More Pressure to Win?

[DrumNFeather]

Which team has more pressure to win this season?

[TheAzzuri]

Immediate pressure: BYU

Long-term pressure: Utah

[Goatnapper'96]

Which team has more pressure to win this season?

I think both have enormous pressure. BYU is in its first year of independence and must make its splash soon to maintain the momentum in the what have you done for me lately world of college football. The schedule has its challenges but it doesn't presently include any teams that appear to be world beaters and many believe that BYU has accumulated more natural ability and depth than it has had in years, however it is obviously still young. If BYU is unable to take advantage of the opportunity presented the next couple of years, and that must start with winning games this year, I am not sure when another opportunity will come around like this again. I see BYU with more pressure.

Utah has a grand opportunity. The gods of the Pac-12 scheduling commitee gave the Utes a huge break in year 1, and any other Ute team of the past 3 years would walk away with the Southern Championship. Whether or not this team with the QB issues and RB issues will be able to pull it off appears to be seen, but the Utes have a huge opportunity to make a huge splash in year 1 that would go a long way to building their program. However, the reality is that conference membership in the Pac-12 gives the Utes a stability and consistent opportunities that even if things don't turn out well for Utenation this year, that they can recover even when the P-12 South and the Utes' conference scheduling are both more formidable.

[TripletDaddy]

BYU by far. If it does well, it most likely gets the 14th team invite to the SEC along with aTm.

If not, it will be stuck with the Big 12.

[UtahDan]

I think both have enormous pressure. BYU is in its first year of independence and must make its splash soon to maintain the momentum in the what have you done for me lately world of college football. The schedule has its challenges but it doesn't presently include any teams that appear to be world beaters and many believe that BYU has accumulated more natural ability and depth than it has had in years, however it is obviously still young. If BYU is unable to take advantage of the opportunity presented the next couple of years, and that must start with winning games this year, I am not sure when another opportunity will come around like this again. I see BYU with more pressure.

Utah has a grand opportunity. The gods of the Pac-12 scheduling commitee gave the Utes a huge break in year 1, and any other Ute team of the past 3 years would walk away with the Southern Championship. Whether or not this team with the QB issues and RB issues will be able to pull it off appears to be seen, but the Utes have a huge opportunity to make a huge splash in year 1 that would go a long way to building their program. However, the reality is that conference membership in the Pac-12 gives the Utes a stability and consistent opportunities that even if things don't turn out well for Utenation this year, that they can recover even when the P-12 South and the Utes' conference scheduling are both more formidable.

I think this is basically right. I think the downside of failure for BYU is quite a bit larger, but I do think that not doing well this year would also be a missed opportunity for Utah. But what does doing well look like for Utah v. BYU?

I think all Utah has to do be in the conversation in the Pac South in November. And that could be the case with 3-4 losses, particularly since USC can't win the division this year. I think success for BYU means doing enough to stay ranked because, as you say, a good pre-season ranking will be important next year. A third loss or a loss to a non-BCS team puts a fork in the season. So what would BYU have to do? I would think lose no more than 2 games and those losses have to come to BCS opponents.

[Goatnapper'96]

I think this is basically right. I think the downside of failure for BYU is quite a bit larger, but I do think that not doing well this year would also be a missed opportunity for Utah. But what does doing well look like for Utah v. BYU?

I think all Utah has to do be in the conversation in the Pac South in November. And that could be the case with 3-4 losses, particularly since USC can't win the division this year. I think success for BYU means doing enough to stay ranked because, as you say, a good pre-season ranking will be important next year. A third loss or a loss to a non-BCS team puts a fork in the season. So what would BYU have to do? I would think lose no more than 2 games and those losses have to come to BCS opponents.

I agree with you that BYU's success this year has less room for error than Utah's. I think for BYU to have a good year it must win 10 games, including a bowl game. If it does that it will be ranked to start next season. I think Utah needs to win at least 8, including the bowl game.