CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2016 Idaho

9–⁠4 (6–⁠2 Sun Belt Conference), coached by Paul Petrino.

Schedule and results

Idaho in 2016, game by game: won vs. Montana State 20–17; lost at No. 8 Washington 14–59; lost at Washington State 6–56; won at UNLV 33–30; lost vs. Troy 13–34; won at UL Monroe 34–31; won vs. New Mexico State 55–23; lost at App State 19–37; won at Louisiana 23–13; won at Texas State 47–14; won vs. South Alabama 38–31; won vs. Georgia State 37–12; won vs. Colorado State 61–50+33−50Won 20–17 vs. Montana State+3Montana StateLost 14–59 at No. 8 Washington-45No. 8 WashingtonLost 6–56 at Washington State-50Washington StateWon 33–30 at UNLV+3UNLVLost 13–34 vs. Troy-21TroyWon 34–31 at UL Monroe+3UL MonroeWon 55–23 vs. New Mexico State+32New Mexico StateLost 19–37 at App State-18App StateWon 23–13 at Louisiana+10LouisianaWon 47–14 at Texas State+33Texas StateWon 38–31 vs. South Alabama+7South AlabamaWon 37–12 vs. Georgia State+25Georgia StateWon 61–50 vs. Colorado State+11Colorado State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 1vsMontana StateW 20–⁠1764%
Sep 10at8WashingtonL 14–⁠5915%
Sep 17atWashington StateL 6–⁠5622%
Sep 24atUNLVW 33–⁠3036%
Oct 1vsTroyL 13–⁠3440%
Oct 8atUL MonroeW 34–⁠3140%
Oct 15vsNew Mexico StateW 55–⁠2361%
Oct 22atApp StateL 19–⁠3718%
Nov 5atLouisianaW 23–⁠1336%
Nov 12atTexas StateW 47–⁠1456%
Nov 26vsSouth AlabamaW 38–⁠3161%
Dec 3vsGeorgia StateW 37–⁠1269%
Dec 22Bowls & playoffvsColorado StateFamous Idaho Potato BowlW 61–⁠5035%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Colorado State 61–⁠50 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 3rd in the Sun Belt Conference.

In program history: The 7th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 110 on file).

Record
9–⁠4
Conference
6–⁠2 tied for 3rd in Sun Belt Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
400–⁠407
Coach
Paul Petrino
Elo
1491 +143 this season
SP+ rating
-8.6 No. 98 of 128; offense No. 96, defense No. 99, special teams No. 18
SRS
−4.5 No. 83 of 128 in FBS
Returning
65% of last season’s EPA, No. 68 of 128
Recruiting class
No. 123 roster talent No. 126 in FBS
Offensive coordinator
Kris Cinkovich
Defensive coordinator
Mike Breske
Offense
Multiple
Defense
Multiple 3–⁠4

How good, play by play

  • Offense72nd of 128
  • Defense72nd of 128
EPA per playSuccessExplosivenessFBS rank
Offense0.0945%1.0172nd of 128
Defense0.1347%1.1472nd of 128
How these are measured

Play-weighted averages over games against FBS opponents; raw numbers, not adjusted for the strength of the opponent. EPA (expected points added) measures how much each play changed the expected score; success rate counts plays that kept the offense on schedule; explosiveness is the average EPA on successful plays. Lower is better on defense. Ranked by EPA per play among teams that were FBS that season.

Drives and havoc

Points per trip inside the 40Average startHavoc
Offense3.4own 3214% allowed
Defense4.2own 2716% caused

CORE rating -8.3, 99th of 128 (offense -4.3, defense 4.0).

A trip inside the 40 is a drive that reaches the opponent’s 40-yard line; points per trip is how many it scored on average (allowed, on defense). Average start is where drives began (the defense’s line is where its opponents started). Havoc is the share of plays ending in a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception or a pass broken up. CORE is CollegeFootballData.com’s context- and opponent-adjusted rating (points better than an average team; lower is better on defense). From CollegeFootballData.com.

Leaders

Passing yardsMatt Linehan QB3,184 yds
Passing touchdownsMatt Linehan QB19 TD
Rushing yardsIsaiah Saunders RB731 yds
Rushing touchdownsIsaiah Saunders RB9 TD
Receiving yardsDeon Watson WR695 yds
Receiving touchdownsTrent Cowan WR6 TD
TacklesTony Lashley 105 tkl
SacksAikeem Coleman DL8 sacks
InterceptionsKaden Elliss LB5 INT

Top recruits in the 2016 class

J.J. Wills WR★★★No. 1274
Jassiem Wills WR★★★No. 1752
Dylan Thigpen RB★★★No. 1994
Charles Akanno OLB★★★No. 2161
Noah Johnson OG★★No. 2555

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2016 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Running backs13.00.805
Receivers32.70.807
Offensive line32.00.771
Defensive line52.00.766
Linebackers32.30.778
Defensive backs42.00.768
Athletes and specialists42.00.764
Whole class232.20.775

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

2016 Sun Belt Conference standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
App State7–⁠110–⁠3
Arkansas State7–⁠18–⁠5
Troy6–⁠210–⁠3
Idaho6–⁠29–⁠4
Louisiana5–⁠36–⁠7
Georgia Southern4–⁠45–⁠7
UL Monroe3–⁠54–⁠8
South Alabama2–⁠66–⁠7
New Mexico State2–⁠63–⁠9
Georgia State2–⁠63–⁠9
Texas State0–⁠82–⁠10

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.