| Year: | 1990 |
| Team: | Idaho Vandals |
| Conference: | Big Sky Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Sky |
| Record: | 9–4 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | John L. Smith |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Coach: | Bobby Petrino |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Craig Bray |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Kibbie Dome |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 27–28 at Georgia Southern |
The 1990 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1990 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals were led by second-year head coach John L. Smith, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.
The three-time defending conference champion Vandals made the I-AA playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, under a third head coach. With future college hall of fame quarterback John Friesz in the NFL, Idaho was led by redshirt freshman they finished the regular season at and in the Big Sky. Nussmeier's season was ended by a broken right ankle in early and fifth-year senior Steve Nolan guided the team to seven consecutive including a ninth-straight victory over rival Boise State.
The season ended in the quarterfinals in December, where Idaho lost by one point at the eventual national champion.
Four Vandals made the all-conference team: running back Devon Pearce, wide receiver Kasey Dunn, cornerback Charlie Oliver, and defensive end Second team selections were guard Chris Hoff, tight end Scott Dahlquist, linebacker Jimmy Jacobs, and punter Joe Carrasco. Honorable mention were quarterback Steve Nolan, center Mike Rice, return specialist Roman Carter, and linebacker Mark Matthews.
Pearce shared the Big Sky's outstanding offensive player award with quarterback Jamie Martin of