The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
56°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Idaho football picked sixth in Sun Belt Conference preseason poll

Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan (10) holds up the MVP trophy as head coach Paul Petrino, left, applauds after the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game against Colorado State in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. (Otto Kitsinger / Associated Press)
From wire reports

Idaho football was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll, the league office announced on Thursday. The poll is compiled by the conference’s 12 head coaches.

Appalachian State picked up seven first place votes and 136 total points to claim the No. 1 spot. Troy, selected second, received two first place votes and 127 total points. Arkansas State rounds out the top three in with 122 points and one first place selection.

The Vandals, one of four Sun Belt schools to win a bowl in 2016, received 84 points. The Silver and Gold finished the season with five straight wins, closing out the year at 9-4. Idaho tied for third in the SBC a year ago with a 6-2 record.

“We are excited to get the season going,” head coach Paul Petrino commented via press release. “We are going to build off our success from last year. We know this is a tough conference, but we are working hard to win another bowl game this season.”

South Alabama and Louisiana-Lafayette were picked ahead of Idaho in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Jaguars and Ragin’ Cajuns both finished 2016 with a 6-7 record. The rest of the poll featured Georgia Southern (7), Georgia State (8), Louisiana-Monroe (9), New Mexico State (10), Texas State (11) and conference newcomer Coastal Carolina (12).