Expectations are elevated at the University of Idaho as the Vandals begin their final season in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Idaho finished 9-4 in 2016, reaching nine wins for the first time since 1998 and taking home only its third bowl win in program history.
While Sun Belt coaches predicted the Vandals will finish sixth in the 12-team conference in their preseason poll, the enthusiasm inside the program couldn’t be higher.
Idaho opens the 2017 season at home against Sacramento State on Thursday.
The Vandals return starting quarterback Matt Linehan, who already ranks third in Idaho history in career completion percentage (.