HELENA, Mont. - The College of Idaho football team enters the 2026 season with high expectations after a historic 2025 campaign that saw the Yotes capture the Frontier Conference West Division title, advance to the NAIA Football Championship Series semifinals and finish No. 4 in the final NAIA Football Top 25.
College of Idaho went 11-2 overall last season, including a perfect 6-0 mark in Frontier West play, and earned the division's automatic bid to the NAIA FCS. The Yotes were rewarded for their success in the 2026 Frontier Conference West Division Coaches' Preseason Poll, collecting 36 points and six first-place votes to take the top spot.
The preseason poll places Carroll second with 30 points, followed by Montana Western, Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Arizona Christian and Simpson. With six first-place votes, College of Idaho enters the season as the clear favorite to defend its West Division crown.
Head coach Mike Moroski enters his 13th season at the helm of the Yotes with an 81-47 record at College of Idaho. He will be joined by offensive coordinator Brian Taylor and defensive coordinator Chris Jewell as the Yotes look to build on last year's national semifinal run.
Experience Returns
The Yotes return impact players on both sides of the football, including several All-Conference and All-American performers.
Running back Rylie Byington headlines the returning offensive group. The junior earned First Team All-Conference honors and was named a VSN Second Team All-American after ranking among the top 10 rushers in the nation in 2025. He also earned CSC Academic All-District, Academic All-Conference and NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.
At quarterback, Caden Young returns for his final season of eligibility. The redshirt senior earned All-Conference honorable mention recognition last season while also being named a CSC Academic All-District honoree, Academic All-Conference selection and NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
The defense brings back two decorated veterans in defensive back Tanner Steele and defensive end Tucker French. Steele was a VSN Third Team All-American and First Team All-Conference selection, and earned NAIA Defensive Player of the Game honors during the Yotes' quarterfinal victory. French enters his senior season after earning VSN All-American honorable mention and First Team All-Conference honors.
At wide receiver, Travis Marieiro provides another experienced target. The senior earned VSN All-American honorable mention and Second Team All-Conference honors in 2025 and enters the season with 94 career receptions for 1,282 yards, averaging 14.3 yards per catch.
Replacing Key Pieces
While the Yotes return significant talent, they will need to replace several major contributors from last year's semifinal team.
Among the biggest losses is defensive back Dee'Shon Swafford, who earned VSN All-American honorable mention, AFCA Second Team All-American and First Team All-Conference honors.
The offensive line will also have to replace Ashton Patterson, the 2025 Frontier Offensive Lineman of the Year and a VSN and AFCA First Team All-American. Dawson Packwood, a Second Team All-Conference center, also departs after anchoring the middle of the offensive line.
Tight end Torey Watkins is another significant loss after recording 39 receptions for 488 yards last season. Offensive lineman Nate McLelland, a VSN All-American honorable mention and First Team All-Conference selection, also moves on.
The departures leave opportunities for a new group to step into prominent roles, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary.
New Faces
The Yotes added a combination of transfers and incoming freshmen to help fill those openings.
Senior wide receiver Brandon Smith joins the program as a transfer from Robert Morris after previously playing at Butte Junior College, where he scored 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. His addition gives the Yotes another experienced option in the passing game.
Freshman offensive lineman Mason Perkins joins the program from Owyhee High School, while redshirt freshman defensive lineman Payton Gunter transfers in from the University of Idaho. Gunter was an All-League and All-State selection at Nampa High School.
The secondary also welcomes freshman Cash Genette, an All-League and All-State selection from Mountain View High School.
One of the newcomers turning heads during fall camp is Noah Burnham, a freshman running back from Eagle, Idaho. Burnham was a standout at Eagle High School and joins a Yotes running back room led by returning All-American Rylie Byington. The explosive freshman has put together a standout fall camp and could quickly become a name to watch as the season gets underway. Burnham arrives in Caldwell after a productive high school career at Eagle, where he was a 6A First Team All-State selection at running back. He rushed for 1,414 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
With Burnham joining an experienced backfield, the Yotes have another young playmaker who could provide depth and a spark to an offense looking to replace several key pieces from last season.
A Challenging Road Ahead
The Yotes open the 2026 campaign on Aug. 29 at Eastern Oregon before returning home to face Rocky Mountain College on Sept. 5. The regular-season schedule also features Montana State University-Northern, Montana Tech and a six-game Frontier schedule beginning Oct. 3 against Simpson.
The Frontier West race will again feature familiar opponents. Carroll, which finished second to the Yotes in 2025 at 9-3 overall and 5-1 in division play, was picked second in the preseason poll. Montana Western, which went 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the West last season, was picked third and received the remaining first-place vote.
College of Idaho will close its Frontier schedule with a difficult stretch against Carroll on Nov. 7 and Southern Oregon on Nov. 14.
With a strong core of returning All-Conference talent, several new additions and the experience of a team that played deep into the NAIA postseason a year ago, the Yotes enter 2026 with the target firmly on their backs.
The preseason poll says College of Idaho is the team to beat. Now, the Yotes will have the opportunity to prove they belong there again.
