Idaho has swapped one Mountain West Conference opponent for another on its 2014 schedule. Originally, Idaho was going to play Fresno State on Nov.8 at Fresno State. Now, Idaho will play the San Diego State Aztecs on Nov. 8 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The game against Fresno State will be played in 2018.
Athletic director Rob Spear said the move was made because San Diego State was in need of a home game and Fresno State was willing to be flexible to assist its conference partner.
The move doesn’t come without incentive for Idaho — San Diego State is paying Idaho a guarantee of $530,000, Spear told The Argonaut on Tuesday morning. The game is now technically Idaho’s second guarantee game, with the Aug. 30 opener at Florida also paying Idaho to come.
The Aztecs and the Vandals last met in a home-and-home in 2008 and 2009 with San Diego State taking a 45-17 game in San Diego in 2008, and Idaho re-paying the favor with a 34-20 win at the Kibbie Dome in 2009.
Earlier in the year, Idaho moved a 2014 road date at Northern Illinois to 2018 to make room for the impending eight-game Sun Belt Conference schedule.
Idaho’s 2014 schedule is now set:
Aug. 30 – At Florida
Sep. 14 – At Ohio
Sep. 21 – v. Western Michigan
Nov. 8 – At San Diego State
Sun Belt Conference home TBD: Troy, South Alabama, New Mexico State, Arkansas State
Sun Belt Conference road TBD: Louisiana-Monroe, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Texas State