BYU football: December football is in danger for all Utah teams

There have only been four times in the last 40 years that all three FBS teams in Utah missed out on postseason play. This year could be the fifth.

13 years.

That’s how long it’s been since all three FBS teams in Utah missed out on a bowl game.

Back in 2004, BYU football finished off its final season of a three-year bowl drought. Both Utah and Utah State struggled to sub-.500 records as well.

It was the third time in five years that all three teams missed out on postseason play. The in-state teams didn’t attend bowl games in 2000 and 2002 either.

Those droughts are the exception to the rule, though. In the last 40 years, those were 3 of only 4 times that all three teams missed out. 1995 was number four.

This year, all three teams still have a shot play in December, but it’ll be an uphill climb for all three.

Let’s take a look at what all three teams need to do:

BYU football

Surprisingly enough, the Cougars still haven’t played their way out of a bowl game completely.

The best BYU can get to is 6-7 in the regular season. They can’t qualify outright, but if they win all 4 of their remaining games and get a little help, they can still slot into the bowl season.

The Cougars’ remaining schedule looks like this:

• at Fresno State (5-3)
• at UNLV (3-5)
• UMass (2-6)
• at Hawaii (3-5)

There are no gimmes for BYU football this year, but the Cougars’ toughest test will come against the Bulldogs in Fresno this weekend.

One more loss, and all postseason hopes are gone for good.

Utah

After winning four games to start the season, the Utes have followed that up with four straight losses.

With their record sitting at .500 right now, they have to win at least two of their last four games to be bowl eligible. One win gives them a sliver of a chance thanks to their high academic APR.

Take a look at the final stretch for the Utes:

• UCLA (4-4)
• Washington State (7-2)
• at Washington (7-1)
• Colorado (5-4)

Utah has one thing running it their favor. Their two most winnable games (UCLA, Colorado) are both at home. That advantage may tilt those two toss-up games in the Utes’ favor.

Utah State

Sitting at 4-5, the Aggies have an uphill climb to go bowling. They’ll need to win at least two of their last three games to qualify.

Those three games are:

• at New Mexico (3-5)
• Hawaii (3-5)
• at Air Force (4-4)

The Aggies would feel a lot more comfortable if they had two home games left instead of one. However, all three games are winnable.

If someone said at the start of the season that Utah State would be in arguably the best bowl position of the three Utah teams, you’d probably doubt their sanity.

But that’s the state of football affairs in Utah this year.