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With the announcement of BYU football’s non-conference schedule, one thing becomes immediately apparent: the games will do little, if anything, to earn national respect for the Cougars in 2010.
Without an Oklahoma kind of marquee matchup, this coming season's non-conference schedule is really not that appealing.
With a combined 2009 record of 24-26, Washington (5-7), Florida State (7-6), Nevada (8-5) and Utah State (4-8) are not exactly the cream of college football. Still, the mediocrity of the group should provide BYU with a good chance of keeping itself well above .500 in 2010.
Of the four non-conference teams the Cougars will face this coming season, two played in 2009 postseason bowl games. Nevada was crushed by Southern Methodist in the Hawaii Bowl, 45-10, and Florida State sent coaching legend Bobby Bowden into retirement with a 33-21 upset win over No. 18 West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
BYU last faced Washington in 2008, coming away with a controversial 28-27 win in Seattle. Washington is led by former BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian who is entering his second season as head coach of the Huskies. Washington leads the series, 4-3.
Nevada was last on the Cougars’ slate in 2002. The Wolf Pack won in Reno that season, 31-28, earning its only win in the schools’ seven-game series (BYU leads, 4-1-2).
This year’s tilt with Utah State will be the 80th time the teams have met. BYU leads the series, 43-33-3, and defeated the Aggies, 35-17, in Provo last season.
Then there’s Florida State which is 3-0 against BYU. This will be the first time the teams meet in Tallahassee. Last season, the Seminoles snapped the Cougars’ 18-game home win streak, 54-28, and knocked the Cougars from their No. 7 ranking.
One positive about this coming season’s non-conference schedule is that it will open at Lavell Edwards Stadium with a trip down memory lane. Sarkisian led the 1996 BYU team to an impressive 14-1 record, a win over Kansas State in the 1997 Cotton Bowl and a No. 5 final ranking.
Other than Sarkisian’s return to Provo, BYU’s 2010 non-conference schedule has little appeal and will not go very far in helping the Cougars gain that long-sought-after respect from the college football community.
Then again, there’s still the Mountain West Conference lineup to help with that respect issue.
Yeah, right.
2010 BYU football non-conference schedule: Sat., Sept. 4 vs. Washington; Sat., Sept. 18 at Florida State; Sat., Sept. 25, vs. Nevada; Fri., Oct. 1 at Utah State
Comments (9)
"The Wolf Pack won in Reno that season, 31-28, earning its only win in the schools seven-game series (BYU leads, 4-1-2)."
That just doesn't add up.
The mountain west itself has been pretty tough recently. And controversial win well BYU blocked the extra point that kickers usually make from that far as field goals. If they blocked a 20 yard ep would you be complaining. Besides Locker threw the bal up he knew what the rule was. Another similar situation in a BYU Utah game Utah scored on a kickoff return got the ball back and on the way down a Utah player did some kind of snow angle thing. Cost them 15 yards and possible contributed to missed extra point. Washington brought the controversy on themself.
Cougarfan: controversy is controversy. it doesn't matter who brings it on. the article just says it was controversial, which it was.
sv: how doesn't it add up? nevada and byu have played seven times and nevada has won once. 4+1+2=7 or 4 wins for byu, 1 win for nevada, and two ties.
i thoght the 2010 non conf sked kinda sucked to! when are we gonna sked sum big boys? wash, nevada don't do it for me.
Does it really matter? If TCU and Utah take care of business. Those two teams will be the toughest opponents on their schedule. I'm guessing TCU will be ranked #5 or higher when BYU plays them in Fort Worth and Utah will be ranked in the Top 25. Who cares about respect and rankings... just focus on winning games
Not sure why you're worried about "national respect" when you're going to lose to UW and Florida State both. Without Max Hall, I'm really not sure why you are so confident. FSU curbstomped you last year in your house. What makes you think a worse BYU team will fair better? UW in a laugher as well; Jake Locker in 2010 will be THAT good.
Meh, call it a warm up season for the new guys. When you lose as many players as BYU did on both sides of the ball this year, it's nice to have a "ho-hum" non-conference schedule to get the guys familiar with the system. You just don't open with an Oklahoma type game with a team that young.
Wow, Utah's schedule in 2004 and 2008 was "ho hum" and it didnt keep them out of the BCS!!
Are you serious? "Ho-Hum" Non-Conference Schedule? You could be ok against Utah State and have a toss-up against Nevada but Florida State is going to destroy BYU and Wasington is going to beat you in Provo. The Cougs are losing their quarterback, two of his favorite targets in Pitta and George, Tonga, not to mention the starting center. Thats just offense. Turn to defense and the entire two-deeps at all Linebacker spots are gone along with your best pass-rusher in Jorgensen. How in the world can BYU Fans "Ho-Hum" any games at this point?
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