Idaho
Cal Poly Football Hosts Idaho Friday on ESPN to Open 2026 Season
8/25/2026 1:24:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO – First year head coach Tim Skipper makes his sideline debut, the Cal Poly football program inaugurates the new John Madden Football Center and the Mustang Athletics Department retires John Madden’s No. 74 jersey as Cal Poly opens both the 2026 season and its Big Sky Conference schedule by hosting Idaho on Friday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is 7:05 p.m. for Cal Poly, which hosts a nationally televised ESPN matchup at Mustang Memorial Field for the first time in program history. With the Mustangs playing four of their first six games at home this fall, here’s the rundown on Cal Poly’s opening week of action.
TIM SKIPPER TAKES THE REINS
Bringing 25 years of coaching experience to the Central Coast, Tim Skipper was hired as the 19th head coach in Cal Poly football history on Dec. 3, 2025. Skipper arrived at Cal Poly after serving as UCLA’s interim head coach to close the 2025 season, claiming victories against Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland after beginning last fall as the Bruins’ special assistant to the head coach. Previously in recent years, Skipper served as interim head coach (2024) and assistant head coach (2022-23) at Fresno State, as the assistant head coach at Central Michigan (2020-21), as UNLV’s defensive coordinator (2018-19) and Florida’s running backs and linebackers coach (2015-18).
CAL POLY VERSUS IDAHO
The Mustangs seek their first victory against Idaho at the FCS level with Cal Poly having dropped five previous matchups since transitioning to Division I ahead of the 1994 season. The Vandals won the last matchup at home on Oct. 19, 2024, 34-29.
CAL POLY TO RETIRE JOHN MADDEN’S NO. 74 JERSEY DURING HALFTIME CERENEMONY
With the John Madden Football Center making its gameday debut Friday, the Cal Poly Athletics Department will retire the No. 74 jersey of Pro Football Hall of Fame legend and Cal Poly alum John Madden during a halftime ceremony. An offensive and defensive lineman for Cal Poly during the 1957 and 1958 seasons as well as an All-CCAA selection, Madden graduated from Cal Poly in 1959 before embarking on one of the great coaching careers in football history. Madden's No. 74 will become just the second number retired in Cal Poly football history. The first was No. 45, retired in honor of All-America linebacker Osbaldo Orozco, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2003 while serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
MUSTANGS AND THE BIG SKY
The race for the 2026 Big Sky title begins immediately with 12 of the conference’s 13 programs in action during the opening week. Following Friday’s matchup with Idaho, Cal Poly resumes Big Sky action at Easton Washington on Sept. 26. Cal Poly’s final three games are against nationally ranked foes with the Mustangs visiting defending FCS national champion Montana State (Oct. 31), hosting Northern Arizona (Nov. 7) and heading to rival UC Davis (Nov. 21).
- Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and tailgate at 3 p.m.
- Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. streaming live nationally on ESPN with Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Dave Clawson (color), and Madison Hock (sideline) bringing you every big hit and touchdown.
- Tune in to ESPN 1280 AM for radio coverage with Max Kelton calling the action.
- Stay locked in with live digital updates by downloading the Cal Poly Athletics app HERE or follow Mustang Football on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Still need tickets? Snag yours HERE before they are gone!
- First 10,000 fans receive a John Madden Football Center Collectible Stadium Cup, courtesy of Culbert Plumbing.
- First 1,300 also score a copy of John Madden's Ultimate Tailgating Cookbook.
- First 4,000 students grab a free Cal Poly shirt, courtesy of Valencia Student Apartments.
- Watch Chase 2 storm the field and make his first impression, leading the Mustangs into battle before kickoff!
- At halftime, Cal Poly Athletics, joined by Virginia Madden and family, will retire uniform number 74 in honor of the legendary John Madden.
- Tailgating starts at 3:00 p.m., four hours before kickoff.
- Grab your permit HERE and check all rules HERE.
- At 4:30 p.m., join the Stampede March from the University Union to the Richard O'Neill Green and get ready for the Corral BBQ (ticket add-on required) opening right after and running until 6:30 p.m.
- Student Tailgating is new this season, which starts at 4:30 p.m. and is open to all students with a ticket.
- The first 400 students get free food, and 805 beer (limit two) is free for students with a Cal Poly ID and valid 21+ California ID.
- Download your mobile ticket to your wallet before you arrive.
- Tickets were emailed at purchase; check your inbox.
- Students get in free with their Cal Poly ID.
- Need help? Click HERE for step-by-step instructions!
- General game day parking is free with your ticket for the 2026 season, but a few lots are reserved for priority parking.
- Primary parking: Grand Ave. Parking Structure and Lot H14.
- Preferred parking at Lot H12 is available for purchase.
- Lot C7 (next to O'Neill Green) is now ADA-only parking.
- Student and staff permits are valid during campus athletic events.
- Questions? Email parking@calpoly.edu or visit HERE for more info.
- This is the first week of school, and with a Friday game, campus will be buzzing; parking will be impacted, so arrive early, carpool, or plan for extra time.
- Review the Fan Code of Conduct HERE and Clear Bag Policy HERE before arriving.
