho joined conference play for football in 1965, after six seasons as an independent; they left for 1996 [NCAA Division I-A football season|Division I-A] in 1996, and returned to 2018 [NCAA Division I FCS football season|FCS] in 2018.Coaching records
Since first game in 1916Miscellaneous
Locations
The rivalry game has been held in four different locations in two different states. Pocatello has held the most games with 24, followed by Moscow with 20, then Boise and Pullman, both with one.| State | City | Hosted |
| Washington | Pullman | 1 |
| Idaho | Pocatello | 24 |
| Idaho | Moscow | 20 |
| Idaho | Boise | 1 |