BYU Football: The worst and best case scenarios for the Cougars
By Adam Gibby
Game 13: Hawaii
Worst Case Scenario: The Cougars are more interested in the beach than they are in the game. Hawaii is 5-6 entering this game and is hoping to become bowl eligible. The game is ugly and the Cougars get humiliated by the Rainbow Warriors. This game is broadcast on ESPN3 even though there is no other late game going on. Tanner Mangum announces that he going to leave BYU for the NLF Draft.
Final Score 56-14 Loss (6-7, No. 3 on ESPN’s Bottom 10)
Best Case Scenario: BYU football fans know the Cougars are on the outside looking in for the college football playoff. Kalani Sitake and the other coaches prepare this game as a full on war. The Cougars need to make a huge statement if they want any chance on moving up in the polls. BYU football is ready and they beat the Rainbow Warriors by 42. The Cougars move up to the No. 5 ranking are just outside of the College Football playoff. Tanner Mangum finishes third in the Heisman voting and decides to come back for his senior year. The Big 12 decides to expand after all and invites Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis and BYU for the 2019 season.
Final Score 63-21 Win (12-1, ranked No. 5)
Bowl Game
Worst Case Scenario: BYU finishes bowl eligible. They are put into the Boca Raton Bowl. For those of you who do not speak Spanish, that is the Rat Mouth Bowl. BYU plays 6-6 Coastal Carolina. The Cougars at this point are just trying to get to the offseason whereas the Chanticleers are excited to play in a bowl game. Everyone knows the game is over before halftime. Despite the score being tied, Cougar fans know that Coastal Carolina will win. The game ends with the Cougars losing by 17. It is viewed as the most disappointing football season in over two decades. ESPN cuts their contract with the Cougars and BYU football hopes that the Mountain West or WAC will accept them into their conference.
Final Score 34-17 Loss (6-8, not ranked)
Best Case Scenario: BYU football in the Fiesta Bowl against the No. 7 Clemson Tigers. The game goes back and forth and with five seconds left the game is tied. Tanner Mangum throws a Hail Mary as time expires and Jonah Trinnaman comes down with it in the endzone. The Cougars win and knock off last season’s national champions. Tanner Mangum is given the MVP award for the game. ESPN extends their TV contract through 2025. Kalani Sitake receives a contract extension through 2021 and the Cougars finished ranked No. 3.
Final Score 24-17 Win (12-1, ranked No. 3)
Just enjoy the game
There is about a 1 percent chance that either the worst case or best case scenarios actually happen. Most likely what will happen is that BYU football finishes somewhere with nine to 11 wins on the season. It is a long season.
Enjoy the games and cheer on the Cougars whether they win or lose. But most importantly, remember, when it gets rough, just remember how it would feel to have the worst case scenario happen.
Don’t live in extremes.