Idaho hasn’t reached the postseason much over the years but when they do, they win in Boise.
The Vandals capped off a remarkable turnaround season and tied a school-record for wins by thumping Colorado State 61-50 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to move to 3-0 in bowl games as an FBS program.
After a slow start in the first quarter that was dominated by punting from both teams, the Rams were the ones who struck first when wideout Olabisi Johnson found the end zone from 52 yards out.
It appeared as though that was enough to jump start Idaho, which promptly ran off 41 points in a row to take control of the game and end much doubt about who was more motivated to play in this one. Isaiah Saunders led the way on the ground for the Vandals with 147 yards and three scores while quarterback Matt Linehan really came on after halftime and finished with 381 yards and four touchdowns.
CSU did get something going late in the fourth quarter but by that time it was too late to make things interesting as they lost for the second time this year on the blue turf that Boise State typically calls home. Nick Stevens did throw for 445 yards and five touchdowns (with two picks) and was a potent combination on deep balls with Johnson, who had 265 yards and two touchdowns for the game. Michael Gallup chipped in with another three scores and had over 100 yards receiving as well.
But the night belonged to the Vandals, as they went from one of the postseason’s biggest underdogs this year to one of the biggest early winners. With an FCS move looming in 2018, racking up 606 yards of offense and limiting an explosive offense for most of Thursday night isn’t a bad way to close out one of the more impressive seasons at the Group of Five level.