The Bengals won their first and only national championship in 1981, defeating Eastern Kentucky in the Division I-AA (now FCS) title game. They have eight conference championships in program history, including five in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and three in the Big Sky. They have finished the season ranked eight times, most recently in 2014.
The current head coach of Idaho State is Cody Hawkins, who begins his first season in 2023.[2]
Seasons
Legend
† National champions † Conference champions ^ Bowl game berth / playoff result
^Since Division I was split into subdivisions, the NCAA poll was the major poll used at the I-AA (FCS) level until 1992, when it was replaced by The Sports Network poll. Beginning in 2015, the FCS now uses the STATS poll.
^The NCAA switched to its current divisional system in 1973. Idaho State was classified as a Division II program (formerly College Division).
^The NCAA split Division I into subdivisions in 1978. Idaho State, along with the rest of the Big Sky Conference, moved up to I-AA.
^Overtime rules were added for NCAA football in 1996, thereby eliminating ties.
^The Fall 2020 Big Sky football season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with league play resuming in a shortened Spring 2021 season.