In terms of status, maybe, but BYU is an instant favorite in the Big East. A significantly easier road to a BCS game.
BYU to the Big 12 discussion???
- Thread starter seattlejazzfan
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In terms of status, maybe, but BYU is an instant favorite in the Big East. A significantly easier road to a BCS game.
Yes, but don't tell any of the Ute fans my secret.
I would rather have a tougher schedule, and play better teams at home, than have a cake season.
That's just me. I would appreciate it if you didn't mention this in the Ute thread, it could ruin my rep.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
An instant favorite considering that they'll have to beat Boise in any given year if they want to win their side of the conference?
This. But as things look right now, whoever wins that game would probably win the conference championship game.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
BYU's recent history shows that they're a very average football team when they face teams that are .500 or better. While I do think that the Big East would be a great move for BYU, what have they done in the last 12-13 years that qualifies them to be one of the instant favorites in the new Big East?
I'm just going with Bronco's coaching tenure.
Year Record AP Coach BCS
2006 11-2 16 15 20
2007 11-2 14 14 17
2008 10-3 25 21 16
2009 11-2 12 12 14
Big East
2006 Louis 12-1
2007 WV 11-2
2008 Cin 11-3
2009 Cin 12-1
2010 WV 9-4
In looking things over I don't think BYU will be a favorite per se, but I do see them in the top with a shot every year.
While leaving teams like WV, Pitt, and Syracuse have done well... so have other teams that are staying like Cincinnati, Connecticut, USF, Louisville, and Rutgers. Throwing Boise State in there will make it more interesting, but I also don't necessarily think BYU will be favored to win it every year or every other year. If they can pull it off every third or fourth year I think that will be a sign of success.... if this thing even happens.
/my 2 cents
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
It's hard to compare BYU's records with that of the Big East champions during the same span but I think your expectations for BYU in the new Big East are reasonable.
To me it seems a lot like what Utah fans are saying about Utah's chances in the Pac 12: yes, the competition will be harder, but the recruits should also get better due to the BCS access.
That was definitely a more accurate way of stating my thoughts than what was done above.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
While I think schools like Utah, Boise State, Houston, etc would/will get boosts by joining an AQ conference, I'm curious to see how that works for BYU. For years and years now, I've been told by my BYU friends that BYU is "different" and that difference leads them to recruit a certain kind of kid. Now this is not a slam on BYU, but I feel that they have a more limited recruiting pool that's probably not going to grow all that much should they join the Big East. While Stanford is already has AQ status, they still recruit from a limited pool due to their academic standards. BYU's religious standards will probably keep them in a similar boat.
Where I do think AQ status helps BYU will be with the in-state LDS kids who are on the fence in regards to BYU or Utah. As of right now, Utah has a huge trump card with Pac12 status. BYU can negate that by some extent by being able to tout their own AQ status.
And even if BYU does get a recruiting bump from AQ status, remember that Boise, Houston, SMU, etc. will also be reaping similar rewards. Utah currently faces a similar situation. While recruiting will most likely continue to improve for them now that their in the Pac12, they're playing catch-up in a conference in which most schools have been out-recruiting Utah for decades.
https://espn.go.com/college-footbal...ndling-national-championship-game-sources-say
Potential for "AQ Conferences" to be a thing of the past...
Potential for "AQ Conferences" to be a thing of the past...