BYU Cougars: Top 15 fall sports games

(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) /

Number 3: BYU vs UCLA – Women’s Soccer Sept. 1

Why it is ranked as high as it is: BYU women’s soccer is really good. If the Cougars want to move back up the rankings after a slow start, they are going to have to beat UCLA. UCLA is currently ranked No. 7 in the country. If the women’s soccer team can pull off the upset, the Cougars will once again be in the national spotlight as a real contender for the national championship.

Why it is ranked as low as it is: I nearly put this in the number two spot to avoid two football games taking up the number one and two spot. However, after seeing that the Cougars are currently 0-1-1, it makes it much more difficult to justify a second place spot. Unfortunately, many people have already written the BYU Cougars off this season for their bad start. Yes, a win over UCLA will help fix that, however it just won’t have the same hype as if both teams had come in ranked in the top five.

Number 2: BYU vs LSU – Football Sept. 2

Why it is ranked as high as it is: LSU is a powerhouse school from the SEC. If the Cougars are able to pull off the upset, it would immediately put them in a great position for the rest of the season. They could realistically lose two games after LSU and still make a BCS bowl. However, if they lose to LSU, I believe that they would not be able to lose for the rest of the season.

Here is why.

If BYU football beats LSU, they will probably be ranked somewhere between 12-15. If they lose to Utah, they will drop to 20-25. Beat Wisconsin and BYU is back up to 15-18. Beat Utah State and Boise State and the Cougars move up to 12-15 range. Lose to Mississippi State and they drop back to 17-20. Then the Cougars beat every other opponent and watch other teams beat each other. The Cougars could potentially finish 10-13 which would be in the BCS range.

If BYU football loses to LSU and beats Utah they will likely be unranked still. Beat Wisconsin and they move up to 20-25 range. Beat Utah State and Boise State and move up to 17-20 range. Lose to Mississippi State and drop back to 22-unranked. Win the rest of the year and end up 15-19. Still a great season, but too far out for a BCS game.

Why it is not ranked higher: Recruiting will not be drastically affected by this game. Also, the Cougars are not very likely to win this game. And finally, because it’s not The Holy War.