The Idaho football program will be in for a two week gauntlet in 2015.
Vandal Nation learned yesterday that Idaho and USC have to agreed to play on Sep. 12, 2015 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. That means in back-to-back weeks in 2015 Idaho will travel to USC then Auburn on Sep. 19, following its season opener at home against Ohio. Idaho will be doing so for lucrative reasons.
It was confirmed to Vandal Nation yesterday the scheduled game with USC will pay Idaho $1.1 Million. Idaho will also be getting $1 Million from Auburn the next week.
Idaho last played the Trojans in 2007, a $600,000 payday in what was former coach Robb Akey’s first game as Idaho coach.
The number to be received for the two 2015 games is just under the $2.3 Million Idaho received from its three games at LSU, North Carolina and BYU in 2012.
Between games at Washington State, Ole Miss and Florida State in 2013 Idaho will receive just north of $2.5 Million. Florida will pay Idaho $975,000 for a season opening trip to the swamp in 2014.
There has been speculation whether or not these types of games would be available to Idaho beyond 2014 when the new college football playoff kicks in — basically a further split between the power conferences and the mid-major conferences, but USC’s willingness to pay seven figures seems to answer that for now.
It’s also a further explanation of why Idaho was so steadfast of remaining FBS. Along with the fact FCS schools pocket less money from these games than FBS schools do, USC is one of the few programs to have never scheduled an FCS program — meaning Idaho wouldn’t get its seven-figure payday if it was as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
It remains to be seen if two guarantee games will be enough for Idaho in 2015, or whether the school will look to schedule a winnable opponent with its fourth OoC game.
Here is a breakdown of Out of Conference payouts we have from 2008 to 2015
2015
Auburn – SEC: $1 Million
USC – Pac-12: $1.1 Million
2014
Florida – SEC: $975,000
2013
North Texas – Conference-USA: $410,000
Washington State – Pac-12: $550,000
Ole Miss – SEC: $800,000
Florida State – ACC: $950,000
2012
LSU – SEC: $925,000
North Carolina – ACC: $800,000
BYU – Independent: $500,000
2011
Texas A&M- Big 12 (at the time): $850,000
Virginia – ACC: $725,000
BYU – Independent: $500,000
2010
Nebraska -Big 12 (at the time): $800,000
2009
Washington – Pac-12: $575,000
2008
Arizona – Pac-12: $600,000
San Diego State – Mountain West: $250,000