Idaho competed as a first-year member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The Vandals were led by second-year head coach Nick Holt, and finished their first season in the WAC with a 2–9 overall record and 2–6 in conference play, the sixth consecutive season with a losing record.

Holt and Linehan had coached together as assistants at both Idaho and Louisville under John L. Smith.

Days later, Holt changed his mind and accepted a higher-paying offer as defensive coordinator back at USC under head coach Pete Carroll.

[1] Former Idaho head coach Dennis Erickson, recently of the San Francisco 49ers, succeeded Holt for the 2006 season.