College Football New Year’s Six Watch, Week 11: Will Group of 5 invade?
By Dante Pryor
3. BYU Cougars (8-0)
The BYU Cougars had the biggest game on their schedule last Friday, and they destroyed the Boise State Broncos 51-17 on the blue turf of Albertsons Field. Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson was dominant once again while the defense completely shut down the Broncos offense.
The issue with the Cougars is the schedule. Give credit where credit is due; the Cougars have destroyed everyone on their schedule. They had their one “survive and advance” game against UTSA. However, after Boise, what is their next best win? Houston? Louisiana Tech?
2. Liberty Flames (7-0)
If the Group of Five is going to get two teams playing on New Year’s, the Flames have the best opportunity to get the at-large bowl bid. BYU might have the name, but Liberty has the better resume by far. The committee will have to decide if they want steak or if they want sizzle. BYU and how they have steam rolled everyone is sizzle.
Liberty and their two ACC wins and tough schedule is steak. The Flames do not have the style points the Cougars have, but their win against Virginia Tech better than any win the Cougars have. Even if one argues Boise is better than Virginia Tech, two ACC wins — and possibly a third — with an end of the season game against Coastal Carolina is better than anything on BYU’s resume.