BYU Football: How will modified schedule affect Cougars in 2020?

How will the Cougars fare in 2020?

BYU set up one of its most ambitious schedules since going independent, with six different Power Five opponents to bolster their schedule strength. All six of those opportunities went up in smoke when first the Big Ten, then the Pac-12, and finally the SEC all opted for conference-only schedules in 2020.

The last hope for the Cougars was that the Big 12 might invite them to fill out the league’s scheduling in a situation similar to Notre Dame’s alignment with the ACC this year. Those hopes were dashed at the start of August, though, when the Big 12 opted to maintain their nine-game round robin and allow one non-conference game for each of its league teams.

What is left now is a shell of the schedule BYU hoped to play this season. All four of their September games are canceled. Their season opener comes at home on Friday, October 2 in their rivalry battle against Utah State for the Old Wagon Wheel. The rest of the schedule is filled out by Group of Five foes — Houston from the AAC, Boise State and San Diego State from the Mountain West — and a regular-season finale against FCS North Alabama.

Northern Illinois will no longer be on the schedule because the MAC just cancelled football this fall, moving it to spring.

What’s next for BYU?

Without the Holy War game against Utah on the schedule, the showdown against Utah State instantly becomes the premier showdown on BYU’s schedule. The two rivals will meet for the 90th time on the football field this season, with BYU leading the all-time series 49-37-3. Last year’s game in Logan ended with a 42-14 rout by BYU, and given the situation for both teams we could see a similar scoreline this season.

Prediction: 4-1

Most of the tests that remain on BYU’s schedule after the mass exodus of Power Five teams should present little trouble to the independent powers. The one game that is likely to mar any chance of a perfect run is the road trip to Idaho to face Boise State on the Smurf Turf.

The two budding rivals have met 10 times previously, including every year since 2012. BYU has performed admirably against the Mountain West powerhouse at home, going 3-2 in Provo. They haven’t been nearly as lucky in Boise, losing all five contests on the blue field by an average margin of defeat under seven points.

The last meeting went in Boise State’s favor as the Broncos eked out a 21-16 win. The contest was even closer four years ago, when the Cougars fell one point short in a 28-27 defeat. We will likely see a similar donnybrook between these two teams, but Sitake’s crew won’t break their Boise curse this year.