Idaho 2016 football schedule announced

The Sun Belt Conference released its conference schedule on Thursday, finalizing Idaho’s 2016 schedule.

Idaho gets an extremely favorable slate to start Sun Belt Conference play on Oct. 1, hosting Troy before traveling to Louisiana-Monroe then hosting New Mexico State. Idaho defeated Troy and ULM last season, while losing to New Mexico State in overtime in Las Cruces. New Mexico State has been Idaho’s Homecoming game the last two times the Aggies traveled to Moscow, both Idaho wins.

Idaho only plays two Sun Belts opponent which made a bowl game last season, Appalachian State and Georgia State. The Vandals miss Georgia Southern and conference champion Arkansas State — bowl teams in 2015 — and instead play Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia State to the roster.

The Vandals open the season on Thursday, Sep. 1, hosting Montana State and former Post Falls coach Jeff Choate. Trips to Washington and Washington State are sandwiched between the opener and a winnable trip to Las Vegas to face UNLV.

Idaho faces only four teams that made it to a bowl game in 2015.

Thurs, Sep 1 vs. Montana State

Sat, Sep 10 at Washington (7-6)

Sat, Sep 17 at Washington State (9-4)

Sat, Sep 24 at UNLV (3-9)

Sat, Oct 1 vs Troy (4-8)

Sat, Oct 8 at Louisiana-Monroe (2-11)

Sat, Oct 15 vs New Mexico State (3-9)

Sat, Oct 22 at Appalachian State (11-2)

Sat, Oct 29 BYE WEEK

Sat, Nov 5 at Louisiana-Lafayette (4-8)

Sat, Nov 12 at Texas State (3-9)

Sat, Nov 19 BYE WEEK

Sat, Nov 26 vs. South Alabama (5-7)

Sat, Dec 3 vs. Georgia State (6-7)