Idaho Set To Go Independent In Football

The University of Idaho is set to become a football independent, while joining the Big Sky in all other sports.

After the latest round of conference realignment, the Western Athletic Conference is scheduled to have only Idaho and New Mexico St. as FBS football playing schools in 2013.

Idaho was previously a member of the Big Sky Conference, which sponsors FCS football, from 1963-1996.

Idaho, despite their intentions to remain an FBS football school, still has work to do. All FBS school must play at least five home games each season, with four of them against FBS schools. As of now, only Northern Illinois is on Idaho's home schedule next year.

So, Idaho still has to schedule three more home games against FBS schools next year. Per NCAA rules, one of those home games can by played at a neutral site, but it's going to take some work, some money, and some imaginative thinking, for them to meet that requirement.

Idaho would join Notre Dame, Army, Navy, and BYU as the only independents in FBS football. Then again, New Mexico St., who is the other WAC school looking for a conference home, may have a plan similar to Idaho's.