If you drive just eight miles down Highway 270, you’ll cross the border between Pullman, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho. It’s a short trip. Honestly, you can finish a cup of coffee before you even hit the city limits. But in the world of college football, those eight miles represent one of the weirdest, most lopsided, yet stubbornly persistent rivalries in the Pacific Northwest. People call it the Battle of the Palouse.
Most national fans basically ignore this game. They shouldn't. While the record books show a massive gap between the two programs, the actual Idaho vs Washington State football games usually end up being way more stressful for the Cougars than they’d like to admit.
Take the 2025 season opener, for example.
The 2025 Defensive Slugfest in Pullman
Everyone expected Washington State to steamroll the Vandals. It was the debut for new Cougs head coach Jimmy Rogers, and the energy at Gesa Field was electric. But Idaho didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be the "tune-up" game.
It was a total defensive grind. The first quarter ended 0-0. Think about that for a second. In an era where college football scores look like basketball tallies, these two teams were stuck in the mud. Idaho actually outgained WSU 59-15 in the opening frame.
Jaxon Potter, making his first career start at QB for the Cougars, finally broke the seal in the second quarter with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Meredith. But Idaho’s defense, led by Isiah King and his 10 tackles, refused to break. They held WSU to a measly 3 yards of rushing the entire game. Three. That’s not a typo.
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The Vandals clawed back. Art Williams punched in a 3-yard score, and after a late fumble recovery by Donovan Parham, Idaho kicker Cameron Pope nailed a field goal to tie it at 10-10 with less than two minutes left.
Pullman was silent.
Ultimately, Jaxon Potter showed why he won the starting job. He led a 59-yard drive in the final minute, setting up Jack Stevens for a 32-yard game-winning field goal with just three seconds on the clock. Final score: 13-10. WSU survived, but Idaho proved that the talent gap between the FCS powerhouse and the rebuilding Pac-12 (or what's left of it) is razor-thin.
Why the Record is So Deceptive
If you look at the all-time series, it looks like a blowout. Washington State leads 74-17-3.
Wazzu once won 20 games in a row against Idaho between 1928 and 1949. They even hung 84 points on them back in 1975. But focusing on the 74 wins misses the point of why this game matters to the region.
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- The Proximity: Players on both rosters often grew up playing against each other in high school.
- The Stakes: For Idaho, beating "the school down the road" is their Super Bowl.
- The History: This series started in 1894. That’s 132 years of history.
Idaho has only won five times since 1954, but those wins—like the back-to-back victories in 1999 and 2000—are legendary in Moscow. When the Vandals win, they don't just win a game; they take over the Palouse for a year.
Coaching Transitions and New Eras
Both programs are in a state of flux right now. Jimmy Rogers is trying to maintain the WSU identity in a changing conference landscape. Meanwhile, Idaho's Thomas Ford Jr. took over a roster that was basically gutted by the transfer portal after Jason Eck left for New Mexico.
The fact that Ford had his team within three points of an upset in his very first game says a lot about the culture in Moscow. They play a physical, "punch you in the mouth" style of football that travels well, even when they're playing on the road in a hostile environment like Martin Stadium.
Recent Matchup Statistics (The Last Five)
| Year | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Washington State | 13-10 |
| 2022 | Washington State | 24-17 |
| 2016 | Washington State | 56-6 |
| 2013 | Washington State | 42-0 |
| 2007 | Washington State | 45-28 |
You can see the trend. The games in 2013 and 2016 were ugly. But the 2022 and 2025 games? Those were dogfights. Idaho is getting closer.
What to Watch for in the Future
The "Battle of the Palouse" isn't going away. Future games are already on the books for September 4, 2027, and another in 2029.
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If you're betting on or watching Idaho vs Washington State football, forget the "FBS vs FCS" labels. Idaho treats this as a rivalry; WSU treats it as a trap.
For the Cougars, the key is usually finding balance. In 2025, their inability to run the ball nearly cost them the game. For the Vandals, it’s about the quarterback run game. Joshua Wood put up 101 rushing yards against WSU in 2025, which was a career-high. If Idaho can find a dual-threat QB who doesn't turn the ball over, the 2027 matchup could finally be the year the streak breaks.
The gap is closing. Whether it's the 11-game winning streak for the Cougs or the grit of the Vandals, this 8-mile rivalry remains the heartbeat of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho football.
If you want to keep up with the next chapter of this rivalry, keep an eye on the 2027 schedule releases. You should also watch the transfer portal movements for both schools, as the "border hopping" of players often dictates who has the inside edge on scouting. The 2025 game proved that defensive discipline can level the playing field, regardless of the logo on the helmet.