2. Prepare for the Future
This is a gray area for sure. On one hand, BYU needs to play their best players in 2022 and do what they can to get as many wins as possible. On the other, the CFP Committee already showed that they will not respect BYU and will do whatever they possibly can to keep them out of the NY6 discussion.
Barring taking down Baylor, Notre Dame, Oregon and Arkansas all in the same season, the Cougars will be playing in an ESPN owned bowl game. Currently, the worldwide leader in sports operates 17 bowls ranging from the Bahamas Bowl on the low end to the Texas Bowl on the high end.
Of the 40+ bowls, I’d say 15 of the 17 that ESPN operates are in the bottom 20 overall, mostly against G5 teams with an 8-4 record or worse or P5’s that are 6-6.
In other words, unless BYU is very fortunate, they very well could end up in another game similar to this year’s Independence Bowl.
This begs the question, should BYU be preparing for the Big 12? When BYU is in the Big 12 every single game will matter as it will be a constant fight up the totem pole of bowl games. To do that, BYU is going to want to have guys ready.
When looking at BYU’s roster, the reality is the Cougars will have a bunch of seniors next season. This list includes the following:
- Chaz Ah You
- Keenan Ellis
- Lorenzo Fautea
- Lopini Katoa
- Malik Morre
- D’Angelo Mandell
- Gunner Romney
- Pepe Tanuvasa
- Earl Tuioti-Mariner
BYU will also have quite a few of academic seniors who while still with a year of eligibility, will have graduated academically from BYU and may pursue either a professional career or a life away from football. This list includes:
- Tyler Allgeier
- Clark Barrington
- Blake Freeland
- Jaren Hall
- Isaiah Herron
- Harris LaChance
- Hayden Livingston
- Jake Oldroyd
- Keenan Pili
- Baylor Romney
- Max Tooley
- Payton Wilgar
- And many others.
If BYU were to lose all of their seniors and 50% of their academic seniors, BYU Football isn’t going into 2023 very strong. That is unless of course the coaching staff prioritizes playing younger players like Miles Davis, Jackson McChesney, Ammon Hannemann, Keanu Hill and Chase Roberts.
Playing these players more in 2022 may cost the Cougars a game or two, but could lead to another win or two in 2023. Again, barring an 11-1 season in 2022, a 10-2 BYU in 2022 plays in a worse bowl game than a 7-5 BYU in 2023.