Why BYU Football won’t end the season with six wins
By Ron Jensen
When it comes to predictions for this coming season, the buzz number is six wins, but BYU Football will not have a six-game win total in 2018.
Before you jump all over this comment in rage, allow me to clarify. I did not say BYU Football wouldn’t win more than six games, or that they wouldn’t win less. I simply stated they would not end the 2018 season with a total of six wins.
Everything involved with this philosophy revolves around the first two games of 2018. Football is a game of momentum. Because of this, for all intents and purposes, 2018 is a two-game season.
The win total will entirely depend on how things start off with Arizona and Cal. Let’s look at the reasoning behind two scenarios. One of these will unfold before your eyes.
Scenario No. 1 – “5 wins or less”
BYU football starts off the season with two middle-of-the-pack Power Five teams in Arizona and Cal. For the Cougars to have a chance to get bowl eligible and consider 2018 any kind of success, they must win one of these.
We’ll say that the Cougars lose to both the Wildcats and the Golden Bears. This is bad news for Cougar Nation. Here’s why:
In their next game they travel to Camp Randall Stadium to take on Wisconsin. The highly-ranked Badgers dismantle the Cougars because of lack of talent, and more importantly, an extreme amount of self-doubt.
BYU football then hosts McNeese State, and finally get their first win. This is more of a relief than a victory, and it shows in the following weeks.
Next, a trip to Seattle to take on Washington. The Huskies are ranked in the top ten, and the scoreboard shows it. Not only are the injuries piling up at this point, but the team’s self-image is shattered.
Now, the team prepares for a Friday night game in Logan. Not only is this a short week, but the Aggies are coming off a bye and benefit from an extra week to prepare. Despite having revenge on their mind, the adversity has stacked so high that it’s just too much of the Cougars to overcome.
BYU football finally gets a break with Hawaii coming to Provo. They soundly defeat the Rainbow Warriors.
Then comes a bye week, followed by a visit from Northern Illinois. Even with the extra time for preparation, the Cougars can’t conjure up enough confidence or momentum to beat these Huskies. With a record of 2-6, the program is starting to feel the pressure of missing out on another bowl and losing their head coach.
Next a trip to the “Smurf Turf” to take on a ranked Boise State squad. As imagined, another loss comes, and almost all hope is lost by now.
They then travel to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots to take on UMass. With the extra excitement of playing in an NFL stadium and the lack of substantial athletes on the opposing team, the Cougars win.
New Mexico State comes to Provo the following week. The Cougars are bad, but not that bad. They pick up their fourth victory.
For the season finale, the Cougars head to Salt Lake City with a 4-7 record. And though I’ll never concede a victory to the Utes, as you can see, regardless of the result, the Cougars will not get to six wins.