Saturday, November 06, 2004
BYU's Chances
As I sit here early on a Saturday afternoon, pondering the possibilities that could occur with the college football games being played this afternoon (and of course I'm rooting for everyone ranked higher than Boise State (other than Utah) to lose), the following thought struck me: If BYU beats San Diego State today and New Mexico next week, their game with Utah could very well be meaningless from a practical standpoint. Win or lose, BYU would go to the Liberty Bowl.
Also strangely, if Utah wins out to that point too, they will probably have no chance at all of going to the Liberty Bowl.
If both BYU and Utah don't lose until they face each other, and Utah beats BYU, Utah will win the conference, but they'll probably go to the Fiesta Bowl as a BCS at-large selection, and BYU will go to the Liberty Bowl in their place as the second place team in the conference (they'll have two conference losses, but all the other teams that could have only two conference losses by that point will have lost to BYU, so BYU gets the tiebreaker). If BYU beats Utah, then BYU wins the conference (both BYU and Utah tying with one conference loss each, but BYU getting the tiebreaker by beating Utah), and goes to the Liberty Bowl while Utah settles for the Las Vegas Bowl or something.
I'm sure BYU cares whether or not they win the conference championship, but from a practical standpoint, the Utah game would be meaningless--either way they play Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. On the other hand, the game would be absolutely huge for Utah--it's literally BCS or bust for them at that point. That would be a great game to watch.
Also strangely, if Utah wins out to that point too, they will probably have no chance at all of going to the Liberty Bowl.
If both BYU and Utah don't lose until they face each other, and Utah beats BYU, Utah will win the conference, but they'll probably go to the Fiesta Bowl as a BCS at-large selection, and BYU will go to the Liberty Bowl in their place as the second place team in the conference (they'll have two conference losses, but all the other teams that could have only two conference losses by that point will have lost to BYU, so BYU gets the tiebreaker). If BYU beats Utah, then BYU wins the conference (both BYU and Utah tying with one conference loss each, but BYU getting the tiebreaker by beating Utah), and goes to the Liberty Bowl while Utah settles for the Las Vegas Bowl or something.
I'm sure BYU cares whether or not they win the conference championship, but from a practical standpoint, the Utah game would be meaningless--either way they play Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. On the other hand, the game would be absolutely huge for Utah--it's literally BCS or bust for them at that point. That would be a great game to watch.
Comments:
Things are always more complex than they seem. It's Monday morning now, and it seems the Utes are going to slip in the BCS standings, despite their huge win over Colorado State. So even if they go undefeated, they're not a lock for a BCS bowl.
Plus, I have just learned that the Liberty Bowl is saying that they might not let the Utes out of their contract even if they do get a BCS nod. Something will probably get worked out, though, but if it is, the Liberty Bowl isn't obligated to take the second-place MWC team. That means if Utah wins the conference championship and goes to a BCS bowl, the Liberty Bowl will likely choose Boise State over BYU. Who knows what that would do to the game that regularly takes the WAC champion--would BYU have a chance to play in that game?
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Plus, I have just learned that the Liberty Bowl is saying that they might not let the Utes out of their contract even if they do get a BCS nod. Something will probably get worked out, though, but if it is, the Liberty Bowl isn't obligated to take the second-place MWC team. That means if Utah wins the conference championship and goes to a BCS bowl, the Liberty Bowl will likely choose Boise State over BYU. Who knows what that would do to the game that regularly takes the WAC champion--would BYU have a chance to play in that game?
