Idaho: 2026 Week 7 recap

Idaho sits at 1–4 after a thrilling one-point home win over Montana State in Week 5, a result that showcased the Vandals' ability to close tight games—their late-game leverage performance has been a relative strength. However, the narrow victory masks deeper efficiency problems: a red-zone touchdown rate of just 14% and third-down conversion rate of 40% suggest Idaho is leaving points on the field consistently. With an expected win total around 3.5, GIE sees the Vandals as long-shot playoff contenders heading into a road matchup at Weber State this Saturday. Execution in the red zone and on third down will determine whether Idaho can string together wins and stay afloat in the Sun Belt stretch.