Link: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/15415691/idaho-vandals-drop-fbs-fcs
The University of Idaho, who recently was kicked out of the Sun Belt Conference (along with New Mexico State) will become the first school to drop from the Football Bowl Subdivision to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).
The Vandals return to the Big Sky Conference, where they played from 1963 to 1995. Idaho's other athletic teams already play in that league.
Idaho President Chuck Staben, in a statement said, "Our relevance will be complemented by our football program, not defined by it."
Idaho will play this season and next in the Sun Belt before being forced out. Idaho has struggled as an FBS member, averaging just 3.7 wins during its 20-year run and only 2.9 wins since 2000.
In a return to the FCS, Idaho will decrease its football scholarships from 85 to 63. Idaho thrived as a football school prior to its move to the FBS in the 1990s, as the Vandals won eight Big Sky titles.
Idaho would become the 14th football-playing member of the Big Sky: Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC-Davis and Weber State.
The University of Idaho, who recently was kicked out of the Sun Belt Conference (along with New Mexico State) will become the first school to drop from the Football Bowl Subdivision to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).
The Vandals return to the Big Sky Conference, where they played from 1963 to 1995. Idaho's other athletic teams already play in that league.
Idaho President Chuck Staben, in a statement said, "Our relevance will be complemented by our football program, not defined by it."
Idaho will play this season and next in the Sun Belt before being forced out. Idaho has struggled as an FBS member, averaging just 3.7 wins during its 20-year run and only 2.9 wins since 2000.
In a return to the FCS, Idaho will decrease its football scholarships from 85 to 63. Idaho thrived as a football school prior to its move to the FBS in the 1990s, as the Vandals won eight Big Sky titles.
Idaho would become the 14th football-playing member of the Big Sky: Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah, UC-Davis and Weber State.
