Idaho Vandals release 2017 football schedule

The 2017 Idaho Vandals football schedule includes six games at the Kibbie Dome with a Thursday night date (Aug. 31) against Sacramento State launching the season.

The 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion Vandals have games against five other 2016 bowl teams as well as a first-time opponent (Coastal Carolina) and one (Missouri) they haven’t played since 1963.

In addition to their opener on a Thursday night, they have one other Thursday game – at Troy on Nov. 2 televised on ESPNU.

“I’m very excited to have six home games next year,” said coach Paul Petrino, who led the Vandals to one of the most remarkable two-year turnarounds in the NCAA the past two seasons. “We have our first two games at home, which is very exciting.”

Petrino also relishes the opportunity the Vandals will have against some of the Sun Belt Conference’s top programs.

“We get to have one of the best teams in the conference (Appalachian State) come to our place,” he said. “We get to play another one of the best teams in the conference – Troy, on a Thursday night on ESPNU. That’s very exciting.”

The schedule also presents appealing non-conference opponents.

“We get to travel to Missouri and we go to Western Michigan, which has been one of the top programs in the country the last two years,” Petrino said.

The Vandals begin preparation for the 2017 season when spring ball opens March 24 with a 3:30 p.m. practice. The annual Silver and Gold game is April 28 at 6 p.m.

“We just look forward to getting on the field and playing,” he said.