So three of the four area college football teams finished with worse records this fall than we predicted, and the other finished exactly as we guessed.

So either those three teams underperformed this year, or we were overly optimistic.

Or both.

You decide.

Idaho: Figures.

Just when it seemed the Vandals were kinda/sorta getting the hang of playing at the FBS level, they get kicked out of the Sun Belt and opt to drop down to FCS and the Big Sky, rather than hang out in the waiting room of FBS independence, like New Mexico State has decided to do.

In the last three seasons, Idaho won 17 football games — after winning just five in the previous four seasons combined — made it to one bowl game and at least had aspirations of making it to two others.

In 2015, Idaho lost big leads in two games where wins would have made the Vandals bowl-eligible. Last year, of course, was the Idaho Famous Potato Bowl victory. This year, a string of one-possession losses led to a 4-8 season.

But at least there was a chance. Remember a few years ago, when folks snickered when Idaho was declared ineligible for the postseason one year because of a low APR? Like they were going to qualify for a bowl anyway.

These last three seasons, bowls were a realistic expectation, not a pipe dream.

We had Idaho pegged for a 9-3 record this season, and another bowl appearance. We were JUST a bit off.

Folks that may have lost interest in the Sun Belt Vandals, because they didn’t know/care about the other conference teams, will they come back to watch the Big Sky Vandals host the likes of Montana, Montana State and Eastern Washington?

“I’ll go watch the Vandals again when they go back to the Big Sky,” more than one person has told me.

Beginning next season, those fans can prove it.

Washington State: Once again, the Cougs were one of the top teams in the Pac-12. They posted signature wins over USC and Stanford, which was encouraging.

But once again, they got worked by the Huskies in the Apple Cup in a shocking and discouraging blowout.

Still, sustained excellence is something new in Pullman. Used to be, a bowl trip was followed by a few rebuilding years before the next bowl trip. This year, WSU went 9-3 (which, shockingly, is what we predicted) and is headed to its third straight bowl. That has never happened before for a Coug team.

If Mike Leach did indeed verbally agree to accept the Tennessee job — only to have that nixed when the Vols’ AD was suspended — that would be a little disturbing to Coug fans — on top of the fact WSU, even with a good team, can’t compete with the Huskies.

Boise State: Makes you wonder how the Broncos’ season would have gone had Boise State not blown that three-touchdown lead in Pullman and lost in overtime to WSU in September? Couple that loss with getting shelled at home by a Virginia team which ended up 6-6, and the Broncos essentially fell off the national radar the rest of the year.

BSU posted a “quiet” 10-3 season to date, but didn’t dismantle as many teams as the Broncos did in the past (we had them at 11-1, and playing in the Mountain West title game). Whereas in the past the talk was whether Boise State could challenge for one of four berths in the College Football Playoff, or at the very least, a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, now the Bronco faithful is happy to edge Fresno State at home for the Mountain West title, and eke into the Top 25.

Still, 10 wins is 10 wins, and most teams would kill for the type of run Boise has been on for the past decade-plus. The same fan base that grumbled about its head coach also saw that same coach’s name being mentioned for other, higher-profile job openings.

But as of now, he’s still there. And his program isn’t going away anytime soon.

Eastern Washington: Despite a four-loss season (we predicted 9-2), Eagle fans felt their 7-4 team was deserving of a berth in the 24-team FCS playoffs. They probably had a point, since two of the losses were to FBS Texas Tech and to FCS power North Dakota State. However, both were blowouts.

In addition, they also lost twice in the Big Sky, at home to Weber State and later at Southern Utah. And while both losses were to eventual playoff teams, those were games the Eags won in the past, when they left no doubt they belonged in the playoffs.

Whether they deserved to get in or not, sometimes that happens when you leave the decision up to humans.

Even though EWU is no longer guaranteed of playing Montana every year, perhaps adding Idaho to the conference will help fill that rivalry void. For the first time since 1995, the Eagles and Vandals will meet in a Big Sky game Oct. 27, 2018, in Cheney.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.