Idaho looks to rebound for the Little Brown Stein in Missoula after Weber State setback

Idaho heads to Missoula with a quick chance to turn disappointment into focus, with the Little Brown Stein and its rivalry edge at stake against Montana. After a rare high point in the Big Sky season, the Vandals were unable to carry the momentum into their most recent game, falling to Weber State 38-27 in Ogden, Utah.

The context for Idaho’s urgency is clear. Two weeks earlier, the Vandals delivered an unexpected jolt by defeating Montana State, a top-ranked, defending national champion. That statement win, which helped define Idaho’s early storyline, was followed by a setback that left the team looking for a cleaner response before the conference picture tightens further.

Against Weber State, Idaho could not translate the confidence from its earlier win into a second straight result. The loss pushed the Vandals to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in Big Sky play, figures that raise the cost of every remaining conference game. Even with the schedule still far from finished, Idaho’s path through the Big Sky requires consistent performance, not isolated peaks.

Idaho’s week of preparation now centers on Montana and what the rivalry means inside the conference’s football culture. The Little Brown Stein is the emblem of that matchup, and the Yahoo Sports report frames the game as the next opportunity to restore something the program wants back after falling short. Idaho coach and team messaging in the report points directly to urgency, using the line “We need to get that thing back” to capture the tone of the week.

Montana enters the matchup with a stronger ledger, described as 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Sky. That kind of record typically reflects more than one good day. It suggests Montana has been able to build consistency across its season, which can magnify the challenge for Idaho as it tries to reassert control on both sides of the ball.

The matchup also arrives at a point where Idaho’s identity may depend on its ability to handle momentum swings. The Vandals proved they can compete with top-end programs when the game script connects. The question now is whether they can apply the same intensity and execution again, this time on the road against a Montana team that has already shown it can win repeatedly in conference play.

What to watch next is how Idaho responds in the early phases, especially given the contrast between its earlier Montana State victory and the more recent Weber State loss. If Idaho can slow Montana’s rhythm and keep the game from turning into a prolonged disadvantage, the Vandals have a path to make the rivalry trophy conversation matter late.