BYU Football: 3 Thoughts on Cougars, UCF and Boca Raton Bowl

It was one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory for BYU football but after a loss to Coastal Carolina, it will settle for the Boca Raton Bowl.

The crazy thing about this college football season, is that even though it’s championship week, bowl games are nearly upon us and after an announcement Monday, we know where BYU football is headed for the postseason.

Following a 10-1 regular season, which BYU football was hoping would end at 11-0 and with a shot at playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game, the Cougars will settle for the consolation prize of a trip to Florida for the Boca Raton Bowl against UCF of the American Athletic Conference.

The game will take place a week from today, next Wednesday and here are three thoughts for BYU football heading into the bowl season.

A disappointment

Obviously, BYU football had much bigger aspirations for its postseason than the Boca Raton Bowl and following the Cougars dominating win over Boise State, it seemed like a New Year’s Six Bowl was possible or maybe even just a better bowl assignment.

Of course, one thing working against the Cougars is their status as an independent. While it might work on the revenue side of things, it’s not great for bowl destinations as most games have conference tie-ins.

But honestly, this is a strong matchup and even though UCF is 6-3, the Knights are one of the most accomplished group of five programs out there and their three losses this season to Tulsa, Cincinnati and Memphis came by a combined 12 points.

The best scenario would have been for BYU football to play a power-5 opponent and I think that’s something fans would have enjoyed too. But in college football, what makes sense, doesn’t always happen and at least BYU gets a quality game. Plus, it gets to go to Florida.