“I don’t know where I’d put the chances,” McDonald said. “It’s difficult with conference contracts written the way they are, but it’s something we definitely have interest in at least discussing and exploring.

“On my end I think it makes a lot of sense, but we have our own contracts in place. It’s not just Idaho. We have Mountain West and MAC contracts, so we need to figure out how an Idaho would effect the matchup in our game.”

McDonald said he’s spoken with officials from Idaho, but it was more to congratulate them on a successful season than working on a plan to get them in his bowl. He expects those conversations could happen later this week as we approach Selection Sunday.

“I think it’s a conversation that will be had probably this week,” McDonald said. “Conferences are committed to bowls and contracts mean something, but I think the way it happens is when there is a motivation that makes sense and if the motivation is to keep Idaho close by and put them in a situation where their fans can attend, their game can be seen on national television, I think people try to figure out a way to try and make those kinds of things work out.