Five Most Impactful Losses in BYU Football History
#4 – 1990 at Oregon
This is one of the most forgotten and least talked about games amongst BYU fans. Can we even begin to comprehend or realize the impact of this game? The 1990 season started out with magic and fireworks for Ty Detmer and the BYU Cougars. The upset victory over defending National Champion and #1 ranked Miami in week 2 had emerged Detmer and the Cougars as a national spotlight in college football. BYU followed the Miami upset with dramatic wins over Washington State and San Diego State, boosting their record to 4-0 and ranked #4 in the country. Detmer already had a commanding lead in the Heisman race and was putting up video game like stats. The remainder of the 1990 schedule did not appear to be much of a challenge to complete an undefeated season and possibly contend for a national championship. If BYU can take down Miami—the powerhouse of college football and defending national champions, they can take down anybody—including a mediocre team from Eugene.
Like we have seen so many times, BYU entered a sold out Autzen Stadium with a little too much swag. In a game that was nationally televised on ABC under the direction of Brent Musburger and Dick Vermeil, the Cougars looked to continue their dream season against an angry Oregon team who had revenge on their minds from the year prior. Not only were the Duck football players up for this game, but the Duck fans as well. This game would be the third largest crowd in Autzen Stadium history to witness a game. After one half of football, the Cougars would soon realize that a victory over the Ducks would not come easy. Oregon had prepared and utilized a zone blitz scheme to attack and confuse Detmer and the BYU offense. The scheme worked. Oregon took control of the game almost immediately, and Ty Detmer was taking a beating from the Duck defense. Despite the unrelenting pressure, Detmer and the Cougars still managed to outgain Oregon in passing yards 442-286 and overall total offense, and kept BYU in the game trailing only 12-10 in the 3rd quarter. However, the momentum quickly shifted in Oregon’s favor and they took off to score 20 unanswered points. In the end, Detmer had thrown 5 interceptions, was sacked 5 times, and had given up a safety. BYU’s total rushing yards would end with negative 47. Final score: Oregon 32, BYU 16. The rowdy Duck fans proceeded to storm the field in celebration of the upset over the fourth ranked team in the country. Oregon would finish the season 8-4, including a loss to Colorado State in the Freedom Bowl—a Colorado State team that BYU would trounce 52-9 the week following the Oregon loss.
What if… If BYU doesn’t collapse in the 3rd quarter at Autzen Stadium, and Ty Detmer can maintain his Heisman heroics on National TV, BYU has a good chance of beating Oregon. If BYU beats Oregon, I have no problem in predicting that the Cougars run the table and finish the season undefeated. But what about Hawaii? Remember the day Ty Detmer was awarded the Heisman trophy in Honolulu? Well later that night, the cocky Cougars and its Heisman quarterback would suffer a massacre to Hawaii and lose 59-28. Did this loss to Hawaii mean anything to BYU? Absolutely not. The Cougars had already won the WAC title and had just won the Heisman trophy. With a loss to Oregon under their belt, BYU was already destined for the Holiday Bowl. So what does this late season trip to the islands mean for the Cougars? Recruiting for Lavell, relaxing on the beach, a Heisman celebration party, and a pointless football game that night. However, if BYU beats Oregon, and is still undefeated heading to Hawaii, we would all have to imagine that there would be a little more preparation and focus going into that game against the Rainbow Warriors. If BYU then beats Hawaii, they would finish the regular season 12-0 and would be one of two undefeated teams left in the country. This would leave the Cougars eligible to compete for a National Championship between Colorado (10-1-1) and Georgia Tech (10-0-1). The 1990 college football season would eventually end with a split between those two schools for the national title. As I think about these possible outcomes, I can’t help but wonder about the impact of that loss against Oregon which may have cost Lavell Edwards and the Cougars another shot at a national championship.