Big 12 fan board latest discussion on BYU

Additional note - If the goal is a BCS/Access Bowl, a 10-2 BYU against a good schedule is in the discussion. No guarantee that 10-2 BYU goes to a CFP Access Bowl. But, IMO, 10-2 against the 2013 schedule gets BYU in the discussion, 11-1 gets BYU in...but 12-0 against the 2014 schedule also likely gets BYU into a CFP Access Bowl (if not the playoff itself).

Question - Playing reasonably well with tough schedules the last couple years will help us in a future year like 2014? I think we are tearing down the idea that we play a soft schedule. Even in years where the schedule is weak, the perception has changed.



Note I saw a list of the top 5 games for week 2 that included our Taxas game.

YNot wrote:
So, which is the greater goal for BYU football? Having a good schedule? OR making the CFP (and winning a national championship)?



There is actually a strong argument that dumbing down the schedule would actually help BYU's cause to get into the CFP (see 1984). IMO, the 2014 schedule provides a better opportunity for the CFP than the 2013 or 2015 schedules. Despite all the talk about strength of schedule in the selection committee, if BYU is 12-0, they're in the discussion. If BYU is 10-2 or 9-3, they are not.



In 2014, we play"

at Texas (our marquee game)

4 MWC

2 American

2 C-USA

1 ACC



Add another ACC and another American or C-USA. It would be much easier to go undefeated and be in the national discussion in 2014 than 2013.

The beauty as an independent is that we can tinker with the schedule to get there. We cannot predict the talent we will have year in and year out, or the talent of our opponents, but we are better suited to control the schedule variable in a way that gives us the best chance for consideration (considering both strength of schedule and winnability) better than any other school tied to a conference. Besides, even in the group of 5 conferences, at least one of their conference champs is going to be left out, if not two. I think undefeated with a very good schedule gives us just as much chance. Especially because I believe this eventually goes to a six team playoff with a bye for one and two. That way the big five are in with one at large to appease the anti-trust talk that will surely come (the at large going to the other one loss SEC team or an undefeated outsider).