2014 College Football Season

[Crockett]

Is this a negative development for BYU? Yes. Is it the death knell or beginning of irrelevance? No.

ACC, the weakest of the P5, is protecting its interests. The ACC could potentially find itself competing against BYU for a playoff slot in a year where BYU has a great year.

Also, the ACC will play 8 conference games + 1 P5. They still have 3 games they have to fill. Most years they are already playing a P5 anyway. BYU can still play ACC teams. I doubt most of those ACC teams are going to go slumming it for all 3 of those extra games.

[The_Douger]

I don't think it's a death knell.

It's the most uncomfortable I've felt regarding our outlook.

I'm just tired of us not being included.

[Eddie]

Well, I am starting to get pretty depressed at the long term outlook for independence.

I don't think it's a death knell.

It's the most uncomfortable I've felt regarding our outlook.

I'm just tired of us not being included.

I don't see independence as a long-term solution. So I guess I don't get overly excited about it. Some might say that this is a head-in-the-sand approach, but I just don't see independence as being BYU's long-term goal or in their best interest long-term. I think it is now...short-term.

But ultimately I see BYU working to get into a conference. And I've decided to be optimistic and assume that eventually they'll make it.


* When I say "long-term" I'm talking more than 20 years. I could see BYU remaining independent that long. I just ultimately see them working their way into a conference.

[The_Douger]

I don't see independence as a long-term solution. So I guess I don't get overly excited about it. Some might say that this is a head-in-the-sand approach, but I just don't see independence as being BYU's long-term goal or in their best interest long-term. I think it is now...short-term.

But ultimately I see BYU working to get into a conference. And I've decided to be optimistic and assume that eventually they'll make it.


* When I say "long-term" I'm talking more than 20 years. I could see BYU remaining independent that long. I just ultimately see them working their way into a conference.

Nobody seems to be keen to invite us anytime soon. I'm worried this is the long term solution by default. Which conference do you see willing to take us where they think we bring enough money to the table to not take away from their current agreement?

Hell, I'd just go to the Big 12 with our ESPN agreement as football only if that's what it takes.

[Green Monstah]

I see us in the AAC, or some other superconference that either combines AAC and MWC or takes the creame of the crop from both.

[Paperback Writer]

I don't see independence as a long-term solution. So I guess I don't get overly excited about it. Some might say that this is a head-in-the-sand approach, but I just don't see independence as being BYU's long-term goal or in their best interest long-term. I think it is now...short-term.

But ultimately I see BYU working to get into a conference. And I've decided to be optimistic and assume that eventually they'll make it.


* When I say "long-term" I'm talking more than 20 years. I could see BYU remaining independent that long. I just ultimately see them working their way into a conference.

Maybe BYU (and Notre Dame) is ahead of the curve. Some think that the future of conference alignment is with programs belonging to multiple conferences. A major conference for football and mens basketball and a regional conference for everything else. From the link:

Schools will belong to multiple conferences. I really only see the super conference affiliation being in effect for revenue producing sports (i.e. football and men’s basketball). For them, being in a league with a fat TV contract is a smart move to maximize their potential revenue.

But for the smaller, non-revenue producing sports (i.e. pretty much everything else), realignment is a potential fiscal fiasco.

http://feitcanwrite.com/2013/03/19/t...e-realignment/

So maybe BYU joins a future PAC-16 for football and possibly mens basketball. I wonder if Stanford and Cal could get over their BYU bias if BYU's conference affiliation is for football only making the "Mormon Cougars" not really part of the PAC in their minds. And if so, will BYU be permitted to display PAC-16 flags all over Provo?

[beefytee]

I see us in the AAC, or some other superconference that either combines AAC and MWC or takes the creame of the crop from both.

The cream has long been scraped off of those conferences.

[Sizzle]

I see us in the AAC, or some other superconference that either combines AAC and MWC or takes the creame of the crop from both.

Why would the Power 5 conferences want to dilute to add a 6th Power Conference? This is about money and access. If there are schools that bring substantial value without blemishes to the table, they'll be brought in on a conference by conference basis. But adding a new conference with the same level of access? Doubtful.

Now, if you're saying BYU joins an AAC or MWC to improve their position so that they only have to be the highest ranked non-AQ school to gain admission, I could potentially see that happening. Not likely, but potentially.

The truth of the matter is that in the last 30-years, there have been only two years prior to the bowl game where BYU probably had merit to at least be in the discussion for any type of format like this. 1984 and 1996. 2001 would be the other year, but the loss to Hawaii pretty much eliminates any argument they may have wanted to make. 2006 would have been that year as well, had they not lost early contests to Arizona and BC, and potentially 2008 if they could have beaten TCU or Florida State. But they didn't, and so they aren't in the conversation. For as much as we think we 'belong' we haven't proven it on the field as consistently as we'd like to believe. That's why this year is a put up or shut up year. The schedule is aligned. We've got a stud at QB, a stud at RB, a lot of guys bought into what we're doing offensively and defensively in terms of recruiting. Now go make it happen on the field. This year is critical IMO for BYU. I hate putting the pressure out there saying we have to win 12 games or the season is a failure, but the reality is that is probably the case.

[Surfah]

Why would the Power 5 conferences want to dilute to add a 6th Power Conference? This is about money and access. If there are schools that bring substantial value without blemishes to the table, they'll be brought in on a conference by conference basis. But adding a new conference with the same level of access? Doubtful.

Now, if you're saying BYU joins an AAC or MWC to improve their position so that they only have to be the highest ranked non-AQ school to gain admission, I could potentially see that happening. Not likely, but potentially.

The truth of the matter is that in the last 30-years, there have been only two years prior to the bowl game where BYU probably had merit to at least be in the discussion for any type of format like this. 1984 and 1996. 2001 would be the other year, but the loss to Hawaii pretty much eliminates any argument they may have wanted to make. 2006 would have been that year as well, had they not lost early contests to Arizona and BC, and potentially 2008 if they could have beaten TCU or Florida State. But they didn't, and so they aren't in the conversation. For as much as we think we 'belong' we haven't proven it on the field as consistently as we'd like to believe. That's why this year is a put up or shut up year. The schedule is aligned. We've got a stud at QB, a stud at RB, a lot of guys bought into what we're doing offensively and defensively in terms of recruiting. Now go make it happen on the field. This year is critical IMO for BYU. I hate putting the pressure out there saying we have to win 12 games or the season is a failure, but the reality is that is probably the case.

Agreed 100%. BYU is fighting for relevance right now. If they want to stay in the conversation they need to win. The only way they get an ND like exemption or into a P5 conference is by winning and creating external pressure. If the reaction on Twitter to the ACC decision is any indication, there seems to be a lot of support for BYU's inclusion. But it's not enough. Winning on the field and demonstrating you deserve a seat at the table in a what have you done for me lately era is what matters. BYU is set to do that BTW. This team is loaded at skill positions with a Heisman watch QB. We're already seeing BYU in some way too early preseason polls. We could make some noise this year which could set up something big next year.

[Crockett]

Agreed 100%. BYU is fighting for relevance right now. If they want to stay in the conversation they need to win. The only way they get an ND like exemption or into a P5 conference is by winning and creating external pressure. If the reaction on Twitter to the ACC decision is any indication, there seems to be a lot of support for BYU's inclusion. But it's not enough. Winning on the field and demonstrating you deserve a seat at the table in a what have you done for me lately era is what matters. BYU is set to do that BTW. This team is loaded at skill positions with a Heisman watch QB. We're already seeing BYU in some way too early preseason polls. We could make some noise this year which could set up something big next year.

Agree also. BYU is at a really critical time where they need to win or they risk a slide to irrelevance. If you are in a P5 conference already, you can stink and be fine. You won't get kicked out. BYU really has to have some serious success to become attractive enough that a P5 conference would want them despite some of our baggage (like no Sunday play). Bronco, staff and team are fighting for the future of BYU football unlike what pretty much any other school out there is facing.

[The_Douger]

Anyone know what's going on with regards to these allegations of Duane Busby providing gifts for players?

[All-American]

Anyone know what's going on with regards to these allegations of Duane Busby providing gifts for players?

Other than that we are effed, no.

[beefytee]

According to the radio, the school called Hoffman in for questioning and he refused. This according to Hoffman's manager.

Also. BYU confirms they are looking into it.

[The_Douger]

Other than that we are effed, no.

Well, that's been the case since Utah got the call to the P12. We're circling the drain. It's just a slow drain.

[scottie]

McShay's Way-too-early 2015 mock draft has six Florida State players in the first round.

5. New York Jets (6-10): Jameis Winston*, QB, Florida State
9. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Mario Edwards Jr.*, DE, Florida State
13. Detroit Lions (7-9): P.J. Williams*, CB, Florida State
14. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State
17. Baltimore Ravens (8-8): Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State
26. Indianapolis Colts (10-6): Tre' Jackson, G, Florida State