The Idaho Vandals open up Sun Belt Conference play today against a Troy Trojans squad that was tied with Clemson midway through the second quarter, and ended up losing just 30-24 to a team that lost to Alabama in last year’s national title game.

“To be honest with you, I told our coaching staff and our players going into the season they (the Trojans) would probably be the hardest home game, and obviously that looks like it’s going to be the case,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said.

Troy (3-1) is 1-0 in the Sun Belt after routing New Mexico State 52-6 last week. Idaho is 2-2.

The other three Sun Belt teams on Idaho’s home schedule are New Mexico State (1-3, 0-1) on Oct. 15, South Alabama (2-2, 0-2) on Nov. 26 and Georgia State (0-3, 0-0) on Dec. 3.

Troy junior quarterback Brandon Silvers has thrown nine touchdown passes in four games this season. Junior running back Jordan Chunn is ranked 22nd nationally, averaging 111.3 rushing yards per game.

Neither played in last year’s 19-16 loss at home to Idaho, a game more remembered by the Vandals for other reasons. Idaho didn’t fly out of Spokane until early Saturday morning due to mechanical difficulties with its plan, and got to Alabama just hours before kickoff.

Silvers, who missed that game, threw 20 touchdown passes in 11 games last year. Chunn played in just two games last season before suffering a season-ending injury.

“They (the Trojans) are just different right now because they’re winning,” Petrino said. “Winning inspires everybody to play harder; they’re playing really good defensively.

“(Last week) they had five interceptions, they scored on a kickoff return, and they scored on a blocked punt. That’s doing all phases.”