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BYU Football: How much better are the Cougars in 2018 than 2017?

By Adam Gibby

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 3: A dejected Brigham Young Cougars bench watches the clock tick down on their unbeaten season, as they lost to the Utah State Aggies 35-20 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images )
PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 3: A dejected Brigham Young Cougars bench watches the clock tick down on their unbeaten season, as they lost to the Utah State Aggies 35-20 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images ) /
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MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 15: Talon Shumway #21 of the BYU Cougars catches a pass near the sideline for a first down in the second quarter of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI – SEPTEMBER 15: Talon Shumway #21 of the BYU Cougars catches a pass near the sideline for a first down in the second quarter of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Similar Games

This can always be a dangerous measurement because teams change year to year.

Comparing 2016 UCF and 2017 UCF is a perfect example of what can happen in just one year. In 2016, UCF went 6-7, whereas last year they went undefeated and won a BCS bowl game against Auburn.

That being said, this is still a good metric to look at. So far this season there have been five similar games, and for the most part, BYU Football has done better against the competition. Here is each game.

  • Utah State – Both seasons BYU lost pretty bad in similar ways. Both games were double-digit losses, however this season Utah State is much better. Last year the Aggies finished 6-7, including a loss to New Mexico State in a bowl game. This year they are ranked #14 in the AP poll and are likely only behind UCF from getting an auto-bid to a BCS game.  This alone shows that BYU played slightly better than last year given the quality of competition.
  • Wisconsin – The Badgers are not as good this season this year as they were last year, however they are still a good team. Last year BYU was absolutely dominated in Provo, and this year the Cougars actually went on to beat Wisconsin in Madison. There is no question that even though Wisconsin isn’t good this year, that BYU outperformed last year’s team.
  • Hawaii – Hawaii seemed better early in the season, but have since reverted back to the same team that struggled last season. In 2017, the Cougars won convincingly in Honolulu, and this season they did the same but with a larger margin.
  • Boise State – The Broncos came to Provo last year and were dominant from the start, winning 24-7. This season was a different story with BYU failing to score a game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds of the game. Boise doesn’t seem quite as good this season as last, but they’re ranked No. 24 in the most recent AP poll.
  • UMass – This game was very interesting because on paper this team seems about as good as they were last year. Their defensive efficiency is slightly worse than last year but their offense is a bit better. Last year’s loss to the Minutemen was rock bottom for the Cougars. This year was a different story, with BYU leading 35-10 until a late UMass touchdown.

Again, comparing opponents year to year isn’t a 100% true measure of success. However with BYU outperforming themselves convincingly in three of the games and playing at least at the same level in the other two, it’s a promising show that the Cougars are better this year.

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