American college football season
The 2021 Idaho State Bengals football team represented Idaho State University in the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season . Led by fifth-year head coach Rob Phenicie , the Bengals finished at 1–10 (1–7 in Big Sky, twelfth) and played their home games on campus at Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho .
After being shut out at home by intrastate rival Idaho in the season finale on November 20, Phenicie was fired with a cumulative record of 16–35 (.314).[ 1]
On July 26, 2021, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Bengals were predicted to finish ninth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.[ 2]
Coaches poll Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Weber State (7) 2 Montana (3) 3 Eastern Washington (2) 4 Montana State (1) 5 Sacramento State (1) 6 UC Davis 7 Northern Arizona 8 Idaho 9 Idaho State 10 Portland State 11 Southern Utah 12 Cal Poly 13 Northern Colorado
Media poll Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Weber State (14) 2 Montana (4) 3 Eastern Washington (3) 4 Montana State (3) 5 Sacramento State 6 UC Davis 7 Northern Arizona 8 Idaho 9 Idaho State 10 Portland State 11 Southern Utah 12 Northern Colorado 13 Cal Poly
Preseason All–Big Sky team[ edit ] The Bengals had one player selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.[ 3]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 4 1:00 p.m. No. 8 North Dakota * ESPN+ L 14–354,667 September 11 8:30 p.m. at Nevada * Stadium L 10–4923,965 September 25 1:00 p.m. Sacramento State ESPN+ L 21–235,997 October 2 2:00 p.m. at Northern Arizona ESPN+ L 17–489,713 October 9 1:00 p.m. No. 7 UC Davis ESPN+ W 27–175,206 October 16 3:05 p.m. at Portland State ESPN+ L 10–311,809 October 23 1:00 p.m. at No. 8 Montana State SWX /ESPN+L 9–2719,297 October 30 1:00 p.m. No. 23 Weber State ESPN+ L 17–402,500 November 6 1:30 p.m. at No. 15 (FBS ) BYU * BYUtv /ESPN3 L 14–5963,470 November 13 6:05 p.m. at Cal Poly ESPN+ L 29–325,651 November 20 1:00 p.m. Idaho ESPN+ L 0–14
[ 4]
1 2 3 4 Total No. 8 Fighting Hawks 7 3 14 11 35 Bengals 0 7 0 7 14
1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 7 0 3 0 10 Wolf Pack 14 7 7 21 49
1 2 3 4 Total Hornets 7 7 6 3 23 Bengals 7 14 0 0 21
At Northern Arizona [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 7 0 3 7 17 Lumberjacks 3 20 15 10 48
1 2 3 4 Total No. 7 Aggies 0 3 0 14 17 Bengals 14 10 0 3 27
1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 0 7 0 3 10 Vikings 17 7 7 0 31
At No. 8 Montana State [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 3 0 3 3 9 No. 8 Bobcats 0 10 3 14 27
1 2 3 4 Total No. 23 Wildcats 10 7 10 13 40 Bengals 0 10 7 0 17
At No. 15 (FBS) BYU[ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 0 7 7 0 14 No. 15 (FBS) Cougars 21 21 7 10 59
1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 7 7 0 15 29 Mustangs 7 7 12 6 32
1 2 3 4 Total Vandals 14 0 0 0 14 Bengals 0 0 0 0 0
Venues Bowls & rivalries People Seasons National championship seasons in bold