More about markets. Here is a list of the top 10 fastest growing markets b,etween 2000 and 2010 that do not currently have an FBS-level college sports program. Perhaps, one day, you will see some of these universities in bowl games. Some of these communities are still a little small, but need to have a population of at least 50,000.
1. Palm Coast, Florida. 2010 Population: 75,000. No colleges or universities.
2. Saint George, Utah. 2010 Population: 138,000. DII--Dixie State
3. Cape Coral, Florida. 2010 Population: 619,000. Non-football Florida Gulf Coast University.
4. Greeley, Colorado. 2010 Population: 237,000. FCS Northern Colorado.
5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 2010 Population: 325,000. No colleges or universities.
6. Bend, Oregon. 2010 Population: 157,000. No colleges or universities.
7. McAllen, Texas. 2010 Population: 775,000. Non-Football Texas Pan-American.
8. Kennewick, Washington. 2010 Population: 253,000. Non-sports WSU-Tri-Cities.
9. Wilmington, North Carolina 2010 Population: 347,000. Non-football UNCW.
10. Riverside/San Bernardino 2010 Population: 1,507,000. Non-football UC Riverside and Cal State San Bernardino
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saving the WAC...Major League Sports Movement.
The WAC made a move to add Texas Arlington because of the size of the market and the effort that the program is making to build new facilities. There is also a strong "bring back football" movement at UTA, but the student body would have a say so in that effort.
At the same time, and I put this list below, there is folly in the logic. The WAC passed on membership to Cal State Bakersfield. According to how the Census Bureau counts people, the Riverside/San Bernardino market is the largest market in the United State without either an FBS-level football program or a major league sports franchise (see for yourselves, see the list below). Perhaps because there is not even a football movement at this campus is the reason why the WAC passed on them. Perhaps it is because Los Angeles is next door, but look at how crowded the Dallas/Fort Worth area is! If CS Bakersfield even mentions football, the WAC would be foolish to continue to pass on them. But even more imperative, is if UC Riverside or CS San Bernardino ever mentions football, the WAC should be there on their front doorstep with admittance papers.
List of top 50 largest metro areas and the FBS-level sports universities in that area.
1. New York City--Army, Rutgers (NJ)*
2. Los Angeles--USC, UCLA*
3. Chicago--Northwestern (Notre Dame nearby)*
4. Dallas--SMU, North Texas, TCU*
5. Philadelphia--Temple*
6. Houston--Houston, Rice (Texas A&M nearby)*
7. Washington, DC--Navy*
8. Miami--Miami, Florida Atlantic, Florida International*
9. Atlanta--Ga Tech (University of Georgia nearby)*
10. Boston--Boston College, U-Mass*
11. San Francisco--Stanford, California*
12. Detroit--University of Michigan*
13. Riverside/San Bernardino (Non-football Cal State San Bernardino and UC Riverside with USC, UCLA, CS Northridge and CS Bakersfield nearby. Largest metro in the US without either an FBS-level college sports program or a major league team in any sport.)
14. Phoenix--Arizona State*
15. Seattle--University of Washington*
16. Minneapolis--University of Minnesota*
17. San Diego--San Diego State*
18. St Louis--(Non-football St. Louis with University of Missouri and University of Illinois nearby)*
19. Tampa--University of South Florida*
20. Baltimore--University of Maryland*
21. Denver--University of Colorado*
22. Pittsburgh--University of Pittsburgh*
23. Portland--(FCS Portland State)*
24. Sacramento--(FCS Sacramento State and UC Davis)*
25. San Antonio--UT San Antonio*
26. Orlando--Central Florida*
27. Cincinnati--University of Cincinnati*
28. Cleveland--Akron*
29. Kansas City--(Non-football UMKC with Kansas nearby)*
30. Las Vegas--UNLV
31. San Jose--San Jose State*
32. Columbus--The Ohio State University*
33. Charlotte--Wake Forest* (University of Charlotte beginning football in 2013)
34. Indianapolis--University of Indiana, Purdue*
35. Austin--University of Texas
36. Virginia Beach--(FCS William and Mary)
37. Providence--(FCS Providence)
38. Nashville--Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee*
39. Milwaukee--(Non-football Marquette and non-football UW Milwaukee)*
40. Jacksonville--(FCS Jacksonville State)*
41. Memphis--Memphis*
42. Louisville--Louisville
43. Richmond--(FCS Richmond)
44. Oklahoma City--Oklahoma*
45. Hartford--UConn
46. New Orleans--Tulane*
47. Buffalo--University of Buffalo*
48. Raleigh--Duke, NC State, North Carolina*
49. Birmingham--Alabama Birmingham
50. Salt Lake City--University of Utah* (Does not include Ogden/Clearfield or Provo/Orem)
*Metro includes at least one franchise from either the NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL
Largest 5 US Metro Areas without either a Major League team or an FBS-level college sports program.
13. Riverside/San Bernardino California
36. Virginia Beach, Virginia
37. Providence, Rhode Island
43. Richmond, Virginia
56. Bridgeport, Connecticut
At the same time, and I put this list below, there is folly in the logic. The WAC passed on membership to Cal State Bakersfield. According to how the Census Bureau counts people, the Riverside/San Bernardino market is the largest market in the United State without either an FBS-level football program or a major league sports franchise (see for yourselves, see the list below). Perhaps because there is not even a football movement at this campus is the reason why the WAC passed on them. Perhaps it is because Los Angeles is next door, but look at how crowded the Dallas/Fort Worth area is! If CS Bakersfield even mentions football, the WAC would be foolish to continue to pass on them. But even more imperative, is if UC Riverside or CS San Bernardino ever mentions football, the WAC should be there on their front doorstep with admittance papers.
List of top 50 largest metro areas and the FBS-level sports universities in that area.
1. New York City--Army, Rutgers (NJ)*
2. Los Angeles--USC, UCLA*
3. Chicago--Northwestern (Notre Dame nearby)*
4. Dallas--SMU, North Texas, TCU*
5. Philadelphia--Temple*
6. Houston--Houston, Rice (Texas A&M nearby)*
7. Washington, DC--Navy*
8. Miami--Miami, Florida Atlantic, Florida International*
9. Atlanta--Ga Tech (University of Georgia nearby)*
10. Boston--Boston College, U-Mass*
11. San Francisco--Stanford, California*
12. Detroit--University of Michigan*
13. Riverside/San Bernardino (Non-football Cal State San Bernardino and UC Riverside with USC, UCLA, CS Northridge and CS Bakersfield nearby. Largest metro in the US without either an FBS-level college sports program or a major league team in any sport.)
14. Phoenix--Arizona State*
15. Seattle--University of Washington*
16. Minneapolis--University of Minnesota*
17. San Diego--San Diego State*
18. St Louis--(Non-football St. Louis with University of Missouri and University of Illinois nearby)*
19. Tampa--University of South Florida*
20. Baltimore--University of Maryland*
21. Denver--University of Colorado*
22. Pittsburgh--University of Pittsburgh*
23. Portland--(FCS Portland State)*
24. Sacramento--(FCS Sacramento State and UC Davis)*
25. San Antonio--UT San Antonio*
26. Orlando--Central Florida*
27. Cincinnati--University of Cincinnati*
28. Cleveland--Akron*
29. Kansas City--(Non-football UMKC with Kansas nearby)*
30. Las Vegas--UNLV
31. San Jose--San Jose State*
32. Columbus--The Ohio State University*
33. Charlotte--Wake Forest* (University of Charlotte beginning football in 2013)
34. Indianapolis--University of Indiana, Purdue*
35. Austin--University of Texas
36. Virginia Beach--(FCS William and Mary)
37. Providence--(FCS Providence)
38. Nashville--Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee*
39. Milwaukee--(Non-football Marquette and non-football UW Milwaukee)*
40. Jacksonville--(FCS Jacksonville State)*
41. Memphis--Memphis*
42. Louisville--Louisville
43. Richmond--(FCS Richmond)
44. Oklahoma City--Oklahoma*
45. Hartford--UConn
46. New Orleans--Tulane*
47. Buffalo--University of Buffalo*
48. Raleigh--Duke, NC State, North Carolina*
49. Birmingham--Alabama Birmingham
50. Salt Lake City--University of Utah* (Does not include Ogden/Clearfield or Provo/Orem)
*Metro includes at least one franchise from either the NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL
Largest 5 US Metro Areas without either a Major League team or an FBS-level college sports program.
13. Riverside/San Bernardino California
36. Virginia Beach, Virginia
37. Providence, Rhode Island
43. Richmond, Virginia
56. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Texas A&M Upset...
Reportedly, Texas A&M is upset of the Longhorn Network and their plans to broadcast HS football games. Could this scenario that I floated in May come to pass?
SEC invites Texas A&M and Oklahoma
Texas becomes independent
ACC invites West Virginia and Rutgers
Big East invites Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma State and non-football schools spin-off a new conference
Big 12 disbands
MWC invites Texas Tech and Kansas State
WAC invites Iowa State
C-USA invites Baylor and MTSU
Or...
SEC invites Texas A&M and Oklahoma
Texas becomes independent
ACC invites West Virginia and Rutgers
Big 10 invites Missouri and Kansas
Big East invites Kansas State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Iowa State and spin off non-football schools into a new conference.
No more Big 12.
SEC invites Texas A&M and Oklahoma
Texas becomes independent
ACC invites West Virginia and Rutgers
Big East invites Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma State and non-football schools spin-off a new conference
Big 12 disbands
MWC invites Texas Tech and Kansas State
WAC invites Iowa State
C-USA invites Baylor and MTSU
Or...
SEC invites Texas A&M and Oklahoma
Texas becomes independent
ACC invites West Virginia and Rutgers
Big 10 invites Missouri and Kansas
Big East invites Kansas State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Iowa State and spin off non-football schools into a new conference.
No more Big 12.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Utah State in-state Football Schedule
Utah State announced deals with BYU and Utah for the next few years. Utah will be a home and home series. BYU, on the other hand, will not.
BYU and Utah State (Conference Weekend, except 2014)
2012--Provo
2013--Logan
2014--Provo (October 25)
2015--Provo
I hope that the Aggie program will be well compensated for their travel down south...in the neighborhood of 1,000,000+ per game. BYU, however, needs someone to agree to have an unbalanced schedule with them, because the Cougars will have 2 for 1 deals with other teams. If Utah State, Idaho, San Jose State and New Mexico State agree, God bless them for it.
Utah and Utah State
2012--Logan
2013--Salt Lake City
2014--Logan
2015--Salt Lake City
BYU and Utah State (Conference Weekend, except 2014)
2012--Provo
2013--Logan
2014--Provo (October 25)
2015--Provo
I hope that the Aggie program will be well compensated for their travel down south...in the neighborhood of 1,000,000+ per game. BYU, however, needs someone to agree to have an unbalanced schedule with them, because the Cougars will have 2 for 1 deals with other teams. If Utah State, Idaho, San Jose State and New Mexico State agree, God bless them for it.
Utah and Utah State
2012--Logan
2013--Salt Lake City
2014--Logan
2015--Salt Lake City
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Disrespect in Ogden
In spite of having 14 returning starters from last year's team, the Big Sky Coaches picked Weber State to finish 5th in the Conference this coming season. The Big Sky Writers have picked the 'Cats 6th.
Usually, a team with that many returning starters gets more respect. Or is the rest of the Big Sky Conference that good?
Big Sky Coaches
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Sacramento State
5. Weber State
6. Northern Arizona
7. Portland State
8. Northern Colorado
9. Idaho State
Big Sky Press
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Sacramento State
5. Northern Arizona
6. Weber State
7. Portland State
8. Northern Colorado
9. Idaho State
Usually, a team with that many returning starters gets more respect. Or is the rest of the Big Sky Conference that good?
Big Sky Coaches
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Sacramento State
5. Weber State
6. Northern Arizona
7. Portland State
8. Northern Colorado
9. Idaho State
Big Sky Press
1. Eastern Washington
2. Montana State
3. Montana
4. Sacramento State
5. Northern Arizona
6. Weber State
7. Portland State
8. Northern Colorado
9. Idaho State
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Realistically, who could BYU play in 2012?
Last Update..8/19/2011
Someone said that BYU's schedule is almost complete for 2012, but no one knows, despite voracious rumors, who those teams will be. BYU needs now needs only 1 more home game. Who will fill out the schedule?
With the ESPN partnership, teams could change their schedules to play the Cougars. There are also teams that are over-scheduled due to changing conference alignments. Therefore, other games will open up. BYU should fill out their 2012 schedule. Here are the teams, by conference, that need to add a game or two in 2012.
Current 2012 BYU Schedule
S1 Oregon State^ (Last Meeting: 2009 Las Vegas Bowl, 44-20 Cougars. OSU leads the series 5-4)
S8 Weber State (1979 in Provo, 48-3 Cougars, BYU leads series 2-0)
S15 @Utah^ (2010 in Salt Lake City, 17-16 Utes. Utah leads the series 51-31-4)
S22 @Boise State (2004 in Boise, 28-27 Broncos. Boise leads series 2-0)
S29 Open
O5 Utah State^ (2010 in Logan, 31-16 Aggies, BYU leads series 43-34-1)
O13 @ Georgia Tech (2003 in Provo, 24-13 Cougars, Series tied 1-1)
O20 @ Notre Dame (2005 in South Bend, IN, 49-23 Irish, Notre Dame leads series 4-2)
O27 Open
N3 Open
N10 Open
N17 Open
N24 Open
D1 Open
TBA-
@ San Jose State ^ (1998 in Provo, 46-43 Cougars. San Jose leads the overall series 9-5)
@ New Mexico State ^ (First meeting will be in in 2011)
Hawaii^ (2002 in Provo, 35-32 Cougars. BYU leads series 19-8)
Idaho^( 1955 in Provo, 49-6 Vandals. Idaho leads series 2-1)
Need 1 more home game.
^Also a 2011 opponent
Available Teams (Teams listed in italics have an hole in the schedule on September 29.)
ACC,
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 4-10 vs. the ACC
The ACC has yet to announce their 2012 conference schedule
-Maryland*
-North Carolina*
-Virginia Tech*
Big 12
Plays 9 conference games
BYU is 15-22-1 against teams that were in the Big 12 in 2010.
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Big East
Plays 8 conference games
Due to the addition of TCU, some Big East football teams are over-scheduled.
BYU is 2-3 vs. the Big East
The Big East has yet to announce their conference schedule
-Cincinnati*
-Rutgers*
-TCU (On the 2011 schedule in Arlington, TX, last meeting 2010 in Fort Worth, 31-3 Frogs, Series tied at 5 wins each)
Big 10
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 3-6-1 vs the Big 10
-Michigan (1984 Holiday Bowl, 24-17 Cougars, only meeting)
Conference USA
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 42-12-1 vs. teams currently in C-USA
Conference USA has yet to announce their 2012 conference schedule
-East Carolina*
-Marshall (1999 Motor City Bowl, 21-3 Herd, only meeting)
-UAB*
-UTEP (2010 New Mexico Bowl, 52-24 Cougars, BYU leads series 29-7-1)
Other Independents
BYU is 3-5 vs. other independents
-Army and Navy have full 2012 schedules
MAC
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 6-3 vs. the MAC
The MAC has yet to announce their 2012 football schedule
-Akron*
-Central Michigan*
-Eastern Michigan*
-Toledo*
-UMass*
Mountain West
Plays 8 conference games, but teams that travel to Hawaii have the 13th game option.
The MWC has yet to announce their 2012 football schedule.
BYU is 230-144-12 vs. the MWC 2010 alignment.
-Nevada (2010 in Provo, 27-13 Wolfpack, BYU leads series 4-2-2)
13th game option:
-UNLV (2010 in Provo, 55-7 Cougars, BYU leads series 15-3)
Pac-12
Plays 9 conference games
BYU is 34-57-1 vs. the PAC-10. (Does not include Utah or Colorado)
The conference has not yet announced all of their 2012 football games but the PAC-12 Rule does not allow non-conference games after October 1st except for Stanford/USC vs. Notre Dame.
-California (2005 Las Vegas Bowl, 38-28 Bears, BYU leads the series 2-1)
-Colorado (1988 Freedom Bowl, 20-17 Cougars, Colorado leads the series 8-3-1)
-Washington State (1990 in Provo, 50-36 BYU Cougars, BYU leads series 2-1)
SEC
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 1-3 vs. the SEC
The SEC has yet to announce their non-conference schedule and the SEC does like to schedule November non-conference home games against opponents they perceive to be weaker. Whether or not that means BYU remains to be seen.
-Alabama (1998 in Tuscaloosa, AL, 38-31 Tide, only meeting)
-Arkansas*
-Auburn*
-Florida*
-Mississippi State (2001 in Starksville, MS, 41-38 Cougars, series tied 1 win each)
-Tennessee*
Sun Belt
Plays 9 conference games
With the addition of South Alabama, some teams are over-scheduled
BYU is 5-2 vs. teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference
-Arkansas State (1996 in Provo, 58-9 Cougars, only meeting)
-Florida Atlantic*
-Louisiana Lafayette*
-Middle Tennessee*
-North Texas (1980 in Provo, 41-23 Cougars, BYU leads series 2-1)
WAC
Plays 6 conference games
BYU is 76-52-5 against the WAC's 2010 alignment.
Note: With 4 WAC (Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State) members on the schedule. It is likely that there will not be another WAC opponent on the 2012 schedule.
-Louisiana Tech*
-Texas San Antonio (Still considered FCS in 2012)*
FCS
Let's all hope that Weber State is the only FCS team the Cougars have to play in 2012.
Removed from the list
Southern Mississippi--Scheduled the Cougars for 2014/15.
Houston--Scheduled for 2013/2014
Tulsa, Fresno State, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, LSU, Nebraska, New Mexico, Indiana, Kentucky, South Florida, South Alabama and Texas State have now completed their 2012 schedule.
Rumors
-Penn State. Penn State has an opening on October 13, the day that BYU is scheduled to play Georgia Tech. BYU's remaining opening are when Penn State has conference games scheduled. The B1G 10 is not likely to move a conference game so that Penn State can travel to Provo to play BYU. Penn State would also have to drop a scheduled non-conference game against Ohio, Virginia, Navy or Temple. This is not likely to happen.
-Boise State/Florida or Alabama. The Broncos could flip the schedule with BYU (play in Provo in 2012 and Boise in 2013) to allow BYU to travel to Florida or Alabama. But Boise does not have the flexibility in their schedule to do this.
What if BYU joins the Big 12 in 2012?
1. It depends on who else the Big 12 adds. It could be that Boise State becomes a conference game. Boise State only remains on the schedule if Boise State is also invited to the Big 12.
2. BYU could ask for a lighter conference schedule in the first season. Instead of playing 8-9 conference games, they play only 7. This will allow them to keep 5 non conference games.
3. The important to BYU games will remain on the schedule. IMHO--This means that @Utah and @Notre Dame remain on the schedule.
4. I believe that Weber State and Utah State also remain. They represent recruiting opportunities for locals and a balance to the schedule. They also appear early in the season.
5. Oregon State might remain because it is rare to play a conference game to open the season.
6. The following games are most likely to be dropped from the schedule to make way for a Big 12 schedule. @Georgia Tech, @San Jose State, @New Mexico State, Hawaii and Idaho. The unannounced game will be dropped as well. If we see Michigan suddenly add New Mexico State, for example, we will know who the unannounced game was against.
Scenario 1, If BYU just replaces TAMU
S1 Oregon State
S8 Weber State
S15 @Utah
S22 Bye
S29 @Oklahoma State
O5 Utah State
O13 @Baylor
O20 @Notre Dame
027 @Missouri
N3 Oklahoma
N10 Kansas State
N17 @Kansas
N24 Bye
D1 Texas
(Note: This is mostly the schedule that Texas A&M had. Utah State is in place of Iowa State. Notre Dame is in place of Texas Tech. Assuming that Texas will host Texas A&M the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Ergo, the Texas game is the following week.)
Scenario 2...If BYU, Boise State and TCU are added.
S1 Oregon State
S8 Weber State
S15 @Utah
S22 Bye
S29 @Oklahoma State
O5 Utah State
O13 Iowa State
O20 @Notre Dame
027 @Missouri
N3 Oklahoma
N10 Kansas State
N17 @Kansas
N24 @Boise State
D1 B12 Championship game, Arlington, TX
(only 2 inter-divisional games...Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, where most of the B12 plays 3)
My current guess:
I am not venturing a guess right now. It is bound to be wrong.
Sources:
FBSchedules.com
BYUCougars.com
College Football Data Warehouse
Someone said that BYU's schedule is almost complete for 2012, but no one knows, despite voracious rumors, who those teams will be. BYU needs now needs only 1 more home game. Who will fill out the schedule?
With the ESPN partnership, teams could change their schedules to play the Cougars. There are also teams that are over-scheduled due to changing conference alignments. Therefore, other games will open up. BYU should fill out their 2012 schedule. Here are the teams, by conference, that need to add a game or two in 2012.
Current 2012 BYU Schedule
S1 Oregon State^ (Last Meeting: 2009 Las Vegas Bowl, 44-20 Cougars. OSU leads the series 5-4)
S8 Weber State (1979 in Provo, 48-3 Cougars, BYU leads series 2-0)
S15 @Utah^ (2010 in Salt Lake City, 17-16 Utes. Utah leads the series 51-31-4)
S22 @Boise State (2004 in Boise, 28-27 Broncos. Boise leads series 2-0)
S29 Open
O5 Utah State^ (2010 in Logan, 31-16 Aggies, BYU leads series 43-34-1)
O13 @ Georgia Tech (2003 in Provo, 24-13 Cougars, Series tied 1-1)
O20 @ Notre Dame (2005 in South Bend, IN, 49-23 Irish, Notre Dame leads series 4-2)
O27 Open
N3 Open
N10 Open
N17 Open
N24 Open
D1 Open
TBA-
@ San Jose State ^ (1998 in Provo, 46-43 Cougars. San Jose leads the overall series 9-5)
@ New Mexico State ^ (First meeting will be in in 2011)
Hawaii^ (2002 in Provo, 35-32 Cougars. BYU leads series 19-8)
Idaho^( 1955 in Provo, 49-6 Vandals. Idaho leads series 2-1)
Need 1 more home game.
^Also a 2011 opponent
Available Teams (Teams listed in italics have an hole in the schedule on September 29.)
ACC,
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 4-10 vs. the ACC
The ACC has yet to announce their 2012 conference schedule
-Maryland*
-North Carolina*
-Virginia Tech*
Big 12
Plays 9 conference games
BYU is 15-22-1 against teams that were in the Big 12 in 2010.
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Big East
Plays 8 conference games
Due to the addition of TCU, some Big East football teams are over-scheduled.
BYU is 2-3 vs. the Big East
The Big East has yet to announce their conference schedule
-Cincinnati*
-Rutgers*
-TCU (On the 2011 schedule in Arlington, TX, last meeting 2010 in Fort Worth, 31-3 Frogs, Series tied at 5 wins each)
Big 10
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 3-6-1 vs the Big 10
-Michigan (1984 Holiday Bowl, 24-17 Cougars, only meeting)
Conference USA
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 42-12-1 vs. teams currently in C-USA
Conference USA has yet to announce their 2012 conference schedule
-East Carolina*
-Marshall (1999 Motor City Bowl, 21-3 Herd, only meeting)
-UAB*
-UTEP (2010 New Mexico Bowl, 52-24 Cougars, BYU leads series 29-7-1)
Other Independents
BYU is 3-5 vs. other independents
-Army and Navy have full 2012 schedules
MAC
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 6-3 vs. the MAC
The MAC has yet to announce their 2012 football schedule
-Akron*
-Central Michigan*
-Eastern Michigan*
-Toledo*
-UMass*
Mountain West
Plays 8 conference games, but teams that travel to Hawaii have the 13th game option.
The MWC has yet to announce their 2012 football schedule.
BYU is 230-144-12 vs. the MWC 2010 alignment.
-Nevada (2010 in Provo, 27-13 Wolfpack, BYU leads series 4-2-2)
13th game option:
-UNLV (2010 in Provo, 55-7 Cougars, BYU leads series 15-3)
Pac-12
Plays 9 conference games
BYU is 34-57-1 vs. the PAC-10. (Does not include Utah or Colorado)
The conference has not yet announced all of their 2012 football games but the PAC-12 Rule does not allow non-conference games after October 1st except for Stanford/USC vs. Notre Dame.
-California (2005 Las Vegas Bowl, 38-28 Bears, BYU leads the series 2-1)
-Colorado (1988 Freedom Bowl, 20-17 Cougars, Colorado leads the series 8-3-1)
-Washington State (1990 in Provo, 50-36 BYU Cougars, BYU leads series 2-1)
SEC
Plays 8 conference games
BYU is 1-3 vs. the SEC
The SEC has yet to announce their non-conference schedule and the SEC does like to schedule November non-conference home games against opponents they perceive to be weaker. Whether or not that means BYU remains to be seen.
-Alabama (1998 in Tuscaloosa, AL, 38-31 Tide, only meeting)
-Arkansas*
-Auburn*
-Florida*
-Mississippi State (2001 in Starksville, MS, 41-38 Cougars, series tied 1 win each)
-Tennessee*
Sun Belt
Plays 9 conference games
With the addition of South Alabama, some teams are over-scheduled
BYU is 5-2 vs. teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference
-Arkansas State (1996 in Provo, 58-9 Cougars, only meeting)
-Florida Atlantic*
-Louisiana Lafayette*
-Middle Tennessee*
-North Texas (1980 in Provo, 41-23 Cougars, BYU leads series 2-1)
WAC
Plays 6 conference games
BYU is 76-52-5 against the WAC's 2010 alignment.
Note: With 4 WAC (Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State) members on the schedule. It is likely that there will not be another WAC opponent on the 2012 schedule.
-Louisiana Tech*
-Texas San Antonio (Still considered FCS in 2012)*
FCS
Let's all hope that Weber State is the only FCS team the Cougars have to play in 2012.
Removed from the list
Southern Mississippi--Scheduled the Cougars for 2014/15.
Houston--Scheduled for 2013/2014
Tulsa, Fresno State, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, LSU, Nebraska, New Mexico, Indiana, Kentucky, South Florida, South Alabama and Texas State have now completed their 2012 schedule.
Rumors
-Penn State. Penn State has an opening on October 13, the day that BYU is scheduled to play Georgia Tech. BYU's remaining opening are when Penn State has conference games scheduled. The B1G 10 is not likely to move a conference game so that Penn State can travel to Provo to play BYU. Penn State would also have to drop a scheduled non-conference game against Ohio, Virginia, Navy or Temple. This is not likely to happen.
-Boise State/Florida or Alabama. The Broncos could flip the schedule with BYU (play in Provo in 2012 and Boise in 2013) to allow BYU to travel to Florida or Alabama. But Boise does not have the flexibility in their schedule to do this.
What if BYU joins the Big 12 in 2012?
1. It depends on who else the Big 12 adds. It could be that Boise State becomes a conference game. Boise State only remains on the schedule if Boise State is also invited to the Big 12.
2. BYU could ask for a lighter conference schedule in the first season. Instead of playing 8-9 conference games, they play only 7. This will allow them to keep 5 non conference games.
3. The important to BYU games will remain on the schedule. IMHO--This means that @Utah and @Notre Dame remain on the schedule.
4. I believe that Weber State and Utah State also remain. They represent recruiting opportunities for locals and a balance to the schedule. They also appear early in the season.
5. Oregon State might remain because it is rare to play a conference game to open the season.
6. The following games are most likely to be dropped from the schedule to make way for a Big 12 schedule. @Georgia Tech, @San Jose State, @New Mexico State, Hawaii and Idaho. The unannounced game will be dropped as well. If we see Michigan suddenly add New Mexico State, for example, we will know who the unannounced game was against.
Scenario 1, If BYU just replaces TAMU
S1 Oregon State
S8 Weber State
S15 @Utah
S22 Bye
S29 @Oklahoma State
O5 Utah State
O13 @Baylor
O20 @Notre Dame
027 @Missouri
N3 Oklahoma
N10 Kansas State
N17 @Kansas
N24 Bye
D1 Texas
(Note: This is mostly the schedule that Texas A&M had. Utah State is in place of Iowa State. Notre Dame is in place of Texas Tech. Assuming that Texas will host Texas A&M the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Ergo, the Texas game is the following week.)
Scenario 2...If BYU, Boise State and TCU are added.
S1 Oregon State
S8 Weber State
S15 @Utah
S22 Bye
S29 @Oklahoma State
O5 Utah State
O13 Iowa State
O20 @Notre Dame
027 @Missouri
N3 Oklahoma
N10 Kansas State
N17 @Kansas
N24 @Boise State
D1 B12 Championship game, Arlington, TX
(only 2 inter-divisional games...Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, where most of the B12 plays 3)
My current guess:
I am not venturing a guess right now. It is bound to be wrong.
Sources:
FBSchedules.com
BYUCougars.com
College Football Data Warehouse
Saving the WAC -- What will happen if Utah State is forced to join the Big Sky Conference
Gary Anderson has worked very hard in Logan and should be commended for the job he is doing as Utah State's head football coach. He has put together and exciting team with a solid defense and with Robert Turpin in the backfield, I expect to see the Aggies go bowling in 2011 and contend for the WAC Championship in 2012. It would be a shame to see the WAC fold as a football conference and the Aggies relegated to the Football Championship Subdivision.
In a recent speech, Big Sky Commissioner, Doug Fullerton said he was only 60% joking when he said that the door was open for Utah State and Idaho for the Big Sky Conference. Then Fullerton when to list the benefits of the FCS. First, is not having to compete with schools with a larger athletic budget. Second, it the chance that everyone has to play for a championship. But he did not touch on what schools lose when their programs are downgraded. What is in store for the Utah State should they be forced to join the Big Sky Conference?
1. A loss of rivalries. Much has been made about Utah not playing Utah State in basketball. If Utah State is downgraded, they will not be playing Utah in football either. They will also not be playing the team Aggie fans love to hate--BYU. The Big Sky conference, who has not broken into divisions, assigns "rivals" that football teams play every season and will rotate who the teams plays otherwise. If Utah State and Idaho join the Big Sky, Utah State will likely be assigned Idaho and Weber State as "rivals" and play everyone else on a rotating basis. I doubt that Utah State fans will get as excited about playing Weber State every season as they do about playing BYU every season.
2. Loss of revenue. Obviously, Utah State will see fewer fans at Romney Stadium if they were downgraded. USU's best attended games are against the Cougars and the Utes. There will be fewer fans come out to watch them play Weber State and Idaho State. Plus, when Utah State does play the money game at the like of Oklahoma, their take home will be less than half of what it is now. Yes, expenses will drop, but they may not drop as much as revenue will.
3. A loss of scholarships. Yes, the expenses are lower at the lower subdivision, but there is a reason for that. The lower subdivision sponsors fewer sports and therefore has fewer athletic scholarships. Utah State will likely have to drop a women's sports program, like swimming, if they were to downgrade their football program because of the loss of revenue from football. If Utah State is downgraded, about 50 athletes will be told that they will need to find funding for their education through other means. Only half of those athletes will be football players. Only half of those athletes will be men. Title IX has it's downside, too.
4. Loss of basketball prestige. Even with the addition of Texas Arlington and their ultra-low RPI, the WAC is still slightly improved in Basketball, while the Mountain West Conference drops a little. The reason is that Fresno State and Hawaii, while good football programs, are awful at basketball. Boise State is inconsistent and Nevada is not what they used to be. On a good year, the WAC still could get two teams into the NCAA 68, while the Mountain West drops from a 3-bid conference to a 2-bid conference. In the mean time, it will take a Gonzaga-like rise from someone in the Big Sky to lift them to a two-bid conference. Utah State would not make the Big Sky Conference a two-bid conference, because the rest of the conference is weak. They will always be a one-bid conference. If Utah State were in the Big Sky as long a Stew Morrill is coaching the Aggies, that team would be Utah State.
Mountain West--2011 average RPI--95 (7th Best Conference)
WAC--2011 average RPI--156 (14th Best Conference)
Big Sky--2011 average RPI--223 (23rd Best Conference)
Mountain West--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--112 (-17) (Drops from 7th to 8th best)
WAC--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--155 (+1) (14th Best Conference)Big Sky--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--233 (-10) (23rd Best)
5. Academic Prestige. If you do not count UC Davis and Cal Poly, who are football only Big Sky members and part of the Big West Conference, the WAC is a better academic conference than the Big Sky. Academically, Idaho and Utah State are the class of the WAC. I know that people are going to argue that the Big Sky is a better academic conference than the WAC, but again, I argue, only because of Cal Poly and UC Davis.
One advantage that the Big Sky had over the WAC is almost gone. Travel...the WAC no longer has Hawaii and the Big Sky has added North Dakota. The footprints of the two conferences are similar, but the WAC is still slightly larger.
Doug Fullerton's speech in Ogden the other day is, to me, like selling someone a house in Glendale when one can afford a house in Sugarhouse and saying, "look on the bright side, at least you are don't have to keep up with the Jones' in Federal Heights." Even in a weakened WAC, there will be no asterix beside a Utah State Championship because Boise State is not there. A conference championship and a bowl game are positives that no one can take away no matter what conference they are in.
In a recent speech, Big Sky Commissioner, Doug Fullerton said he was only 60% joking when he said that the door was open for Utah State and Idaho for the Big Sky Conference. Then Fullerton when to list the benefits of the FCS. First, is not having to compete with schools with a larger athletic budget. Second, it the chance that everyone has to play for a championship. But he did not touch on what schools lose when their programs are downgraded. What is in store for the Utah State should they be forced to join the Big Sky Conference?
1. A loss of rivalries. Much has been made about Utah not playing Utah State in basketball. If Utah State is downgraded, they will not be playing Utah in football either. They will also not be playing the team Aggie fans love to hate--BYU. The Big Sky conference, who has not broken into divisions, assigns "rivals" that football teams play every season and will rotate who the teams plays otherwise. If Utah State and Idaho join the Big Sky, Utah State will likely be assigned Idaho and Weber State as "rivals" and play everyone else on a rotating basis. I doubt that Utah State fans will get as excited about playing Weber State every season as they do about playing BYU every season.
2. Loss of revenue. Obviously, Utah State will see fewer fans at Romney Stadium if they were downgraded. USU's best attended games are against the Cougars and the Utes. There will be fewer fans come out to watch them play Weber State and Idaho State. Plus, when Utah State does play the money game at the like of Oklahoma, their take home will be less than half of what it is now. Yes, expenses will drop, but they may not drop as much as revenue will.
3. A loss of scholarships. Yes, the expenses are lower at the lower subdivision, but there is a reason for that. The lower subdivision sponsors fewer sports and therefore has fewer athletic scholarships. Utah State will likely have to drop a women's sports program, like swimming, if they were to downgrade their football program because of the loss of revenue from football. If Utah State is downgraded, about 50 athletes will be told that they will need to find funding for their education through other means. Only half of those athletes will be football players. Only half of those athletes will be men. Title IX has it's downside, too.
4. Loss of basketball prestige. Even with the addition of Texas Arlington and their ultra-low RPI, the WAC is still slightly improved in Basketball, while the Mountain West Conference drops a little. The reason is that Fresno State and Hawaii, while good football programs, are awful at basketball. Boise State is inconsistent and Nevada is not what they used to be. On a good year, the WAC still could get two teams into the NCAA 68, while the Mountain West drops from a 3-bid conference to a 2-bid conference. In the mean time, it will take a Gonzaga-like rise from someone in the Big Sky to lift them to a two-bid conference. Utah State would not make the Big Sky Conference a two-bid conference, because the rest of the conference is weak. They will always be a one-bid conference. If Utah State were in the Big Sky as long a Stew Morrill is coaching the Aggies, that team would be Utah State.
Mountain West--2011 average RPI--95 (7th Best Conference)
WAC--2011 average RPI--156 (14th Best Conference)
Big Sky--2011 average RPI--223 (23rd Best Conference)
Mountain West--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--112 (-17) (Drops from 7th to 8th best)
WAC--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--155 (+1) (14th Best Conference)Big Sky--Projected RPI based on 2012/13 alignment--233 (-10) (23rd Best)
5. Academic Prestige. If you do not count UC Davis and Cal Poly, who are football only Big Sky members and part of the Big West Conference, the WAC is a better academic conference than the Big Sky. Academically, Idaho and Utah State are the class of the WAC. I know that people are going to argue that the Big Sky is a better academic conference than the WAC, but again, I argue, only because of Cal Poly and UC Davis.
One advantage that the Big Sky had over the WAC is almost gone. Travel...the WAC no longer has Hawaii and the Big Sky has added North Dakota. The footprints of the two conferences are similar, but the WAC is still slightly larger.
Doug Fullerton's speech in Ogden the other day is, to me, like selling someone a house in Glendale when one can afford a house in Sugarhouse and saying, "look on the bright side, at least you are don't have to keep up with the Jones' in Federal Heights." Even in a weakened WAC, there will be no asterix beside a Utah State Championship because Boise State is not there. A conference championship and a bowl game are positives that no one can take away no matter what conference they are in.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Disbanding the WAC--How to do it right...
The admission of Texas Arlington as a non-football schools seems to have disappointed a lot of people left in WAC-land. At least many are scratching their collective heads. Perhaps the time has come to transition the august conference into a basketball-only conference. Between the West Coast and Omaha, such a conference does not exist. There is not one in Texas, either. Many of the basketball only schools in Texas compete in the Southland or other conferences as non-football schools.
Step 1 in disbanding the WAC...
Announce intentions to continue as a non-football conference and invite additional non-football schools to join. As long as there are eight members, an automatic NCAA bid can be maintained. The WAC would continue with...
Cal State Bakersfield
Denver
Seattle
Texas Arlington
Utah Valley
Texas Pan-American
Houston Baptist
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Step 2--West Half of the WAC joins with FBS ready schools from the Big Sky.
There are 5 members of the Big Sky Conference that are ready to move to the FBS in the near future. They can join up with the Western members of the WAC for a new FBS conference and can take over as the conference feeding the Humanitarian Bowl. This new conference could include
From the WAC
Idaho
New Mexico State
Utah State
San Jose State
From the Big Sky Conference
Cal Poly
UC Davis
Sacramento State
Northern Arizona
Weber State
These 5 schools already sponsor enough sports and have the facilities...except for UC Davis and Cal Poly football Stadia, to move to the FBS.
This new conference can resurrect a name from the past...the Skyline Conference
Step 3...
Louisiana Tech
UTSA
Texas State
Join the Sun Belt Conference.
Step 4...
The Big Sky Conference is now at 8. (13-5=8) Which is a good size for an FCS Conference. They will not need to make any membership changes.
Eastern Washington
Idaho State
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
Northern Colorado
Portland State
Southern Utah
What do you think...win/win?
Step 1 in disbanding the WAC...
Announce intentions to continue as a non-football conference and invite additional non-football schools to join. As long as there are eight members, an automatic NCAA bid can be maintained. The WAC would continue with...
Cal State Bakersfield
Denver
Seattle
Texas Arlington
Utah Valley
Texas Pan-American
Houston Baptist
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Step 2--West Half of the WAC joins with FBS ready schools from the Big Sky.
There are 5 members of the Big Sky Conference that are ready to move to the FBS in the near future. They can join up with the Western members of the WAC for a new FBS conference and can take over as the conference feeding the Humanitarian Bowl. This new conference could include
From the WAC
Idaho
New Mexico State
Utah State
San Jose State
From the Big Sky Conference
Cal Poly
UC Davis
Sacramento State
Northern Arizona
Weber State
These 5 schools already sponsor enough sports and have the facilities...except for UC Davis and Cal Poly football Stadia, to move to the FBS.
This new conference can resurrect a name from the past...the Skyline Conference
Step 3...
Louisiana Tech
UTSA
Texas State
Join the Sun Belt Conference.
Step 4...
The Big Sky Conference is now at 8. (13-5=8) Which is a good size for an FCS Conference. They will not need to make any membership changes.
Eastern Washington
Idaho State
Montana
Montana State
North Dakota
Northern Colorado
Portland State
Southern Utah
What do you think...win/win?
Saving the WAC?...I'm changing my mind.
I was in support of the WAC until they added UTA. The more I look into adding UTA, the more I think this is a bad decision on the part of WAC presidents.
Here is what UTA brings to the table.
-An RPI of 268 in men's basketball. This would be dead last in the current WAC, but still beats Seattle's 270. (Source, USA today.)
-Seattle's Average Attendance was 3,500. UTA had and average attendance of 756
(Source, NCAA)
Come one, Karl Benson, there are Division III and NAIA schools with better attendance!
Yes, they are building a new arena, but they could be playing in Cowboy Stadium, just down the road from UTA and still have an attendance of 756. Utah Valley was a little better at 1300.
Is this the vision that Karl Benson has for the new WAC? Is this what Utah State wants? A second rate basketball league that will be dominated by a pair of Aggies every season? That is what the WAC is becoming.
Perhaps it is indeed time to take the old boy off of life support!
Here is what UTA brings to the table.
-An RPI of 268 in men's basketball. This would be dead last in the current WAC, but still beats Seattle's 270. (Source, USA today.)
-Seattle's Average Attendance was 3,500. UTA had and average attendance of 756
(Source, NCAA)
Come one, Karl Benson, there are Division III and NAIA schools with better attendance!
Yes, they are building a new arena, but they could be playing in Cowboy Stadium, just down the road from UTA and still have an attendance of 756. Utah Valley was a little better at 1300.
Is this the vision that Karl Benson has for the new WAC? Is this what Utah State wants? A second rate basketball league that will be dominated by a pair of Aggies every season? That is what the WAC is becoming.
Perhaps it is indeed time to take the old boy off of life support!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
BYU and The BCS...Building a New Conference?
If BYU decides that independence is moderately successful, but finds it easier to be in a football conference, there is a way that they should go about doing it. BYU would not want to build a replica of what the Mountain West used to be, because there were too many weak schools for BCS auto inclusion. Are there enough building blocks in the Western 2/5 of the US to build a BCS worthy conference? Let's examine the issue...
Step 1.
BYU and TCU get together and decide to build a BCS worthy conference so that TCU can leave the Big East and save on travel expenses.
Step 2.
BYU and TCU, both private schools, decide to invite other private schools from Texas and Oklahoma...
Add Tulsa, SMU and Rice.
This puts the conference membership at 5. The other schools that are added to the conference will need to understand that this is primarily a conference for private schools.
Step 3.
To ensure BCS access, add the best non-BCS schools in the West...
Add Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada
This puts the conference membership at 8.
Step 4.
Add Air Force to continue to strengthen the Football membership and add a level of credibility that only a service academy can provide.
This puts the conference membership at 9.
Step 5.
To ensure that Nevada is solidly in the loop, and to add a bowl game and an additional NCAA basketball slot add UNLV.
This puts the conference membership at 10.
Step 6
This is now a decent football conference, and maybe even a BCS AQ conference. But there are only two NCAA tournament bids. Add 3 private, but good basketball, non-football schools to ensure an additional NCAA tournament bid.
Add Creighton and Drake
Football members 10, basketball members 12 (7 private, 1 military academy, 4 public). 1 former independent, 1 Big East, 3 Conference USA, 4 MWC and 2 Missouri Valley.
Step 1.
BYU and TCU get together and decide to build a BCS worthy conference so that TCU can leave the Big East and save on travel expenses.
Step 2.
BYU and TCU, both private schools, decide to invite other private schools from Texas and Oklahoma...
Add Tulsa, SMU and Rice.
This puts the conference membership at 5. The other schools that are added to the conference will need to understand that this is primarily a conference for private schools.
Step 3.
To ensure BCS access, add the best non-BCS schools in the West...
Add Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada
This puts the conference membership at 8.
Step 4.
Add Air Force to continue to strengthen the Football membership and add a level of credibility that only a service academy can provide.
This puts the conference membership at 9.
Step 5.
To ensure that Nevada is solidly in the loop, and to add a bowl game and an additional NCAA basketball slot add UNLV.
This puts the conference membership at 10.
Step 6
This is now a decent football conference, and maybe even a BCS AQ conference. But there are only two NCAA tournament bids. Add 3 private, but good basketball, non-football schools to ensure an additional NCAA tournament bid.
Add Creighton and Drake
Football members 10, basketball members 12 (7 private, 1 military academy, 4 public). 1 former independent, 1 Big East, 3 Conference USA, 4 MWC and 2 Missouri Valley.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Saving the WAC Update--UTA reported invited to the WAC
I was enjoying an afternoon at Pineview with my family, when I found out about reports that Texas Arlington has been invited to the WAC. It is assumed that UTA will join the WAC as the third non-football school, although the Mavericks have studied returning to the gridiron.
UTA is not a surprise addition, with the WAC hoping to keep UTSA and Louisiana Tech in the fold. But they also recently passed on Utah Valley and Cal State Bakersfield because they do not have football programs. It may be a surprise that the WAC is adding a basketball-only school that is in the same market where SMU, TCU and North Texas struggle to get fans into their arenas and play in the shadow of the World Champion Dallas Mavericks. It will be interesting to see how this works out this coming week.
I agree with the commenter below. Yes, it is a big market, but UTA is a small fish in a very big pond and may not be the best addition to the WAC. They are not like Seattle, who will be playing in and abandoned NBA arena. Nor will they be like UTSA, playing football in an NFL stadium that was never used for that purpose on a permanent basis. I believe Utah Valley or CS Bakersfield would be better choices.
7/13/2011 update...
Indications are the UTA is planning to revive their football program after they are formally admitted to the WAC. We will find out for certain tomorrow.
UTA is not a surprise addition, with the WAC hoping to keep UTSA and Louisiana Tech in the fold. But they also recently passed on Utah Valley and Cal State Bakersfield because they do not have football programs. It may be a surprise that the WAC is adding a basketball-only school that is in the same market where SMU, TCU and North Texas struggle to get fans into their arenas and play in the shadow of the World Champion Dallas Mavericks. It will be interesting to see how this works out this coming week.
I agree with the commenter below. Yes, it is a big market, but UTA is a small fish in a very big pond and may not be the best addition to the WAC. They are not like Seattle, who will be playing in and abandoned NBA arena. Nor will they be like UTSA, playing football in an NFL stadium that was never used for that purpose on a permanent basis. I believe Utah Valley or CS Bakersfield would be better choices.
7/13/2011 update...
Indications are the UTA is planning to revive their football program after they are formally admitted to the WAC. We will find out for certain tomorrow.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
What is BYU's plan B?
There has to be a plan B if independence fails, otherwise it would have been completely foolhardy to pursue it. For a while, when the WAC was still in tact, that would have been and acceptable plan B. It did not seem to be bad for Boise State to be in the same conference as Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii. And, they will be again. But it is doubtful, should BYU's independence fail, that they could go back on their hands and knees to the MWC, the same people that said, "don't let the door hit your but on the way out."
There are five options that I can think of if BYU's plans for independence crash and burn.
1. Join the WAC. Of course, the WAC is not what it used to be, but even a weakened BYU program could provide a building block for a better future.
2. Rebuild the Big West Football Conference. Perhaps BYU's reputation won't be soiled enough with a failed independence to help bring football back to Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara or Pacific. Of course, this would still be a better option if UC Davis and Cal Poly moved up to the FCS, if Hawaii put all of their sports in the Big West and if Utah State and Idaho joined the fray as well.
3. Conference USA or Sun Belt may be interested in the Cougars if they had to join a conference again.
4. Start a new conference. This would be a better option if TCU decides that the Big East isn't working for them. BYU/TCU could bring in some other schools, such as Boise State and Air Force and perhaps break the BCS ceiling.
5. Downgrade to the FCS. Of course, that would represent a total failure of independence.
How to tell if Independence is failing?
-ESPN forces BYU to schedule games on Tuesday/Wednesday or drops them altogether.
-Continued scheduling of creme puffs late in the season.
-More than 2 FCS teams appear on the schedule.
-Drops in ticket sales at LaVell Edwards.
There are five options that I can think of if BYU's plans for independence crash and burn.
1. Join the WAC. Of course, the WAC is not what it used to be, but even a weakened BYU program could provide a building block for a better future.
2. Rebuild the Big West Football Conference. Perhaps BYU's reputation won't be soiled enough with a failed independence to help bring football back to Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara or Pacific. Of course, this would still be a better option if UC Davis and Cal Poly moved up to the FCS, if Hawaii put all of their sports in the Big West and if Utah State and Idaho joined the fray as well.
3. Conference USA or Sun Belt may be interested in the Cougars if they had to join a conference again.
4. Start a new conference. This would be a better option if TCU decides that the Big East isn't working for them. BYU/TCU could bring in some other schools, such as Boise State and Air Force and perhaps break the BCS ceiling.
5. Downgrade to the FCS. Of course, that would represent a total failure of independence.
How to tell if Independence is failing?
-ESPN forces BYU to schedule games on Tuesday/Wednesday or drops them altogether.
-Continued scheduling of creme puffs late in the season.
-More than 2 FCS teams appear on the schedule.
-Drops in ticket sales at LaVell Edwards.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
BYU's 2011/12 basketball non-conference schedule released.
BYU has announced their 2011/12 non-conference basketball schedule.
O26 Tipoff Classic (Blue and White Game)
O28 Midwestern State (DII Exhibition)
N4 Dixie State (DII Exhibition)
N11 @Utah State (Logan, Utah)
N15 BYU-Hawaii (Provo, Utah)
N18 Longwood (Provo, Utah--Chicago Invitational Opening Round)
N22 Prairie View A&M (Provo, Utah--Chicago Invitational Opening Round)
N25 Nevada (Chicago, Illinois--Chicago Invitational)*
N26 Bradley or Wisconsin (Chicago, Illinois--Chicago Invitational Final)*
N30 Northern Arizona (Prescott Valley, AZ)*
D3 Oregon (Salt Lake City, Utah)*
D7 Weber State (Provo, Utah)
D10 @Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)
D17 Baylor (Provo, Utah)
D20 Buffalo (Provo, Utah)
D22 UC Santa Barbara (Provo, Utah)
D27 Cal State San Marcos (Provo, Utah)
D29 (West Coast Conference Play Begins)
J25 @Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia)
*Denotes a neutral-site game.
By Conference:
WAC-2
Pacific West-2 (DII--One counts (BYU-Hawaii) and the other is an exhibition (Dixie State).)
Big Sky 2
PAC-12 2
Big 12-1
MAC-1
Big West-1
ACC-1
Lone Star-1 (DII--Does not count in the standings)
Independent-1
Southland-1
Missouri Valley or Big 10-1
NAIA Independent-1 (Counts in the standings)
O26 Tipoff Classic (Blue and White Game)
O28 Midwestern State (DII Exhibition)
N4 Dixie State (DII Exhibition)
N11 @Utah State (Logan, Utah)
N15 BYU-Hawaii (Provo, Utah)
N18 Longwood (Provo, Utah--Chicago Invitational Opening Round)
N22 Prairie View A&M (Provo, Utah--Chicago Invitational Opening Round)
N25 Nevada (Chicago, Illinois--Chicago Invitational)*
N26 Bradley or Wisconsin (Chicago, Illinois--Chicago Invitational Final)*
N30 Northern Arizona (Prescott Valley, AZ)*
D3 Oregon (Salt Lake City, Utah)*
D7 Weber State (Provo, Utah)
D10 @Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)
D17 Baylor (Provo, Utah)
D20 Buffalo (Provo, Utah)
D22 UC Santa Barbara (Provo, Utah)
D27 Cal State San Marcos (Provo, Utah)
D29 (West Coast Conference Play Begins)
J25 @Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia)
*Denotes a neutral-site game.
By Conference:
WAC-2
Pacific West-2 (DII--One counts (BYU-Hawaii) and the other is an exhibition (Dixie State).)
Big Sky 2
PAC-12 2
Big 12-1
MAC-1
Big West-1
ACC-1
Lone Star-1 (DII--Does not count in the standings)
Independent-1
Southland-1
Missouri Valley or Big 10-1
NAIA Independent-1 (Counts in the standings)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Happy Independence Day and PAC-12 day
With all of the positive, there is a ton of negative. Here is the negative.
Stuff that Utah fans will have to live with while Chris Hill counts his money.
-BYU will play in their first BCS bowl before Utah plays in their third.
-Utah State will win their next conference championship before Utah.
-Weber State and Southern Utah still have an easier shot at a national championship than Utah. They have a playoff.
Stuff that BYU fans have to live with while Tom Holmoe counts his money.
-The West Coast Conference will still get fewer NCAA bids than the Mountain West.
-Even though the Mountain West will not get BCS AQ status, they still have an easier shot at the BCS than BYU.
-It will always be difficult for BYU to have a balanced schedule as an independent.
-Utah will likely bring in twice as much money as BYU does.
-One day, BYU will be in a football conference again. It may not be the Big 12.
Stuff that Utah State fans will have to live with while Chris Hill and Tom Holmoe count their money.
-The WAC will teeter on the edge of existence until bigger conferences stop expanding.
-Utah State will likely never be in the Mountain West Conference. Unless they can become a consistent winner in football like they were in the 60s and 70s.
-One way or another, Utah State and Weber State will someday be in the same conference.
Stuff that all Utah Sports fans will have to deal with while Chris Hill and Tom Holmoe count their money.
-Utah and BYU will never again be in the same conference.
-There will be football seasons when BYU and Utah will not meet on the gridiron.
-One day, Utah and BYU will meet in a bowl game and not in the regular season.
-Utah State fans will always find a reason to HATE BYU.
-Someone from the State of Utah will be in the Final Four before the Jazz make the NBA Finals again.
Stuff that Utah fans will have to live with while Chris Hill counts his money.
-BYU will play in their first BCS bowl before Utah plays in their third.
-Utah State will win their next conference championship before Utah.
-Weber State and Southern Utah still have an easier shot at a national championship than Utah. They have a playoff.
Stuff that BYU fans have to live with while Tom Holmoe counts his money.
-The West Coast Conference will still get fewer NCAA bids than the Mountain West.
-Even though the Mountain West will not get BCS AQ status, they still have an easier shot at the BCS than BYU.
-It will always be difficult for BYU to have a balanced schedule as an independent.
-Utah will likely bring in twice as much money as BYU does.
-One day, BYU will be in a football conference again. It may not be the Big 12.
Stuff that Utah State fans will have to live with while Chris Hill and Tom Holmoe count their money.
-The WAC will teeter on the edge of existence until bigger conferences stop expanding.
-Utah State will likely never be in the Mountain West Conference. Unless they can become a consistent winner in football like they were in the 60s and 70s.
-One way or another, Utah State and Weber State will someday be in the same conference.
Stuff that all Utah Sports fans will have to deal with while Chris Hill and Tom Holmoe count their money.
-Utah and BYU will never again be in the same conference.
-There will be football seasons when BYU and Utah will not meet on the gridiron.
-One day, Utah and BYU will meet in a bowl game and not in the regular season.
-Utah State fans will always find a reason to HATE BYU.
-Someone from the State of Utah will be in the Final Four before the Jazz make the NBA Finals again.
Saving the WAC...The Return of Big West Conference Football?
I have floated a couple of scenarios on this blog. One was a Big Sky FBS/FCS split. My new scenario, and this is my theory only, is the return of the Big West Conference in football. This could provide a place for 3 WAC schools should the WAC break up due to the loss of Louisiana Tech and/or UTSA.
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What needs to happen in order football to return to the Big West? At least seven football members are needed.
FBS Scenario
1. At least two current Big West members need to return to the gridiron at the FBS level. (ie, 15,000 in attendance, 16 sports, 80% scholarship ratio, etc.) (Football members 2)
2. Hawaii would need to move football to the Big West. They will join the MWC in football in 2012 and have the rest of their sports in the Big West Conference. (Football members 3)
3. Cal Poly and UC Davis must both upgrade football programs to FBS status. (Football members 5)
4. Idaho and Utah State rejoin the Big West Conference (Football members 7)
Bonus Step
-San Jose State and/or Sacramento State join the Big West Conference. (Football members 9)
This could put the Big West at 16 overall schools and 9 football schools
FCS Scenario
1. At least three Big West schools bring back football at the FCS level (Football members 3).
2. Cal Poly and UC Davis move football programs to the Big West from the Big Sky (Football members 5).
3. At least 2 Big Sky Conference teams join the Big West--namely Sacramento State and Portland State (Football members 7)
-Bonus
-Add 1 additional Big Sky member.
This could put the Big West at 12 overall schools with 8 FCS football schools. At worst, the Big Sky would be left with 8.
Impact on the WAC?
Bringing Big West Football at the FBS level would be a death-nail for the WAC if it included Utah State, Idaho and San Jose State. The remaining schools would need to find another conference to join. (I will not address that scenario at this time.)
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What needs to happen in order football to return to the Big West? At least seven football members are needed.
FBS Scenario
1. At least two current Big West members need to return to the gridiron at the FBS level. (ie, 15,000 in attendance, 16 sports, 80% scholarship ratio, etc.) (Football members 2)
2. Hawaii would need to move football to the Big West. They will join the MWC in football in 2012 and have the rest of their sports in the Big West Conference. (Football members 3)
3. Cal Poly and UC Davis must both upgrade football programs to FBS status. (Football members 5)
4. Idaho and Utah State rejoin the Big West Conference (Football members 7)
Bonus Step
-San Jose State and/or Sacramento State join the Big West Conference. (Football members 9)
This could put the Big West at 16 overall schools and 9 football schools
FCS Scenario
1. At least three Big West schools bring back football at the FCS level (Football members 3).
2. Cal Poly and UC Davis move football programs to the Big West from the Big Sky (Football members 5).
3. At least 2 Big Sky Conference teams join the Big West--namely Sacramento State and Portland State (Football members 7)
-Bonus
-Add 1 additional Big Sky member.
This could put the Big West at 12 overall schools with 8 FCS football schools. At worst, the Big Sky would be left with 8.
Impact on the WAC?
Bringing Big West Football at the FBS level would be a death-nail for the WAC if it included Utah State, Idaho and San Jose State. The remaining schools would need to find another conference to join. (I will not address that scenario at this time.)
Saving the WAC...July 2011 Update
The WAC may be missing a golden opportunity to rebuild. There are efforts at several schools, mostly through alumni drives, to bring football back to former Big West Conference campuses. This is too bad, because there is serious talk of bringing back Big West Conference Football at the FCS level. This could also be also be a threat (?) to the current state of the Big Sky Conference as Cal Poly and UC Davis are full-time members of the Big West Conference in their non-football sports. Cal Poly and UC Davis could drop their football affiliation in a heartbeat should the more travel friendly Big West Conference bring back football.
Here is an update on the efforts in these campuses to return to the gridiron...
Cal State University Fullerton
The spring saw a petition drive among the student body in Fullerton to bring back football. So far, the petition drive to bring the idea of bringing back football has not resulted in an election. Efforts are ongoing. If they were to bring back football, there is an on-campus stadium that seats 10,000, but it would be easy enough and cost effective enough to double the size.
http://www.bringbacktitanfootball.com/
Long Beach State
There is a vote pending before the student body in Long Beach to bring back football, but they do not have a stadium...which the athletic director admits would be the biggest obstacle. The 49ers used to play at Anaheim Stadium with the Rams. But that stadium has now been converted into baseball-only Edison Field and is likely not an option any longer. A recent student body referendum failed by just a few votes, but supporters are trying to get another vote together. The "Bring Back 49er Football" Facebook page is about to be archived.
http://bringback49erfootball.blogspot.com/2011/02/bring-back-49er-football-campaign.html
Pacific
Right now, the efforts in Stockton are not as far along as the efforts in Long Beach or Fullerton, but they are still active.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
Cal State Northridge (Former Big Sky Conference Member)
There will be a vote on campus this fall to bring football back to Northridge. CS Northridge is the only school on this list that was never an FBS program. They were members of the Big Sky Conference. The others were members of the Big West Conference until the early 90s.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
UC Irvine
The efforts to bring back football are not all that active..but I did find a website.
http://www.wix.com/chips315/anteaters#!
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara is one of the few non-football schools that turns an athletic profit. Their men's soccer program is very popular. Efforts to bring football back are only just beginning, but football at UC Santa Barbara is probably more realistic than at any other California school because they would have a place to play right away.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
UC Riverside
The Athletic director at UC Riverside says that there will never be football again on this campus, unless a "sugar daddy" provided some substantial "seed money".
http://www.athletics.ucr.edu/askstan/askstan5502.html
(Non-California School)
Wichita State
There is an on-line petition drive to bring back football to Wichita State, but they are well short of their goals.
http://www.bringbackshockerfootball.com/frequently-asked-questions.php
My opinion is if the WAC is not considering any of these programs should they bring back football, they are doing the future of the conference a disservice. All of these schools are in good markets and would be good additions to the WAC, and probably better additions than current FCS programs. If Karl Benson is a smart man, he would show his face on campus the minute any of these programs agree to bring back football. Long Beach State could bring back football very soon. Who knows if the some of the other Big West Schools could follow.
Do you think that bringing any of these programs into the WAC, once they bring back football is a good idea? Please post a comment. As a suggestion, if you like the idea, contact the supporters of these drives through the links that are provided and pledge a dollar or two.
Big West Conference members that already have football...
Hawaii will join the Big West in 2012, their football program will participate in the MWC.
UC Davis and Cal Poly compete at the FCS level and will join the Big Sky Conference for football in 2012. Both have reportedly rebuffed the WAC. Could they be holding out hope that football returns to the Big West?
Here is an update on the efforts in these campuses to return to the gridiron...
Cal State University Fullerton
The spring saw a petition drive among the student body in Fullerton to bring back football. So far, the petition drive to bring the idea of bringing back football has not resulted in an election. Efforts are ongoing. If they were to bring back football, there is an on-campus stadium that seats 10,000, but it would be easy enough and cost effective enough to double the size.
http://www.bringbacktitanfootball.com/
Long Beach State
There is a vote pending before the student body in Long Beach to bring back football, but they do not have a stadium...which the athletic director admits would be the biggest obstacle. The 49ers used to play at Anaheim Stadium with the Rams. But that stadium has now been converted into baseball-only Edison Field and is likely not an option any longer. A recent student body referendum failed by just a few votes, but supporters are trying to get another vote together. The "Bring Back 49er Football" Facebook page is about to be archived.
http://bringback49erfootball.blogspot.com/2011/02/bring-back-49er-football-campaign.html
Pacific
Right now, the efforts in Stockton are not as far along as the efforts in Long Beach or Fullerton, but they are still active.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
Cal State Northridge (Former Big Sky Conference Member)
There will be a vote on campus this fall to bring football back to Northridge. CS Northridge is the only school on this list that was never an FBS program. They were members of the Big Sky Conference. The others were members of the Big West Conference until the early 90s.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
UC Irvine
The efforts to bring back football are not all that active..but I did find a website.
http://www.wix.com/chips315/anteaters#!
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara is one of the few non-football schools that turns an athletic profit. Their men's soccer program is very popular. Efforts to bring football back are only just beginning, but football at UC Santa Barbara is probably more realistic than at any other California school because they would have a place to play right away.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Back-Tiger-Football-UOP/195665077125241?sk=wall
UC Riverside
The Athletic director at UC Riverside says that there will never be football again on this campus, unless a "sugar daddy" provided some substantial "seed money".
http://www.athletics.ucr.edu/askstan/askstan5502.html
(Non-California School)
Wichita State
There is an on-line petition drive to bring back football to Wichita State, but they are well short of their goals.
http://www.bringbackshockerfootball.com/frequently-asked-questions.php
My opinion is if the WAC is not considering any of these programs should they bring back football, they are doing the future of the conference a disservice. All of these schools are in good markets and would be good additions to the WAC, and probably better additions than current FCS programs. If Karl Benson is a smart man, he would show his face on campus the minute any of these programs agree to bring back football. Long Beach State could bring back football very soon. Who knows if the some of the other Big West Schools could follow.
Do you think that bringing any of these programs into the WAC, once they bring back football is a good idea? Please post a comment. As a suggestion, if you like the idea, contact the supporters of these drives through the links that are provided and pledge a dollar or two.
Big West Conference members that already have football...
Hawaii will join the Big West in 2012, their football program will participate in the MWC.
UC Davis and Cal Poly compete at the FCS level and will join the Big Sky Conference for football in 2012. Both have reportedly rebuffed the WAC. Could they be holding out hope that football returns to the Big West?
Friday, July 1, 2011
Official 2011 Pre-Season Power Rankings.
Part of Wasatch Swagger's 2011 College Football Preview.
PAC-12
1. Oregon Ducks
2. Stanford Cardinal
3. Southern California Trojans*
4. Arizona State Sun Devils
5. Arizona Wildcats
6. Utah Utes
7. Washington Huskies
8. Oregon State Beavers
9. California Golden Bears
10. UCLA Bruins
11. Colorado Buffaloes
12. Washington State Cougars
By Division
North
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Washington
4. Oregon State
5. California
6. Washington State
South
1. USC*
2. Arizona State
3. Arizona
4. Utah
5. UCLA
6. Colorado
Bowl Projections:
Rose--Oregon vs. Penn State
Sugar--Stanford vs. LSU
Alamo--Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State
Holiday--Arizona vs. Texas A&M
Sun--Utah vs. Maryland
Las Vegas--Washington vs. TCU
Kraft Fight Hunger--Oregon State vs. Nevada
New Mexico--UCLA vs. Utah State
*USC is ineligible for the post season and the conference championship game.
Football Bowl Subdivision Independents
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2. Brigham Young Cougars
3. Navy Midshipmen
4. Army Black Knights
Bowl Projections
Champ Sports--Notre Dame vs. Clemson
Armed Forces--BYU vs. Tulsa
Military--Navy vs. North Carolina State
WAC
1. Hawaii Warriors
2. Nevada Wolfpack
3. Fresno State Bulldogs
4. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
5. Utah State Aggies
6. Idaho Vandals
7. San Jose State Spartans
8. New Mexico State Aggies
Bowl Projections:
Hawaii--Hawaii vs. Houston
Kraft Fight Hunger--Nevada vs. Oregon State
Poinsettia--Fresno State vs. Air Force
Humanitarian--Louisiana Tech vs. Ohio
New Mexico--Utah State vs. UCLA
(For those of you that care...)
MWC
Fiesta--Boise State vs. Wisconsin
Las Vegas--TCU vs.Washington
Poinsettia--Air Force vs. Fresno State
Independence--San Diego State vs. Wake Forest
New Mexico--No Representation...Utah State vs. UCLA
BCS Games.
NC Game--Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington Eagles
2. Montana State Bobcats
3. Montana Grizzlies
4. Weber State Wildcats
5. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
6. Portland State Vikings
7. Sacramento State Hornets
8. Northern Colorado Bears
9. Idaho State Bengals
Playoff Projection
Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana
Great West Football Conference
1. Southern Utah Thunderbirds
2. California Davis Aggies
3. California Polytechnic Mustangs
4. North Dakota Fighting Sioux
5. South Dakota Coyotes
Playoff Projection
Southern Utah
PAC-12
1. Oregon Ducks
2. Stanford Cardinal
3. Southern California Trojans*
4. Arizona State Sun Devils
5. Arizona Wildcats
6. Utah Utes
7. Washington Huskies
8. Oregon State Beavers
9. California Golden Bears
10. UCLA Bruins
11. Colorado Buffaloes
12. Washington State Cougars
By Division
North
1. Oregon
2. Stanford
3. Washington
4. Oregon State
5. California
6. Washington State
South
1. USC*
2. Arizona State
3. Arizona
4. Utah
5. UCLA
6. Colorado
Bowl Projections:
Rose--Oregon vs. Penn State
Sugar--Stanford vs. LSU
Alamo--Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State
Holiday--Arizona vs. Texas A&M
Sun--Utah vs. Maryland
Las Vegas--Washington vs. TCU
Kraft Fight Hunger--Oregon State vs. Nevada
New Mexico--UCLA vs. Utah State
*USC is ineligible for the post season and the conference championship game.
Football Bowl Subdivision Independents
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2. Brigham Young Cougars
3. Navy Midshipmen
4. Army Black Knights
Bowl Projections
Champ Sports--Notre Dame vs. Clemson
Armed Forces--BYU vs. Tulsa
Military--Navy vs. North Carolina State
WAC
1. Hawaii Warriors
2. Nevada Wolfpack
3. Fresno State Bulldogs
4. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
5. Utah State Aggies
6. Idaho Vandals
7. San Jose State Spartans
8. New Mexico State Aggies
Bowl Projections:
Hawaii--Hawaii vs. Houston
Kraft Fight Hunger--Nevada vs. Oregon State
Poinsettia--Fresno State vs. Air Force
Humanitarian--Louisiana Tech vs. Ohio
New Mexico--Utah State vs. UCLA
(For those of you that care...)
MWC
Fiesta--Boise State vs. Wisconsin
Las Vegas--TCU vs.Washington
Poinsettia--Air Force vs. Fresno State
Independence--San Diego State vs. Wake Forest
New Mexico--No Representation...Utah State vs. UCLA
BCS Games.
NC Game--Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Rose--Oregon vs. Penn State
Sugar--Stanford vs. LSU
Fiesta--Boise State vs. Wisconsin
Orange--Florida State vs. Cincinnati
Big Sky
1. Eastern Washington Eagles
2. Montana State Bobcats
3. Montana Grizzlies
4. Weber State Wildcats
5. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
6. Portland State Vikings
7. Sacramento State Hornets
8. Northern Colorado Bears
9. Idaho State Bengals
Playoff Projection
Eastern Washington, Montana State and Montana
Great West Football Conference
1. Southern Utah Thunderbirds
2. California Davis Aggies
3. California Polytechnic Mustangs
4. North Dakota Fighting Sioux
5. South Dakota Coyotes
Playoff Projection
Southern Utah
College Football Preview 2011 Brigham Young Cougars
July 1, 2011 is Independence Day for BYU. No longer part of the Mountain West Conference and a TV deal that left them as exposed as a nun in Nome. BYU picked a good time to declare their independence. They have 10 returning starters on offense, and that usually translates into big numbers. The last time that many offensive players returned for the Cougars, they played in their only New Years Day bowl game in their storied football history. Defense returns a lot of talent as well, but has lost some key people. Reviews are mixed on how well BYU will do in their first season outside of conference play. But BYU will have to do well out of the gate. That task will not be easy with Ole Miss, Texas, Utah and Central Florida as the first four opponents. Should BYU begin 0-4, look for the doubters to turn into gloaters. But I think that they will begin 2-2 and win 9 games, which will be a good start for the new era in BYU athletics.
Schedule
S3 @Mississippi
S10 @Texas
S17 Utah
S23 Central Florida
S30 Utah State
O8 San Jose State
O15 @Oregon State
O22 Idaho State
O28 @TCU
N5 BYE
N12 Idaho
N19 New Mexico State
N26 BYE
D3 @Hawaii
Projected Finish: 9-3
Post-Season Projection: Armed Forces Bowl vs. Tulsa
Schedule
S3 @Mississippi
S10 @Texas
S17 Utah
S23 Central Florida
S30 Utah State
O8 San Jose State
O15 @Oregon State
O22 Idaho State
O28 @TCU
N5 BYE
N12 Idaho
N19 New Mexico State
N26 BYE
D3 @Hawaii
Projected Finish: 9-3
Post-Season Projection: Armed Forces Bowl vs. Tulsa
College Football Preview 2011 Utah Utes
The Utes begin PAC-12 play in 2011 and they will not be as bad as some people predict, they will not be as good as other people predict. But they will win more than enough games to earn national respect and prove that they belong. Kyle Whittingham is as good as any coach in the league, and with Norm Chow running the offense, they will be a force to be reckoned with, in 2012. 2011, however, will be a little rough in the beginning. In 2010, the last season in the MWC, the Ute offense seemed stuck in neutral and if it was not for the play of the defense, which saved the day against BYU, the second half of the season would have been a complete disaster. The futility can not be put on the shoulders of Jordan Wynn, who will prove to be a great quarterback one day. If Harvey Langi proves to be what everyone hopes for, the Utes will be good enough on offense to win more than a few games. As usual, there will be little doubt about the quality of the Ute defense.
Schedule
S1 Montana State
S8 @USC
S17 @BYU
S24 BYE
O1 Washington
O8 Arizona State
O18 @Pittsburgh
O22 @California
O29 Oregon State
N5 @Arizona
N12 UCLA
N19 @Washington State
N25 Colorado
Projected Outcome: 8-4 (6-3 in conference play)
Post Season Projection: Sun Bowl vs. Maryland
Schedule
S1 Montana State
S8 @USC
S17 @BYU
S24 BYE
O1 Washington
O8 Arizona State
O18 @Pittsburgh
O22 @California
O29 Oregon State
N5 @Arizona
N12 UCLA
N19 @Washington State
N25 Colorado
Projected Outcome: 8-4 (6-3 in conference play)
Post Season Projection: Sun Bowl vs. Maryland
College Football Preview 2011--Weber State Wildcats
2011 Football Schedule
Weber State just missed the FCS playoffs last season and had losses in a couple of close games. Four year starting QB Cam Higgins has now gone pro in something other than sports, and the Cats are also looking to replace power runner Via Tafuna, who was instrumental in Weber's late-season push in 2010. Star TE Tyler Francisco has taken his game to the Canadian Football League. There are a lot of holes on offense for Ron McBride to fill in the off-season. But the performance of the offense in the Spring game has given hope that junior QB Mike Hoke can pick up where Higgins left off. Last year' star linebacker, Nick Webb leads an experienced defense in Ogden. In order to make the playoffs, Weber will have to beat at least one team from Montana or perhaps defending national champion Eastern Washington or even in-state rival Utah State and that is a tall order. The Big Sky Conference will be a tough as ever in 2011. And the Cats will have a good chance to make a big impression at the beginning of the season when they open up against a reeling Wyoming Cowboys team from the FBS. Weber's big disadvantage is starting the season outside the national rankings. Even in a playoff system, that means something when hoping for an at-large bid.
S3 @ Wyoming
Weber State just missed the FCS playoffs last season and had losses in a couple of close games. Four year starting QB Cam Higgins has now gone pro in something other than sports, and the Cats are also looking to replace power runner Via Tafuna, who was instrumental in Weber's late-season push in 2010. Star TE Tyler Francisco has taken his game to the Canadian Football League. There are a lot of holes on offense for Ron McBride to fill in the off-season. But the performance of the offense in the Spring game has given hope that junior QB Mike Hoke can pick up where Higgins left off. Last year' star linebacker, Nick Webb leads an experienced defense in Ogden. In order to make the playoffs, Weber will have to beat at least one team from Montana or perhaps defending national champion Eastern Washington or even in-state rival Utah State and that is a tall order. The Big Sky Conference will be a tough as ever in 2011. And the Cats will have a good chance to make a big impression at the beginning of the season when they open up against a reeling Wyoming Cowboys team from the FBS. Weber's big disadvantage is starting the season outside the national rankings. Even in a playoff system, that means something when hoping for an at-large bid.
S3 @ Wyoming
S10 @ Utah State
S17 Sacramento State*
S24 @ Northern Colorado*
O1 @ Eastern Washington*
O8 BYE
O15 Idaho State*
O22 Southern Utah
O29 @ Montana*
N5 Montana State*
N12 Northern Arizona*
N19 @ Portland State*
*Big Sky Conference Game
Projected Win
Projected Outcome: 7-4
Post-Season Projection: Just miss the FCS playoffs
College Football Preview 2011 Utah State Aggies
In 2010, the Aggies seemed to be on the verge of big things. They beat in-state rival BYU and nearly came away with wins against Oklahoma and Nevada. At other times they looked dreadful. They followed-up the BYU win with a lousy performance at Louisiana Tech, which is one of four games where the Aggies scored in single digits. In 2010, the Aggie offense was very good once they got the ball to the opponents red zone, where they scored almost 90% of the time. Getting to red zone on a more consistent basis will be the main goal of the offense, and that should be accomplished with Robert Turbin returning from injury. BTW...Turbin can score from long distance as well. As good as the Aggies were in the offensive red zone, is where the defense had a little trouble in 2010. Linebacker Bobby Wagner is the leading returning tackler from 2010. There should be plenty of high scoring games for Utah State in 2011, and if they can win one or two of them, there may even be some post-season action this year. Winning five games, however, should be enough progress for Gary Anderson and his crew, but I see 7 wins, if they can beat the teams that they should. This should set up a big 2012 when most of the WAC powers are in the Mountain West Conference.
2012 Schedule
S3 @Auburn
S10 Weber State
S17 BYE
S24 Colorado State
S30 @BYU
O8 Wyoming
O15 @Fresno State
O22 Louisiana Tech
O29 BYE
N5 @Hawaii
N12 San Jose State
N19 @Idaho
N26 Nevada
D3 @New Mexico State
Projected Finish 7-5 (4-3 in Conference Play)
Post Season Projection: New Mexico Bowl vs. Rice
2012 Schedule
S3 @Auburn
S10 Weber State
S17 BYE
S24 Colorado State
S30 @BYU
O8 Wyoming
O15 @Fresno State
O22 Louisiana Tech
O29 BYE
N5 @Hawaii
N12 San Jose State
N19 @Idaho
N26 Nevada
D3 @New Mexico State
Publish Post
Projected Finish 7-5 (4-3 in Conference Play)
Post Season Projection: New Mexico Bowl vs. Rice
College Football Preview 2011--Southern Utah Thunderbirds
There is a two-fold mission in Cedar City this year. 1. Defend the Great West Conference Championship. 2. Win at least 7 games and qualify for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
These goal are not out of reach this year with quarterback Brad Sorenson returning for head coach Ed Lamb. The only bad news is that there are only four home games this coming year. Five of the final six are on the road. The Thunderbirds need to learn to be comfortable away from the Eccles Colosseum this year.
Sorensen, who had a 149.7 efficiency rating in 2010, will have to find new targets this season as his top two receivers from last season are not on this year's squad. But the third leading receiver and the team's leading rusher from a year ago, Austin Minifee is back. On defense, linebacker Blake Fenn and corner-back Erron Vonner return from last year's squad. Also of note, last year, on average, SUU outscored their opposition in every single quarter. Building on this momentum should get them into the first round of the playoffs.
Schedule:
S3 @ South Dakota State
S10 Sacramento State
S17 UT San Antonio
S24 @ UNLV
O1 North Dakota*
O8 @ South Dakota*
O15 @ Cal Poly*
O22 @ Weber State
O29 UC Davis*
N5 BYE
N12 @ Northern Iowa
N19 @ Northern Arizona
Projected Wins
*Great West Conference Games
Projected Finish 7-5 (4-1 in conference play)
Post-season projection: NCAA FCS Playoff 1st-round road game.
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