es , ▁reaching ▁the ▁semif inals ▁twice . ▁After ▁ 1 8 ▁years ▁in ▁Division ▁I - AA , ▁Id aho ▁returned ▁to ▁Division ▁I - A ▁competition ▁( now ▁called ▁the ▁F BS ) ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁West . ▁ ▁On ▁August ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁Id aho ▁was ▁cleared ▁to ▁stay ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁Bowl ▁Sub div ision ▁as ▁an ▁independent ▁after ▁the ▁W AC ▁announced ▁it ▁would ▁drop ▁football ▁effective ▁with ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁season . ▁Id aho ▁would ▁only ▁remain ▁a ▁football ▁independent ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁season ; ▁on ▁March ▁ 2 7 ▁of ▁that ▁year , ▁the ▁Sun ▁B elt ▁Conference ▁announced ▁that ▁Id aho ▁would ▁return ▁as ▁a ▁football - only ▁member ▁starting ▁with ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁season . ▁Near ly ▁two ▁years ▁later ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁Sun ▁B elt ▁Conference ▁announced ▁via ▁tele con ference ▁that ▁neither ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Id aho ▁nor ▁New ▁Mexico ▁State ▁University ▁would ▁be ▁renew ed ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁football ▁season . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Id aho ▁res umed ▁full ▁membership ▁in ▁the ▁Big ▁Sky ▁Conference , ▁which ▁particip ates ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁Championship ▁Sub div ision . ▁▁ ▁Independent ▁( 1 8 9 4 – 1 9 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 5 9 – 1 9 6 4 , ▁