What Is 2005 Idaho Vandals football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2005 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 4–8 record under head coach Nick Holt. They competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and played home games at the Kibbie Dome. The team scored 287 points, averaging 23.9 per game.

Key Facts

Finished the 2005 season with a 4–8 overall record
Played in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with a 3–5 conference record
Head coach Nick Holt led the team in his fifth and final season
Scored 287 total points (23.9 per game) and allowed 357 points
Home games were played at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho

Overview

The 2005 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, marking the program's final year competing at the highest level of college football before a future drop to the FCS. Competing as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the Vandals struggled to maintain consistency, finishing the season with a 4–8 overall record and a 3–5 mark in conference play.

Under the leadership of head coach Nick Holt, who was in his fifth and final season at the helm, the team faced challenges on both offense and defense. The Vandals played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor stadium located on campus in Moscow, Idaho, which provided a unique home-field advantage due to its artificial turf and enclosed environment.

Record: The team finished the 2005 season with a 4–8 overall record, including a 3–5 mark in the WAC, placing them near the bottom of the conference standings.
Head coach:Nick Holt served as head coach for the fifth consecutive year but resigned after the season to accept a defensive coordinator position at Louisville.
Scoring: The offense generated 287 total points across 12 games, averaging 23.9 points per contest, but the defense allowed 357 points (29.8 per game).
Home venue: All home games were played at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on the University of Idaho campus with a capacity of approximately 16,000.
Season end: The season concluded without a bowl appearance, marking the fifth consecutive non-bowl season for the Vandals under Holt’s leadership.

Season Performance and Key Games

The 2005 campaign featured a mix of close losses and missed opportunities, highlighting both offensive potential and defensive vulnerabilities. Despite showing flashes of competitiveness, the team failed to string together wins, particularly in conference matchups.

Season opener: The Vandals opened with a 34–14 win over Eastern Washington, a strong start that raised hopes for a turnaround season.
WAC competition: They earned conference wins over Utah State (37–34), San Jose State (27–24), and New Mexico State (34–31), all decided by three points or fewer.
Defensive struggles: The team allowed 357 total points (29.8 per game), including a 48–14 loss to Hawaii and a 41–10 defeat at Fresno State.
Offensive leaders: Quarterback Steve Spurrier Jr. (son of the famous coach) led the passing attack, throwing for 1,670 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Rushing game: Running back DeMarco McCleskey contributed 778 rushing yards and five touchdowns, serving as the team’s primary ground threat.
Final game: The season ended with a 38–31 loss to Louisiana Tech, a game that underscored the team’s inability to close out tight contests on defense.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2005 Idaho Vandals compared to other WAC teams in key statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	WAC Record	Points For	Points Against
Boise State	10–3	7–1	418	241
Hawaii	5–7	3–5	322	318
Idaho Vandals	4–8	3–5	287	357
Fresno State	8–4	6–2	388	285
New Mexico State	2–10	1–7	220	385

The 2005 Idaho Vandals ranked near the bottom of the WAC in both scoring offense and defense. While they outperformed only New Mexico State in the standings, their point differential of –70 highlighted systemic issues on both sides of the ball. The close nature of many losses suggested the team was competitive but lacked the consistency to win tight games.

Why It Matters

The 2005 season was a transitional year for Idaho football, reflecting broader challenges within the program. It marked the end of an era with Nick Holt’s departure and foreshadowed future changes, including the program’s eventual return to the FCS level in 2018.

Program trajectory: The 4–8 record continued a trend of losing seasons, contributing to long-term discussions about Idaho’s viability in the FBS.
Coaching change: Holt’s departure led to the hiring of Robb Akey, who would later guide the team to a WAC championship in 2007.
Recruiting impact: The team’s struggles made it difficult to attract top-tier talent, especially compared to rivals like Boise State.
Facility advantage: Playing at the Kibbie Dome gave Idaho a unique edge, though it wasn’t enough to overcome on-field deficiencies.
Fan engagement: Attendance remained modest, with an average of around 11,000 fans per home game, reflecting limited public enthusiasm.
Historical context: This season was part of a 13-year FBS stint (1996–2009, 2013–2017) that ultimately ended in a return to the FCS for competitive and financial reasons.

The 2005 Idaho Vandals season, while unremarkable in the standings, serves as a case study in the challenges mid-major programs face when competing at the FBS level without robust resources or consistent success.