What Is 2012 Idaho State Bengals football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2012 Idaho State Bengals football team represented Idaho State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS season, finishing with a 3–8 record under head coach Mike Kramer. They competed in the Big Sky Conference and scored 272 total points, averaging 24.7 per game.

Key Facts

The 2012 Idaho State Bengals finished with a 3–8 overall record and 2–6 in Big Sky Conference play.
Head coach Mike Kramer led the team for his fourth and final season before retiring.
The Bengals scored 272 points in 11 games, averaging 24.7 points per game.
They played home games at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho, a domed stadium.
Idaho State defeated Southern Utah and Northern Arizona but lost key matchups to Eastern Washington and Montana.

Overview

The 2012 Idaho State Bengals football team represented Idaho State University during the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing as a member of the Big Sky Conference, the Bengals struggled to maintain consistency under head coach Mike Kramer, who was in his fourth and final year at the helm.

The team played its home games at Holt Arena, a distinctive domed stadium located on campus in Pocatello, Idaho. Despite flashes of offensive potential, the Bengals finished the season with a 3–8 overall record and a 2–6 mark in conference play, placing them near the bottom of the Big Sky standings.

Record: The Bengals posted a 3–8 overall record, their worst season since 2009, with only three wins in 11 games.
Conference performance: In Big Sky Conference play, Idaho State went 2–6, defeating Southern Utah and Northern Arizona but losing to stronger programs.
Head coach: Mike Kramer led the team for the final time in 2012 before retiring; he finished with a 10–35 record over four seasons.
Scoring: The offense generated 272 total points, averaging 24.7 points per game, ranking mid-tier in the conference.
Home field: All home games were played at Holt Arena, one of the few indoor college football stadiums in the U.S.

How It Works

The 2012 season followed standard NCAA FCS scheduling and conference alignment procedures, with Idaho State competing in a 11-game regular season schedule. The Big Sky Conference used a round-robin format among most members, though not all teams played each other due to uneven conference size.

Season Structure: The Bengals played an 11-game schedule consisting of non-conference and Big Sky matchups, typical for FCS teams. Three non-conference games tested early-season readiness.
Offensive Scheme: Idaho State utilized a spread offense emphasizing passing, led by quarterback Justin Arias, who threw for 1,847 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defensive Strategy: The defense ran a 4–3 alignment, allowing 35.5 points per game, one of the highest in the FCS due to personnel limitations.
Recruiting Pipeline: Most players were recruited from Western states, with a focus on junior college transfers to fill immediate needs.
Game Day Operations: Home games at Holt Arena featured artificial turf and a controlled climate, giving Idaho State a unique home-field advantage.
Coaching Transition: After the season, Mike Kramer retired, and Dave Baldwin was hired as interim head coach, signaling a program reset.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2012 Idaho State Bengals compared to select Big Sky Conference peers:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points Scored	Points Allowed
Idaho State	3–8	2–6	272	391
Eastern Washington	6–5	5–3	378	291
Montana	8–4	6–2	326	248
Northern Arizona	4–7	3–5	264	312
Sacramento State	3–8	2–6	255	346

The table highlights Idaho State’s struggles defensively, as they allowed 391 points—more than all but one comparable team. While their offense was slightly more productive than Sacramento State’s, their inability to stop opponents undermined their competitiveness. The 2012 season underscored the need for defensive rebuilding and leadership changes.

Why It Matters

The 2012 season was a turning point for Idaho State football, marking the end of the Mike Kramer era and setting the stage for future reforms. Poor defensive performance and inconsistent coaching contributed to declining fan engagement and recruitment challenges.

Program Transition: The 2012 season directly led to a coaching overhaul, with Dave Baldwin taking over as interim head coach.
Recruiting Impact: Losing seasons like 2012 made it harder to attract top-tier high school talent to Pocatello.
Conference Relevance: Idaho State’s struggles highlighted the growing competitiveness of the Big Sky, where parity was increasing.
Stadium Legacy: Playing in Holt Arena remained a unique advantage, but facility upgrades were increasingly needed.
Player Development: Several 2012 players transferred or redshirted, indicating developmental gaps in the program.
Future Outlook: The 2012 season served as a low point, motivating long-term strategic planning for future success.

Ultimately, the 2012 Idaho State Bengals season stands as a case study in the challenges of sustaining a competitive FCS program amid coaching transitions and resource limitations.