▁by ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 4 2 – 2 3 ▁on ▁October ▁ 1 8 , ▁Ut ah ▁State ▁by ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 6 3 – 1 7 ▁on ▁October ▁ 2 5 ▁and ▁I - AA ▁Eastern ▁Washington ▁by ▁a ▁count ▁of ▁ 2 4 – 2 1 . ▁After ▁defe ating ▁New ▁Mexico ▁State ▁by ▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 3 5 – 1 8 , ▁Id aho ▁lost ▁to ▁in - state ▁advers ary ▁Bo ise ▁State ▁by ▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 3 0 – 2 3 ▁in ▁over time ▁after ▁blow ing ▁a ▁ 2 3 – 6 ▁lead ▁third ▁quarter ▁lead . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁the ▁V and als ' ▁made ▁their ▁first - ever ▁bow l ▁appearance ▁in ▁the ▁Human itar ian ▁Bowl , ▁a ▁ ▁victory ▁over ▁ 1 6 - point ▁favorite ▁Southern ▁Miss . ▁The ▁V and als ▁earned ▁the ▁bow l ▁ber th ▁by ▁winning ▁the ▁Big ▁West ▁title ▁with ▁a ▁dram atic ▁one - point ▁over time ▁win ▁over ▁rival ▁Bo ise ▁State , ▁on ▁the ▁road ▁in ▁Bron co ▁Stadium ▁in ▁Bo ise . ▁( Al though ▁this ▁was ▁Id aho ' s ▁ 1 5 th ▁win ▁in ▁the ▁last ▁ 1 7 ▁games ▁in ▁this ▁rival ry , ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁win ▁remains ▁their ▁most ▁recent ▁over ▁B SU .) ▁The ▁bow l ▁victory ▁prop elled ▁Id aho ▁to ▁an ▁impress ive ▁ 9 – 3 ▁record ▁in ▁ 1 9