Led by fourth-year head coach Paul Petrino, the Vandals played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

The Vandals were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise and defeated Colorado State 61–50 to finish at 9–4.

It was the program's final bowl game as an FBS team and last winning season for six years.

The Sun Belt coaches preseason prediction poll was released on July 21, 2016.

[1] Idaho announced their 2016 football schedule on March 3, with five of the twelve games at home.