The Montana State vs Idaho matchup delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 college football season, as the Idaho Vandals stunned the No. 1-ranked Montana State Bobcats 35-34 on Friday night at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
Idaho completed its comeback with a touchdown pass from quarterback Joshua Wood to Ryan Jezioro with no time remaining. Wood then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Idaho Vandals a one-point victory.
The result marked Idaho’s first win of the 2026 season and the program’s first-ever victory over a No. 1-ranked opponent.
Idaho vs Montana State Ends in Last-Second Thriller
The Idaho vs Montana State game featured multiple lead changes before an extraordinary fourth-quarter comeback.
Montana State opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal from Myles Sansted. Idaho quickly answered when Wood connected with Jezioro for a 75-yard touchdown, putting the Vandals ahead 7-3.
Montana State responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Duchien Jr. to Carter Dahlke, reclaiming the lead at 10-7.
Idaho’s Owen Forsman then converted field goals of 45 and 22 yards, helping the Vandals take a 13-10 advantage. Montana State answered with Jared White’s 32-yard rushing touchdown before Idaho’s Damonte Bias scored from 15 yards out.
The back-and-forth battle continued when Duchien found Dane Steel for a 15-yard touchdown. Montana State entered halftime with a 24-20 lead.
Montana State Builds a 14-Point Lead
The second half initially appeared to favor Montana State football.
Sansted added a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter to make it 27-20. Montana State then capitalized on an interception by Neil Daily, with Duchien scoring on a two-yard rushing touchdown.
That score gave the Bobcats a 34-20 advantage early in the fourth quarter.
At that stage, Montana State appeared to have control of the game. However, Idaho refused to give up.
Wood scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 10 minutes remaining, cutting the deficit to 34-27.
A missed 52-yard field goal by Sansted later gave Idaho football another opportunity. Montana State eventually regained possession with just over two minutes remaining, but the Bobcats could not run out the clock.
Joshua Wood Delivers for Idaho Football
Joshua Wood was central to the historic Idaho football comeback.
The quarterback completed 19 of 25 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 41 yards and a touchdown. His final offensive sequence produced the decisive points.
With Idaho facing the final seconds, Wood connected with Jezioro for a 25-yard touchdown with no time remaining.
Instead of kicking the extra point and settling for overtime, Idaho went for the win.
Wood kept the ball on the two-point attempt and crossed the goal line, completing the stunning 35-34 comeback.
The victory sparked a celebration inside the Kibbie Dome and ended Montana State’s program-record 19-game winning streak.
Patrick Duchien Shines Despite Montana State Loss
Although Montana State football suffered its first loss of the season, Patrick Duchien Jr. delivered a strong individual performance.
Duchien completed 23 of 32 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. He also rushed for 92 yards and another touchdown.
His performance kept Montana State competitive throughout the game, but Idaho’s late rally ultimately decided the outcome.
The Bobcats entered the game without several important players. Starting quarterback Justin Lamson and wide receiver Taco Dowler were unavailable for a second consecutive week, while running back Adam Jones was also out.
Idaho Ends Long Wait Against Montana State
The latest Montana State vs Idaho result also changed the recent history between the programs.
Montana State had not won inside the Kibbie Dome since 1990, and Idaho had now beaten the Bobcats there in both 2023 and 2026.
Overall, the teams have met 49 times since 1905. Following the latest contest, Idaho owns a 27-21-1 advantage in the all-time series.
The result also snapped Montana State’s 19-game winning streak.
Montana State vs Idaho Prediction: What the Result Shows
Any Montana State vs Idaho prediction entering the matchup faced a difficult test because Montana State arrived as the No. 1 team and had built an extended winning streak.
The actual result demonstrated how unpredictable a close college football game can become. Montana State led 34-20 in the fourth quarter, but Idaho produced two late scoring drives and completed the comeback with a walk-off two-point conversion.
For Idaho, the victory represents a major moment for the program. For Montana State, the loss ends a remarkable winning streak and drops the Bobcats to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Sky play.
Final Score: Montana State 34, Idaho 35
The Montana State vs Idaho rivalry produced a finish that will be remembered for years.
Final score: Idaho 35, Montana State 34
Joshua Wood’s late touchdown pass to Ryan Jezioro, followed by his successful two-point conversion, gave the Idaho Vandals their first victory of the season and the first win in program history against a No. 1-ranked opponent.
For Montana State, the defeat ended a 19-game winning streak. For Idaho, it was a historic comeback that transformed a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit into one of the most memorable wins in the program’s history.
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