Non-Conference Scheduling rumors

[LA Ute]

Why is it that the great and might USoCal Trojans will condescend to take a home and home with BYU when a program like ND or even Ole Miss gets a 2-1.

Surely, USC is on par with Texas and can get a 2-1 from BYU, no?

In USC's 2 games against BYU the combined score was USC 77, BYU 28. That might have something to do with USC's willingness to schedule the Cougs.

[Portland Ute]

The 2013 home schedule is actually looking pretty interesting.

Boise State, Texas, Georgia Tech.

I am assuming that Utah and BYU will extend the series. That would give you 4 very attractive home games in 2013.

That is definitely better than the MWC schedule.

If you could lure USU, that would be, at least, of local interest.

[LiveCoug]

The whole Ole Miss thing is lame, but it isn't really a future precedent. Like the TCU 1 and done, it was just to help them and us out with scheduling the first year. No big deal.

Also, ND isn't a 6-2. It's a 4-2.

[Donuthole]

I guess that's fine, but it really doesn't change my reasoning that a precedent has been set that BYU is offering favorable terms to middle to lower level BCS schools. If BYUs' going to go one and done with ASU, why would any other mid-level PAC12 school not want the same? If Ole Miss gets a one and done, then why would any mid-level SEC school not expect the same.

I'm interested to see what BYU can put together with the BIG12 programs outside of Tejas. I'd think they could make some hay with the likes of OkSU, Iowa, Kansas, KState, Baylor, etc. (by that, I mean home and homes.)

They have had no trouble getting home and homes with Syracuse, GTech, Arizona, Washington, Cal, Mississippi State, Stanford, and Boston College in the last decade. So I don't see what precedent you're so concerned about.

What you're seeing is BYU needing to fill some gaps while it figures out scheduling in its first few years as an independent, and understanding that might mean a road-heavy schedule for a few years until other teams have more room to accommodate a home and home.

[Donuthole]

In USC's 2 games against BYU the combined score was USC 77, BYU 28. That might have something to do with USC's willingness to schedule the Cougs.

Hack.

[LA Ute]

Hack.

Take that back. I added value with statistics.

[Portland Ute]

The whole Ole Miss thing is lame, but it isn't really a future precedent. Like the TCU 1 and done, it was just to help them and us out with scheduling the first year. No big deal.

Also, ND isn't a 6-2. It's a 4-2.

What's the latest with the Service academy's. Seems like there would be some interest there for late season games.

[TripletDaddy]

Why is it that the great and might USoCal Trojans will condescend to take a home and home with BYU when a program like ND or even Ole Miss gets a 2-1.

Surely, USC is on par with Texas and can get a 2-1 from BYU, no?

In addition to the reason already identified by LA Ute and donute, another reason is that with the exception of Notre Dame, SC rarely, if ever schedules 3 games with a non conference opponent. 2 is ideal and that is their general scheduling philosophy. There have been instances of one and dones with SC, most recently with San Jose state or Idaho, but for the most part SC schedules home and away and no div 2 schools ever. That is how it has been for as long as I can remember.

[BoylenOver]

They have had no trouble getting home and homes with Syracuse, GTech, Arizona, Washington, Cal, Mississippi State, Stanford, and Boston College in the last decade. So I don't see what precedent you're so concerned about.

But talking about how BYU scheduled as a member of the MWC is different from talking about how BYU is scheduling as an independent. Port is saying programs inferior to USC are scheduling independent BYU one-and-done or 2-for-1, so why would the Trojans schedule home-and-home?

But regardless, it sounds like you BYU fans will accept the trade-off of weak home schedules for attractive road/neutral games.

[Donuthole]

But regardless, it sounds like you BYU fans will accept the trade-off of weak home schedules for attractive road/neutral games.

For the first few years, definitely. If we're still talking about playing all our toughest games on the road 5 years from now, i'll be concerned. Though 2013 is already showing that probably won't be the case.

[Commando]

Don't like the possible one and done with ASU, but the others look good.

Stoked!

[kccougar]

USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Washington, and AZ have all scheduled Home-Home series with BYU in the recent past. I don't know why Portland Ute or anyone has a hard time accepting that any of the PAC10 teams are willing to make those same kind of deals going forward.

Why does everyone assume that ASU is a one-and-done deal? A rumor mentioning only that BYU will open the college season at ASU in 2013 doesn't say anything about the contract or future games. A little patience here - I'd be willing to wager that there is a return game with ASU.

As mentioned, the Notre Dame contract is not "6-2". It is a 4-2 game series, which as Shoganai demonstrated, is a pretty good deal for BYU or for most any team.

The service academies will make their way onto the schedule, but their schedules are pretty much set 3 or 4 years out at least. When you are independent you have to have all those ducks in a row early, as BYU is working hard at doing.

Ole Miss is not a 2-1 deal. ESPN worked out the single-game deal to help BYU with the 2011 schedule, when they were scrambling to put one together. Same with TCU - that was actually an upgrade from having to play Louisiana Tech as a 2011 fill-in game.

Personally, I like the H-H-N set up for the big-name teams. Those neutral site games bring a lot of interest and a lot of money. We know we are going to have to balance our schedule with some easy one-and-done home games, just like the big boys do, and that is where the schedule balance will come.

BYU will be playing some teams on a regular basis as an Independent:
Texas
Notre Dame
Penn State
Nebraska
Ohio State
USC
Syracuse
UCLA
West Virginia
Georgia Tech
Boise State
Wisconsin

[Paperback Writer]

But talking about how BYU scheduled as a member of the MWC is different from talking about how BYU is scheduling as an independent. Port is saying programs inferior to USC are scheduling independent BYU one-and-done or 2-for-1, so why would the Trojans schedule home-and-home?

But regardless, it sounds like you BYU fans will accept the trade-off of weak home schedules for attractive road/neutral games.

Another reason USC may schedule BYU home/home is that there is a greater chance of a sell out in the Coliseum with BYU as an opponent. That would potentially give the Trojans another sellout besides UCLA and/or Notre Dame. Another OOC opponent may not bring as many fans.

And that is part of the difficulty with Nebraska since Nebraska will sell out against South Dakota St. or Chattanooga in Memorial Stadium and those programs don't require a return trip. Others will take a 2-for-1.

For schools who don't reguraly sell out their home games, BYU is an attractive opponent in areas with a large LDS presence. Obviously, there are other factors as well. The BYU-Texas series is interesting and I think other factors such as Texas considering independence and/or Big 12 expansion are considerations.

[kccougar]

We are going to get to know Cowboy Stadium very well.

[LA Ute]

Another reason USC may schedule BYU home/home is that there is a greater chance of a sell out in the Coliseum with BYU as an opponent. That would potentially give the Trojans another sellout besides UCLA and/or Notre Dame. Another OOC opponent may not bring as many fans.

And that is part of the difficulty with Nebraska since Nebraska will sell out against South Dakota St. or Chattanooga in Memorial Stadium and those programs don't require a return trip. Others will take a 2-for-1.

For schools who don't reguraly sell out their home games, BYU is an attractive opponent in areas with a large LDS presence. Obviously, there are other factors as well. The BYU-Texas series is interesting and I think other factors such as Texas considering independence and/or Big 12 expansion are considerations.

I could be wrong but I think it's been a long time since the Coliseum sold out. When BYU played there in 2003 the attendance was 75,315. By comparison, UCLA drew 93,172 to the Coliseum that year. The BYU game was the 4th-highest Coliseum crowd for USC that season. Average home attendance was 77,804.

EDIT: I made an error. It was the 3rd-highest crowd, behind UCLA and Washington State. The home game attendance in 2003:

BYU 75,315
Hawaii 73,654
Stanford 68,341
Washington State 82,478
UCLA 93,172
Oregon State 73,864

Football capacity at the Coliseum is 93,607. So the UCLA game was essentially a sellout.