Montana to play the Washington Huskies in 2017

[Squealofthepig]

http://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/football/uw-huskies-to-host-montana-football-in/article_d034a638-ee18-11e1-b030-0019bb2963f4.html

First meeting since 1951; the Griz have a history here, as they used to be part of the Pacific Coast Conference (along with most of the other non-Arizona and newer PAC-12 schools).

With the expanded Big Sky, this also takes two potential teams away from Idaho to schedule.

[Laker]

http://missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/football/uw-huskies-to-host-montana-football-in/article_d034a638-ee18-11e1-b030-0019bb2963f4.html

First meeting since 1951; the Griz have a history here, as they used to be part of the Pacific Coast Conference (along with most of the other non-Arizona and newer PAC-12 schools).

With the expanded Big Sky, this also takes two potential teams away from Idaho to schedule.

"Montana and Washington both played in the Pacific Coast Conference from 1924 to 1950 and played each other 18 times during that time period. All but one game was being played in Seattle. Washington leads the series 16-1-1 with Montana's only win coming in 1920."

How long do you think Idaho can hold out being an independent? One season? Two?

[Squealofthepig]

How long do you think Idaho can hold out being an independent? One season? Two?

I have little expertise here in terms of actual scheduling, but it's going to be very challenging for Idaho.

First, they'll need five home-games, with four being FBS teams. Many FCS teams in the Big Sky probably would not say no, so that's one of the five games. New Mexico State - the other holdout in the WAC - could fill one of the home games at least every other year, and let's just assume the NCAA lets them play each other twice each year just to be generous. That would be two games, with three left to go. They might be able to get a mid-tier PAC-12 team to agree to a home/home series - but the PAC-12 seems reluctant, as Idaho last hosted a PAC-12 team (Washington State) in 2004. But again, let's be generous and say they can find two teams to do that with, so they get one home game each season that way. That would still leave two more games - who do you go to? None of the other power conferences would likely risk a trip to Moscow, so Idaho would likely have to find a bunch of MAC/Sunbelt/former-WAC teams to play. Even if you can do all of the above, you still have to wonder how you're going to actually fill a stadium you weren't even filling halfway when you WERE in a conference. Idaho's stadium seats 31,000, but their attendance is very telling: 12,546 in 2009; 12,730 in 2010; 11,980 in 2011.

Whilst dropping down to FCS would be embarrassing, I think it would make more sense until another FBS conference develops in the northwest. Dropping down, Idaho would quickly get a conference (I can't imagine the Big Sky would turn them down, even as large as we're getting); renewed, long-lived rivalries with regional teams that excite fans; less travel costs (more bus, less plane); and possibly even a more full stadium (EWU and Montana would definitely bring a lot of fans). Offsetting that, you'd have a bunch of pissed deep-pocket school donors (which could be a net-negative).

To your question - they'll try to find something over the next year and can probably make two seasons out of it. Totally a guess, though - and who knows what THIS year of college football will bring in terms of restructuring.