Idaho begins its FCS playoff push with a “legacy game” against the Patriot League champions

In the history of University of Idaho football, there have only been two seasons in which a team posted double-digit wins.

But the vandals are on the cusp of another one.

No. 8 Idaho hosts Lehigh in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday at 7 p.m. Mountain Time at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome in Moscow. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

“I think this is another legacy game for our seniors,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said during his weekly press conference. “We talked about going undefeated at home when we played Weber State. Well, it’s no use saying we were undefeated at home until we lost in the playoffs.”

The Vandals have achieved 11 wins twice, going 11-2 in 1988 and 11-3 in 1993. Both seasons ended with a loss in the then-NCAA Division I-AA semifinals. Idaho enters Saturday’s playoff game against the Mountain Hawks (9-3) with a record of 9-3 and a perfect home record of 5-0.

“It’s a big game for our program,” Eck said. “I tell the team that the story of this team is still being written and we need to do a good job of putting the last few chapters in the book and hopefully making sure it has a happy ending.”

Idaho had a bye in the first round of the playoffs and Lehigh defeated No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Nov. 30 in Richmond, Virginia. The Mountain Hawks erased a 16-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to earn their first playoff win since 2011.

Lehigh, based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, secured an automatic playoff spot after winning the Patriot League title just one season after a 2-9 season. The Mountain Hawks are making their first postseason appearance since 2017.

Lehigh coach Kevin Cahill was named the 2024 Dick Biddle Patriot League Coach of the Year and is also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the FCS Coach of the Year. The Mountain Hawks had the second-biggest turnaround in FCS football behind Stony Brook (0-10 to 8-4).

“It’s well-coached football, a lot of good fundamentals and good, physical football,” Eck said. “They like to run the ball and try to stop the run. We have to play well. I think at this time of year you better do your best every week or the season can be over pretty quickly.”

The Mountain Hawks have won six straight games behind a dominant defense. Lehigh ranks 10th in FCS football in passing (162.5 yards per game) and total yards allowed (294.9). The team also led the Patriot League in points defense (21.6), sacks (33) and interceptions (14).

Saturday’s game will be just the second meeting between the two programs and only the fourth indoor game for the Mountain Hawks. Idaho defeated Lehigh 77-14 at the Kibbie Dome on November 13, 1993.

The winner advances to the quarterfinals against either No. 1 Montana State (12-0) or UT Martin (9-4). The top-ranked Bobcats handed the Vandals a 38-7 loss on Oct. 12 in Bozeman.

“Everyone knows who is seeded in the next game and this is a game that, you know, embarrassed us. You got your ass kicked and you would like to try to avenge that,” Eck said. “But we have to take care of business this week. We can’t look forward.”