COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Vandals play at home for first time in 6 weeks

They probably won’t be spinning any John Denver music prior to this afternoon’s football game at the Kibbie Dome.

But the Idaho Vandals (6-4, 4-2 Sun Belt) are back home again for the first time in six weeks, facing the South Alabama Jaguars (5-5, 1-5) in the Vandals’ second-to-last game of the regular season.

Idaho, you may have heard, became bowl eligible two weeks ago, and could improve its bowl lot today and next Saturday in its regular-season finale at home against Georgia State (3-8, 2-5).

Idaho is in fourth place in the 11-team Sun Belt. South Alabama is in 10th, but the Jaguars received a waiver from the NCAA, and are able to count their two wins over FCS schools toward bowl eligibility. Normally, schools only get to count one (Idaho beat Montana State of the FCS in the season opener).

South Alabama was originally scheduled to play LSU last weekend, but LSU pulled out in order to make up a game with Florida. With no other team available, South Alabama instead took on FCS Presbyterian, which was originally slated to play Florida, and won 31-7. South Alabama beat Nicholls earlier in the season.

So the Jaguars need one win in their final two games to become bowl eligible. South Alabama closes out the regular season next Saturday at home vs. New Mexico State (3-7, 2-4).

Idaho’s two losses in conference have come to second-place Appalachian State and third-place Troy.

“And talent-wise, they are very similar to those teams,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said of South Alabama. “They’re battling to be bowl eligible. They beat Mississippi State, they beat San Diego State, they’ve played some really good football. It’s going to be a tough game. We’ve had two weeks to prepare for them, so we should understand their tendencies.”

Last year in Mobile, Ala., Idaho outgained South Alabama 494-400, and led 24-0 in the second quarter before losing 52-45. Xavier Johnson, a sophomore last year for the Jaguars, rushed for 148 yards on nine carries, and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. South Alabama also blocked a punt, and scored on a 57-yard fumble return.

“Last year the game turned on special teams,” Petrino said. “We’ve got to make sure we don’t let that happen again.”