BYU Football: Can they do better than 8-5?

I am a huge BYU Cougar fan and a big fan of the football team. It has been a struggle as four out of the last five years the Cougars have gone 7-6 (2010) and 8-5 (2012, ’13, ’14). They went 10-3 in 2011 and should have been 11-2 considering that they gave up a 17-point lead to Texas in the second half of their game in Austin.

Fans are getting restless. They want to see the team win. People question the decision to go independent and how they need to get back into a conference even hinting at going back to the Mountain West. I believe that would be a bad move.

Dec 22, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Algernon Brown (24) stiff arms Memphis Tigers defensive lineman Terry Redden (56) during the third quarter in the Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. Memphis won 55-48 in a double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Yes the Cougars don’t have a lot of high end quality home games especially in November but were they to go back to the MWC they wouldn’t have games against Michigan State, Mississippi State, Michigan, Nebraska, and other Power 5 schools. What fans don’t realize is that they are basically playing an MWC schedule already. They play Boise St., San Jose State, Fresno State, and Utah State this year. Those are quality opponents from the MWC and who they would be playing year in and year out.

This year’s schedule is no different than the past five as it is front loaded. Can the Cougars have success this year and make their mark on the college football world? It is possible.

Nebraska has a new head coach and a new system and has to replace all-everything running back Ameer Abdullah. Boise State put a beat down on the Cougars in Boise last year and they lost Jay Ajayi who will be in the backfield for the Miami Dolphins in 2015. UCLA lost star quarterback Brett Hundley but return stud running back Paul Perkins who rushed for 1,57 yards last season. This plays into the Cougars defense as they are very stout against the run.

Dec 22, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Memphis Tigers running back Brandon Hayes (38) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars defense during the third quarter in the Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. Memphis won 55-48 in a double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan is in shambles and new head coach Jim Harbaugh will look to get them back into the national conversation but it might take a while. UCONN, ECU, Cincinnati, Wagner, and San Jose State are all very winnable games and they are all in Provo.

Just as the season started out difficult, it will end difficult. It starts with a neutral site game against SEC foe Missouri in Kansas City. The Tigers have won the SEC East two years in a row and were a few plays from defeating Alabama in the SEC Championship. Their defense is impressive and it is basically a home game for them at Arrowhead Stadium on a cold November afternoon. Can the Cougars compete with the SEC? We shall see.

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They follow up their trip to Kansas City by hosting Fresno State out of the MWC. The Bulldogs struggled in 2014, just a year after winning 11 games in 2013. They did however make a bowl game and might need to win this game in order to keep that hope alive. There will be urgency on the side of both teams in this one and it will be a competitive game late in November.

Oct 3, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs with the ball as Utah State Aggies linebacker Zach Vigil (left) attempts to make the tackle during the first half at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

I think that the best decision that BYU made was to play Utah State at the end of the season rather than on conference weekend in October. I say this for two reasons. It is better to play a rivalry game at the end of the season than in the middle of it and it gives the state of Utah something to look forward to at the end of the season now that Utah has decided now to play BYU each year. With the Aggies winning 10 or more games in three straight seasons and winning in Provo in 2014 for the first time in 16 tries, it makes this rivalry all the more passionate and energetic. You can bet that on November 28th the new Maverik Stadium will be rocking in the regular-season finale for both teams. It could also mark the final game for both Chuckie Keeton and Taysom Hill which makes this matchup even more intriguing.

It is a tough schedule. There is no doubt about it. But the Cougars are capable of beating anyone on any given day. That is the beauty of sports. On paper it might look like mismatches or it might look like one team is head and shoulders above the other but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens on the field. All you have to do is look at New Year’s Eve in 2014 and New Year’s Day 2015. TCU dominating Ole Miss. Georgia Tech running all over Mississippi State. The Ohio State Buckeyes thumping Alabama. It doesn’t matter what conference someone is from or how good everyone thinks they are. What matters is how you play the game and how you execute.

If BYU can execute, if they can cut down on penalties, if Taysom Hill stays healthy, if Jamaal Williams can get back to his 2013 form, and if the Cougars can play a little bit of defense this could be a special year. Remember that it is the highest rated non-Power 5 conference school that gets to go to a New Year’s Six bowl game. Boise State did it last year with two losses. Could BYU do the same? It is entirely possible.

Nov 29, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Jordan Leslie (9) celebrates with wide receiver Mitchell Juergens (87) after scoring the winning touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. The Brigham Young Cougars defeated the California Golden Bears 42-35. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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