Idaho, Idaho State announce new football rivalry trophy

The Idaho and Idaho State football teams will now play for a trophy which ties into the Gem State’s most famous product.

Both schools unveiled the Potato State Trophy on Sunday, which will be awarded annually to the winner between the two Big Sky football rivals. This year’s game is scheduled to take place on the final week of the regular season, Nov. 23, in Pocatello.

“Potatoes are synonymous with Idaho and the University of Idaho is a big part of the potato industry,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said in a news release. “We are excited to compete for the Potato State Trophy.”

The 19.4-pound trophy features a large wooden potato, which was carved out of a piece of North Idaho Douglas fir by a University of Idaho Athletics staff member. The potato and a metal cutout of the state of Idaho — created and donated by longtime Idaho booster Nick Davis — which features each school’s logos on their respective geographic locations, will sit on a base.

Although not mentioned in the release, a photo of the trophy also included several blank plaques mounted to the base, presumably to list the winners of each year’s game.

“The Big Sky Conference is the greatest conference in FCS football, complete with rich traditions and storied rivalries that go back over 50 years,” Idaho State coach Cody Hawkins said in a release. “Having grown up in Idaho, I understand the great privilege it is to coach at one of these prestigious universities and am excited to be part of the new chapter of our rivalry with the Vandals. The Potato State is my home, and I’m excited to get our Bengals ready to compete for the Potato State Trophy for years to come.”

The trophy replaces the old Battle of the Domes trophy, which was introduced in 2018 when Idaho rejoined the Big Sky but was discontinued prior to the 2023 matchup after the trophy’s sponsor, Idaho Central Credit Union, adjusted its sponsorship with both institutions.

A temporary trophy was created by Eck for the 2023 game by putting a Mr. Potato Head atop the base of the Battle of the Domes trophy. Idaho won that game, 63-21, in Moscow and leads the all-time series 32-13. The Vandals are 3-2 against the Bengals since returning to the Big Sky.