Not often can you take a whole lot of positives from a 22-point loss.

But the Idaho Vandals came away feeling pretty good about themselves after a 56-34 loss at Auburn in their second-to-last game of 2015.

Against an SEC foe, Idaho piled up 479 yards of total offense — 356 of that through the air — and racked up 26 first downs.

“I think the Auburn game really helped our guys’ confidence,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said earlier this week. “We came off that field more confident, and it carried over into our next game (Texas State). We’ve won both games since then. If we can go out and play our tail off, compete one play at a time, good things will happen, and that’ll be a positive for the rest of the year.”

So whatever happens today, with Idaho a 37 1/2-point underdog at No. 8 Washington, the Vandals will look for the positives where they can. And, if they can somehow keep it close, take their chances on an upset.

Matt James, a 6-foot-5, 293-pound redshirt sophomore from Coeur d’Alene High, is listed as the backup at right tackle on the Huskies’ depth chart this week. James started two games last season, and played in 10. He saw action last week vs. Rutgers.

Idaho last played at Washington in 2009, losing 42-23.

Chris Petersen, in his second season as Huskies coach, knows the Idaho program quite well. He was unbeaten in six games against Idaho while coaching at Boise State. But the series ended on a sour note after Boise State moved to the Mountain West. The two schools have not played since 2010.

“You always enjoy your rivalry games,” Petersen said. “And certainly when it was at Boise that was a big one.”

Talks of renewing the rivalry haven’t gotten far. Boise State has said it will play Idaho, but only if the Vandals travel to Boise. Idaho insists on a home-and-home series.