BYU does not have a bowl lined up for the 2014 post-season. And it may be a while before they do. There is a lot in flux for the bowls in 2014, the first year of a 4-team playoff. Many bowls don't know, right now, where they will be in the conference pecking order. All bowls have been certified for 2013, but some may not be around afterwards.
1. Due to not meeting the NCAA's 25,000 attendance threshold, the following bowls may not be around in 2014:
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, has not been above this threshold for 4 years now. May not be around in 2013. In each of the past two seasons, the NCAA has had to approve exceptions and allow at least one sub-.500 team to play in a bowl game. In 2011, it was UCLA and in 2012 it was Georgia Tech. It makes sense to sacrifice one bowl game now. If this bowl is around for 2013, it will not be back in 2014 unless they draw a big crowd in 2013.
New Mexico Bowl, has only met this threshold 4-times in their 7-year existence. Only once when the hometown Lobos were not involved, did the crowd exceed 30,000. That was 2010 when BYU and UTEP played. The 2011 game between Wyoming and Temple was a small choir over 25,000. This game may last until 2015, but don't be surprised if it does not unless the Lobos work their way back to this game in 2013.
Military Bowl , has not met this threshold for the last two seasons; but who do you expect to fly to Washington DC in December to see San Jose State and Bowling Green? I would not expect this game to last beyond 2013 unless West Virginia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland or Navy gets in the 2013 game. They have to have a realistic alignment. The last choice for the ACC plus Army isn't going to get a matchup that will fill seats.
The Following Bowls do not yet have a 2014 conference tie-in:
Heart of Dallas Bowl--vs. Big 10 as the Big 12 contract does not go past 2013. However, this game is in the heart of Big 12 country and is also near SMU. It will probably be Big East or Big 12.
Pinstripe Bowl--Both Conference tie-ins expire after 2013. I don't expect a bowl in New York to be interested in the Cougars. I expect the conference that Rutgers is in will get one seat. The conference that UConn is in should get the other.
Military Bowl--No Conference tie-ins for 2014, but may fold. I also do not expect this bowl to be interested in the Cougars considering their poor attendance in 2013 with a west-coast team.
Poinsettia Bowl--Rotation would have been Navy in 2014, but the Goats will join the Big East in 2014. With SDSU leaving the Big East at the altar, I doubt that the Big East will want to have anything to do with San Diego in 2014.
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl--vs. Pac-12, no conference tie-in for 2014, but BYU plays here in 2013.
Sun Bowl--vs ACC, Pac-12 contract expires after 2013, the ACC Contract automatically renews. This may be the longest-standing bowl that would be interested in BYU. But I expect the PAC-12 to renew their contract unless that conference get's accesses to what is now called the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe.
Possible New Bowls
Care Bowl, Orlando Florida
Los Angeles Christmas Bowl
These bowls were proposed for the 2011 season, but the NCAA put a moratorium on new bowls beginning in 2011. This bowls could be approved if other bowls get un-certified.
There was also talk of a new bowl game in Salt Lake City for the 2009 season, but the NCAA refused to certify it. However, if the New Mexico Bowl folds, talk of a Salt Lake City bowl will resurface.
Bronco Mendenhall has said that BYU is being courted by several bowls for 2014. However, I suspect that most bowls are happy with their current arrangements. They draw good crowds and are profitable. However, many are likely concerned what their standing will be when the fallout from the BCS 4-game playoff is fully realized. The list of bowls that BYU could go to in 2014 could be larger. BYU travels well, and has fans all over the country.
The Holiday Bowl has been rumored not to be happy that they were knocked below the Alamo Bowl in the pecking order for the PAC-12 and the Big 12. However, they have also said that they will not court BYU in 2014. But don't be surprised if they court BYU for their 40th anniversary in 2018.
Tom Holmoe hinted that BYU might be looking to go with into a partnership with a conference on their bowl games, similar to what Notre Dame had with the Big East, until this coming season. Of course Notre Dame was eligible for the BCS on their own merits, and the Big East Champion was automatically qualified for the BCS. But a similar alliance with BYU and the MWC would be more complicated.
I would think that the only conference that BYU could partner with is the Mountain West Conference. Currently, here are the bowl that the MWC partners with.
1. Las Vegas Bowl
2. Poinsettia Bowl
3. Armed Forces Bowl
4. Hawaii Bowl (If Hawaii is Bowl Eligible, they will go here.)
5. New Mexico Bowl
6. Potato Bowl
BYU could come into the picture, theoretically, with the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The KFHB would have the 3rd pick on the list. BYU would be able to be an option for any bowl on the list, unless the MWC champion is not selected for a BCS bowl. If the MWC champion is selected for a BCS bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl is free to choose BYU. If Hawaii is the MWC champion, they still go to the Hawaii Bowl. The Las Vegas Bowl would be able to chose BYU. If BYU makes the BCS or if BYU is not bowl eligible, the MWC gets another post-season pic.
Of the teams that make up the MWC in 2013, 7 were in post-season play in 2012: Air Force, Nevada, Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Jose State.
New Information:
I have seen reports that BYU's bowl prospects have dimmed because of their poor performance in the 2012 season. Tom Holmoe would like to work the Cougars into a higher-tier bowl, but need to prove that they can handle the competition. Hence the urgency to get Robert Anae back and get the offense rolling again.
My guess is that BYU ends the 2014 playing in the inaugural Los Angeles Christmas Bowl against the PAC-12 8th choice or a team from Conference-USA should the PAC-12 not have 8 bowl eligible teams.
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