Hypothetical BYU scheduling as an independent

[statman]

How many undefeated seasons has it taken? If it's working so well, why the jump to the MWC?

According to the Trib article, BSU has the right to go back to the WAC without penalty. I wouldn't be too surprised if they did. Why go to the MWC? For a yearly game with TCU that could jeopardize an undefeated season? Doesn't make much sense...

[pellegrino]

I've asked this question a bunch and the answer appears to be, ESPN.

It looks like that just may be the answer

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=498&sid=12048937

I have personally examined communication from someone close to the BYU Athletics program who said BYU's football independence and future affiliation/coordination with ESPN are a "done deal." A source told me it was no coincidence that ESPN has been out in front of this story, citing early multiple sources online and even placing the story ahead of Brett Favre's impending return this morning on SportsCenter.

[SloanHater]

According to the Trib article, BSU has the right to go back to the WAC without penalty. I wouldn't be too surprised if they did. Why go to the MWC? For a yearly game with TCU that could jeopardize an undefeated season? Doesn't make much sense...

Again, returning to the scheduling question, Boise couldn't schedule enough quality games to earn a shot at the BCS even when going undefeated. Thus the jump to the MWC to acquire quality conference games.

BYU is now in Boise's shoes. No one wants home and home deals with teams that offer little upside to rankings/national perception.

Why would BCS schools risk their shot at a national title/BCS game to play BYU?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Why on earth would Okie STate, UCLA, BC and Purdue play us in November? Someone needs a better answer than ESPN.

Note to Livecoug and everyone else listing schedules:

Make an effort to put the games into a potential chronological order in order to prevent confusion.

These games would be played in September just like BYU's current games against BCS opponents.

The 4-6 WAC games will take place in October and November. A potential matchup with Notre Dame (easier said than done maybe) could take place at literally any time, but probably October or November. The game with Utah will likely remain in November.

People are overblowing the scheduling difficulties. If the 4-6 games are scheduled against WAC teams, then scheduling shouldn't be much more challenging then it was for the 6-7 seasons that the MWC was an eight team conference. I really don't view playing 4-6 WAC teams as worse than playing UNLV, Wyoming, SDSU, Colorado State and New Mexico every year. Obviously BYU probably thinks something similar.

[Flystripper]

Again, returning to the scheduling question, Boise couldn't schedule enough quality games to earn a shot at the BCS even when going undefeated.

Boise has played in 2 BCS games...

[SloanHater]

Note to Livecoug and everyone else listing schedules:

Make an effort to put the games into a potential chronological order in order to prevent confusion.

These games would be played in September just like BYU's current games against BCS opponents.

The 4-6 WAC games will take place in October and November. A potential matchup with Notre Dame (easier said than done maybe) could take place at literally any time, but probably October or November. The game with Utah will likely remain in November.

People are overblowing the scheduling difficulties. If the 4-6 games are scheduled against WAC teams, then scheduling shouldn't be much more challenging then it was for the 6-7 seasons that the MWC was an eight team conference. I really don't view playing 4-6 WAC teams as worse than playing UNLV, Wyoming, SDSU, Colorado State and New Mexico every year. Obviously BYU probably thinks something similar.

Once again, why would Utah help BYU out by playing them in November? Assuming Utah goes undefeated through the Pac 12 schedule, why risk a loss and shot at a national title by playing BYU? Not to mention they will have a conference championship game to prepare for and thus would want a bye week.

I know Dr. Hill is smart enough to recognize this as well.

[SloanHater]

Boise has played in 2 BCS games...

And the year it went undefeated and didn't? BYU better start questing soon..

[creekster]

Once again, why would Utah help BYU out by playing them in November? Assuming Utah goes undefeated through the Pac 12 schedule, why risk a loss and shot at a national title by playing BYU?

I know Dr. Hill is smart enough to recognize this as well.

Money, my boy, money.

[Flystripper]

And the year it went undefeated and didn't? BYU better start questing soon..

The year they didn't make it the BCS had 1 fewer bowls and the non BCS teams did not have the same guarantees in place.

[Eddie]

Again, returning to the scheduling question, Boise couldn't schedule enough quality games to earn a shot at the BCS even when going undefeated. Thus the jump to the MWC to acquire quality conference games.

Boise didn't get in because Utah had the same record against better competition. TCU, BYU, and Utah won't all be playing each other in the MWC anymore. Boise could essentially determine that (outside of TCU) what is left of the MWC is no worse than what they have in the WAC. And that they would now have an even shot at a BCS game if they had an equal record to TCU.

On the other hand, they could also determine that they would be playing TCU every year to see who gets to go. I'm sure they were thinking that they would be playing BYU and TCU every year for this. As that changes, the MWC schedule loses some of its appeal.

[pellegrino]

Once again, why would Utah help BYU out by playing them in November? Assuming Utah goes undefeated through the Pac 12 schedule, why risk a loss and shot at a national title by playing BYU? Not to mention they will have a conference championship game to prepare for and thus would want a bye week.

I know Dr. Hill is smart enough to recognize this as well.

pantywaists, the lot of you.

[SloanHater]

Money, my boy, money.

BYU fans are delusional at this point. Fortunately I know Dr. Hill isn't naive enough to agree to scheduling BYU right before a possible conference championship game.

[SloanHater]

Boise didn't get in because Utah had the same record against better competition. TCU, BYU, and Utah won't all be playing each other in the MWC anymore. Boise could essentially determine that (outside of TCU) what is left of the MWC is no worse than what they have in the WAC. And that they would now have an even shot at a BCS game if they had an equal record to TCU.

On the other hand, they could also determine that they would be playing TCU every year to see who gets to go. I'm sure they were thinking that they would be playing BYU and TCU every year for this. As that changes, the MWC schedule loses some of its appeal.

We're talking about BYU. Boise has earned its street cred. How many undefeated years and BCS wins will it take BYU?

[Eddie]

I'm going to say that the sky is neither falling nor raining gold coins.

BYU's independence could, in the end, be a very bad thing. Or it could be a very good thing. Personally, I think it is going to take some time to know how this will all turn out. I won't fault them for attempting to better their situation. I will fault them if it becomes much worse than it was and they do nothing to correct that.

In the meantime, the fact that I live in Utah has me fairly confident that all football and most basketball games will be easily accessible for me. If I lived outside of the intermountain west, I would be a little more nervous about that. I don't, so I'm not.

[creekster]

BYU fans are delusional at this point. Fortunately I know Dr. Hill isn't naive enough to agree to scheduling BYU right before a possible conference championship game.

Then he doesnt. So be it. But I am pretty sure it will get worked out, one way or the other. Keeping Utah in Novembers i notthe key to the move, although it would be nice. It seems one Ute fan here is a little delusional about how important that timing is.