From 1902 beginnings to 1981 glory: the turbulent history of Idaho State football
In short: A century of Idaho State football has seen everything from pandemic-induced hiatuses to a national championship. Through shifting identities as the Bantams and Tigers, the program has navigated era-defining coaches, conference transitions, and the incredible 27-point comeback known as the Minidome Miracle.
The Idaho State Bengals football program, established in 1902 as the Academy of Idaho, has undergone significant transformations. In its early years, the team competed under names like the Bantams and the Tigers. The program's stability has often been interrupted by global events; no team was fielded during the 1918 influenza pandemic, and the program went without a team in 1943 and 1945 due to World War II. The school's identity evolved from the Academy of Idaho to its current university status. Early coaching was notably volatile, with ten different leaders managing the program between 1902 and 1934.
The program's coaching history is a study in extremes. Herbert Cheney holds the highest winning percentage in history at .786, while more recent figures like Charlie Ragle have struggled with a .091 winning percentage. The pinnacle of the program's achievement arrived in 1981 under head coach Dave Kragthorpe. That year, the Bengals secured the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship by defeating Eastern Kentucky 34–23 in the Pioneer Bowl, led by All-American quarterback Mike Machurek. Legendary coach Babe Caccia led the team for fourteen seasons, securing six conference titles. His tenure also saw the program transition into the Big Sky Conference.
Beyond the championship, the Bengals have navigated various conference affiliations, moving from an independent status to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and eventually becoming a charter member of the Big Sky Conference. The program's modern era has seen both deep struggles and flashes of brilliance, such as the 2025 season under Cody Hawkins, which marked the team's first non-losing season since 2018 and featured a historic away victory against Idaho, the program's first since 1981. The team plays its home games at the indoor ICCU Dome in Pocatello. Recent success includes the 'Minidome Miracle,' a dramatic comeback victory against Eastern Washington.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Idaho State Bengals football
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