Fansided

Each state’s nominee for America’s Team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 50
Next
Dec 22, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Colorado State Rams linebacker Max McDonald (31) attempts to tackle Idaho Vandals quarterback Matt Linehan (10) during the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl at Albersons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Boise, ID, USA; Colorado State Rams linebacker Max McDonald (31) attempts to tackle Idaho Vandals quarterback Matt Linehan (10) during the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl at Albersons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports /

Idaho

Idaho Vandals football

In the early 2000s, the Boise State football program grew into arguably the best mid-major in history. From 1999 (the season in which the team qualified for its first bowl game) to 2016, the Broncos won 196 games, won 12 conference championships and posted double-digit wins 14 times, including two undefeated seasons.

Boise State consistently put itself in the BCS and national championship conversation during that time, and finished as high as 4 in the final AP Top 25 in 2009. Throw in the uniqueness of the blue turf at Albertsons Stadium, and Boise State was America’s favorite non-traditional football school.

However, like UAB, the 2017 college football season gives us a reason to root for Boise State’s longest standing football rival – the Idaho Vandals. In its last season as a member of FBS, with so many eyes on the Vandals, Idaho may very well be America’s Team this year.

Idaho and Boise State have been heading in different directions for a while now. The Vandals have been to three bowl games since 1998 (though one was last season – a win over Colorado State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise), had four winning seasons and posted double-digit losses eight times since Idaho and Boise State parted ways after the end of the Big West Conference in 2000.

The Vandals joined the Sun Belt for the first time in 2001, then spent time in the WAC and as an FBS Independent before joining the Sun Belt again in 2014. Last year, Idaho was kicked out of the conference, and decided to begin the process of moving down to the FCS, joining the Big Sky Conference that was home for the program from 1965-95 when it made the jump to college football’s top division.

The rivalry has been over on the field for a while, and won’t start again any time soon. But, fans across the country hope the Vandals go out with a bang in 2017.

Home/College Football