Updated and better proof-read!
While Utah has their future schedules for the next four years taken care of, it is a different story in Provo. And if you read between the lines on the SL Tribune article, there will not be a chance for the Cougars to play Arizona State in 2011 either. The only firm date in 2011 for the Cougars right now is the General Conference Friday match up against Utah State.
The Cougars are trying to work out a home and home with Northwestern by visiting the Chicago Suburb in 2011, but the Wildcats will have to re-schedule a home game with Rice or drop an FCS team in order to work it out. This does not appear likely to happen, as too many other dominoes have to fall first. Many others already have their 2011 schedule set. I expect to see Northwestern on BYU's schedule toward the end of the decade, just not in 2011.
On his radio show earlier this year, Bronco Mendenhall mentioned Wake Forest as another possible future Cougar opponent as well as attempting to reschedule a canceled home and home series with Army. But one site I found says that the BYU/Army series is still on, Army just needs some schedule flexibility. The game with BYU would have to be in October or November.
If Montana jumps to the WAC, 2011 would be their transition year and the Cougars could make a trip to Missoula as well. Montana and BYU were old Skyline conference rivals but have not played since 1961. 2011 would be a transition season for the Grizzly program--or the in-limbo year. They would be a member of the WAC, but would not be bowl eligible. They would be able to get away with playing Montana State and a couple of other FCS rivals in non-conference play, but I suspect that they would want at least one non-conference game against an FBS team and would jump at the chance to play BYU.
Utah State is likely to remain on BYU's schedule for the long run. The Aggies are willing to accomodate BYU's desire not to play on the first Saturday in October.
Utah vs. BYU schedule and stadium:
Even though BYU has the larger stadium, Utah's stadium produces more revenue. One problem that BYU has is the gate share that goes to the visiting team. Comparatively speaking, BYU football tickets are one of the best bargains on the Wasatch Front. Utah's are not, unless you are a student it is more like attending a Jazz game. Four things will therefore help BYU's scheduling problem:. 1. A better TV deal. This could be enabled with by expanded MWC. 2. An expanded LaVell Edwards Stadium with more high-priced suites. 3. Appearing in a BCS game will generate more national interest in the program. Utah, as a two-time BCS buster, can help fill the stadiums they travel to. 4. Break down and schedule on-time meetings with some big programs even if those meetings are not on neutral fields.
2010 BYU Schedule (Non-conference games are confirmed. The MWC games are my speculation and are not official. Though I suspect this will show up in Wikipedia.)
(Comment: Good, even and balanced schedule that should be a template for every season.)
9/4: Washington
9/11: @ Air Force*
9/18: @ Florida State
9/25: Nevada
10/1: @ Utah State
10/9: UNLV (HC)*
10/16: @ TCU*
10/23: bye
10/30: Wyoming*
11/6: @ Colorado State*
11/13: San Diego State*
11/20: New Mexico*
11/27: @ Utah*
2011 (Riley Nelson's Senior Season)
Utah State--only confirmed commitment. Likely will be the Friday before General Conference.
@Army-Will be either October 10 or early November, according to this source. Do not have a date for the Black Knights to come to Provo.
Strong possibility:
-Wake Forest - Have a 2011 opening. This game could be in Provo but will likely be a road game. Mendenhall mentioned Wake Forest in his KSL radio show. Could be the season opener.
Other possibilities not publicly mentioned by name. Assuming that BYU travels to Wake Forest to open the season, these teams can give BYU a home game. This is a short list.
ACC
Duke
Big XII
Missouri
Sun Belt
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
MAC
Northern Illinios
Kent
Eastern Michigan
Bowling Green
Ball State
The list doubles if BYU is willing to travel and is also willing to play an FCS team at home. Chances of getting an FBS team at home for 2011 is slim at the moment.
Fringe possibility:
-Montana (If Montana is invited to join the WAC this off-season)
2012 (Lark/Munns Senior Season)
Hawaii (Confirmed)
@Utah State (Confirmed)
@Boise State (Confirmed)
(Open Home date) Army or Wake Forest
2013 (Jake Heaps senior season if he does not redshirt nor go on a mission)
@Hawaii (Confirmed)
Boise State (Confirmed)
Utah State? (likely)
Open home game
Open road game
Note for 2013: BYU can schedule 13 regular season games with a road trip to Hawaii. Could get seven home games.
2014 (Jake Heaps senior season IF he redshirts and does not go on a mission)
@ Boise State (Confirmed)
@ Utah State? (Likely)
2 open home dates
2015 (Jake Heaps senior season IF he goes on a mission but does not redshirt)
Boise State (Confirmed)
Utah State? (Likely)
2 open road dates.
Weber State
Weber State's schedule for 2010
9/14 @ Boston College
9/11 Northern Colorado*
9/18 @ Sacramento State*
9/25 bye
10/2 Eastern Washington*
10/9 @ Southern Utah
10/16 @ Idaho State*
10/23 Portland State*
10/30 Montana*
11/6: @ Montana State*
11/13: @ Northern Arizona*
11/20: @ Texas Tech
*Big Sky Conference
I do not like this. It needs to be tweaked a little. There are several problems with it:
-2 FBS teams have become the norm. Boston College added Weber State because Hofstra dropped their football program. Weber State had the opening and apparently needs the money and a home game vs. Dixie State or Carroll College would have been a money looser for the program.
-4 Home games. Only four! Not one non-conference home game.
-Finishing with 3 games on the road.
-Will need to have the conference championship secured before traveling to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech at the end of the season. It will be difficult to impress the selection committee with a road game at a Big XII program the last game of the season.
-When is Homecoming? I can see a reason why any of the four home games would not be the Homecoming game, but the best out of the four is Northern Colorado.
If nothing changes on the schedule, I suspect that Weber State could finish below .500 and be fourth or fifth in the conference. They will be too road weary and could loose a couple of games that should be wins...much like Montana State in 2009. They will realistically be 4-7 with this schedule, at best 6-5. Remember that Trevyn Smith, Tim Toone, Kyle Mucher and a host of good defenders will not be back next season. Bo Bolen will be on a mission.
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