BYU's possible 2014 opponents.

Updated March 4, 2013

BYU does not have a lot left to schedule for 2014.  Currently there are 11 games on the docket.  The Cougars may even have 7 home games.  A game against UCF, which is now in the Big East Conference needs a date.  And it is more than a private secret that that Southern Mississippi wants to cancel the series.

BYU does not yet have a 2014 date against teams from the Big 10, MAC, Pac-12, SEC or Sun Belt conferences.  In independence, BYU has never scheduled the MAC or the Sun Belt Conference, although Middle Tennessee has moved from the Sun Belt to Conference USA recently. 

UConn is not the "SEC-Caliber, one and done" that I was expecting to open the 2014 schedule.  But, the Huskies have been to a BCS bowl in recent history.  It will be a "tougher than you might expect" kind of game.  And it does fulfill Bronco's desire to play games in some of the great cities in the US.  East Hartford Connecticut is about 100 Miles NE of New York City.  In August, it becomes one of those "Cougar Club" travel with the team games.

BYU could still finish the schedule with a one and done with a big-name school...there are plenty of schools in that category that have an opening for BYU.  But there are not many that would give up a late-November bye to play BYU.

If Notre Dame and BYU continue their series in 2014, the only date that will work is November 22.  But if this was going to happen in 2014, my hunch is that the game would have already been announced.  Notre Dame travels to USC the week after and may not want 2 western games in consecutive weeks, but I could be wrong about that.

As the Big East, Mountain West and Conference USA are already heavies on the BYU 2014 schedule, I do not expect another game against a team from these conferences.  I expect a 7th home games against either the MAC or Sun Belt Conferences, or a game against Idaho (in Moscow) or a games against New Mexico State or the schedule will be finished with another games against the Big Sky Conference.  I would expect that USM, if cancelled, will be replaced with an FCS opponent.


2014 Schedule

August 30--@ Connecticut
September 6--@ Texas
September 13--Open (Probable, this week remains a bye.)
September 20--Virginia
September 27--Houston
October 3--Utah State
October 11--Open (Probable: the game at UCF goes here.)
October 18--Nevada
October 25--@ Boise State
November 1--@Middle Tennessee
November 8--Southern Mississippi (USM reportedly wants out of this game, could be replaced with another home game against a school from a smaller conference.  UCF could go here as well.)
November 15--UNLV
November 22--Open (Possible: If Notre Dame schedules the Cougars, this is the only date it could happen.  Other possibilities are a school from a lesser conference or @ Idaho.  Other possibility: road game vs team from a lesser conference.)
November 28--Open (Either a school from a lesser conference or it will be left open.
TBA--@UCF

Need 2 games

For Possible Bowl Destinations, click here

Potential opponents who have 2014 opponings.

Acc

(Virginia already scheduled)

Clemson
Florida State
Louisville
Miami
NC State
North Carolina
Syracuse

Big 12

(Texas already scheduled)

Oklahoma
TCU
Texas Tech

Big 10

Illinois
Northwestern
Purdue
Rutgers

Big East

(UConn, Houston, UCF already scheduled)

USF

C-USA

(Middle Tennessee, USM already scheduled)

Louisiana Tech
North Texas
Old Dominion
Rice
Tulsa
UAB

Other indy

Idaho
New Mex State
Notre Dame (Nov 22)

MAC

Akron
Buffalo
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan

MWC
(Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State already scheduled)

Air Force
Colorado State
San Diego State

PAC-12

California
Oregon
Stanford

SEC

Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Sun Belt

Arkansas State
Georgia Southern
Texas State
Troy
Louisiana Lafeyette
Louisiana Monroe
Western Kentucky