2010 BYU Football Schedule Breakdown
by BYUmitch on Mar 29, 2010 4:59 PM PDT
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PrintThe Mountain West Conference finally got their act together and released the 2010 conference schedule.
We can now finally see how the schedule shapes up for the upcoming year.
Thing of note, is that The Mtn. will now have 100% of their games in High-Definition this year. Hooray! No more squinting your eyes at the television trying to see what the score is.
Here’s my instant analysis of BYU’s 2010 schedule. As a bonus, I’m going to guess the broadcasting crews for the games. Why? Because I’m into weird garbage such as this. So as the 2010 season goes along, we can look back and see how good I am at randomly guessing broadcast teams.
Saturday, September 4th: Washington @ BYU, 5 P.M. (CBS College Sports HD)
The rivalry between Washington and BYU resumes in the season-opener of the 2010 season. BYU is 6-2 in season-opening games at home against "BCS" opponents since 1990.
There will be no love loss when the Huskies travel to town. Former BYU Quarterback Steve Sarkisian is the Huskies Head Coach, but he won’t be receiving a warm welcome from this Cougar after trying to steal recruits away from Bronco and staff.
The last meeting between these two teams was epic up in Seattle back in 2008. This one should be no different. Also, throw in the possibility that Jake Heaps could be starting in his first game against his hometown school, and the program that finished #2 in the running for his services. Should be a great one.
Predicted announcers: Tom Hart and Aaron Taylor.
Saturday, September 11th: BYU @ Air Force, 2 P.M. (Versus HD)
Tough conference opener, slammed in the middle of two difficult non-conference games. Also, add in the element of Air Force playing on September 11th, should be a good game.
BYU has lost three of their last four meetings with Air Force when the game is held in September. The lone win in the last four came in 2007, Troy Calhoun’s first season.
Under Bronco Mendenhall though, BYU is undefeated against the Cadets.
Predicted announcers: Joe Beninati and Kelly Stouffer
Saturday, September 18th: BYU @ Florida State, TBD
Revenge will be on the mind in this one. Florida State bombed BYU last year in Provo, when BYU was the darling of the College Football world, 54-to-28.
BYU has never played in Tallahassee. The previous three meetings with the Noles were in Provo, Jacksonville (Pigskin Classic), Anaheim, CA (Pigskin Classic).
BYU Cornerback Brandon Bradley will have a homecoming. Bradley is from Lincoln High School in the Tallahassee area.
Predicted channel/announcers: ABC, Sean McDonough and Tim Brant
Saturday, September 25th: Nevada @ BYU, TBD
The last time BYU faced the Wolfpack, many would say it was the beginning of the end for former Head Coach Gary Crowton. BYU flew into Reno the day of the game back in 2002. BYU was undefeated and ranked #23 in the polls. BYU lost that game to a Nevada team that had no-buisness being on the same field as BYU, but the Wolfpack came away with a 31-28 victory; a victory that would lead to MacKay Stadium being torn to shreds.
Nevada was supposed to play BYU in 2008, but it was pushed back because the Wolfpack wanted to add a 7th home game against Grambling State, and it left BYU scrambling for an opponent, which turned out to be FCS power Northern Iowa.
Nevada is a talented offense led by Collin Kaepernick and Vai Taua. The Cougs will have their hands full on this one.
Predicted channel/announcers: The mtn.; Dan Gutowsky and Blaine Fowler.
Friday, October 1st: BYU @ Utah State, ESPNHD or ESPN2HD
The lone non-Saturday game of the season, a tradition when playing Utah State to have the game on Friday night prior to LDS General Conference. This year it landed the game on ESPN, which is very cool.
The battle for the Old Wagon Wheel should be an interesting one this year. If Utah State has a healthy Robert Turbin at RB, they have one of the better backfields in the WAC with Diondre Borel at QB.
Predicted announcers: Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore
Saturday, October 9th: San Diego State @ BYU, 4 P.M.; The Mtn. HD
The Aztecs gave BYU a bit of a scare last year in San Diego, despite BYU’s 10-point win. The Aztecs aerial assault which was in full effect last year against BYU is back led by QB Ryan Lindley. Brady Hoke is reviving Montezuma Mesa by the day, and the Aztecs look like a team who will be in bowl consideration this season.
Predicted announcers: James Bates and Todd Christensen
Saturday, October 16th: BYU @ TCU, 2 P.M.; Versus HD
BYU against TCU on Versus hasn’t been a formula for success lately. 2010 wouldn’t appear on paper to be in BYU’s favor either as the Horned Frogs are coming off a BCS season in 2009, and appear to be a Top 10 team going into 2010.
Crazier things have happened, it has the makings of the 2006 matchup between the two. A BYU team with no expectations comes into Ft. Worth against a ranked TCU squad, and pulls off the upset led by the passing clinic put on by John Beck.
Can Heaps and company do the same?
Predicted announcers: Tim Neverett and Glenn Parker
Saturday, October 23rd: Wyoming @ BYU, Noon; The Mtn. HD
In the Bronco Mendenhall era (since 2005) BYU has outscored Wyoming 221 to 38 chalking up a 5-0 record against the Pokes.
Predicted announcers: James Bates and Todd Christensen
Saturday, October 30th: BYE
The bye comes in the same spot as it did last year. Last season the bye was on Halloween.
Saturday, November 6th: UNLV @ BYU, Noon; The Mtn. HD
The Rebels usually always get stomped by BYU in Provo, South (Las Vegas); but in Provo the Rebs have been one of the few Mountain West teams to have somewhat success in Cougar Town.
In the last meeting in Provo, the Rebs were in a back-and-forth game that ended on the final play of the game where Omar Clayton threw a hail mary that BYU’s defense eventually knocked down for the win.
The Rebs are the only team in the Mountain West with a new head coach going into 2010 in Bobby Hauck who was previously the head coach at Montana.
Predicted announcers: Ari Wolfe and Blaine Fowler
Saturday, November 13th: BYU @ Colorado State, Noon; The Mtn. HD
BYU hasn’t lost to Colorado State since a 2003 ESPN Thursday-night drubbing in Provo at the hands of Bradlee Van Pelt which was a 58-13 beatdown. Since, BYU has pretty much dominated the series.
The last trip to the Choice City (Ft. Collins) saw a back-and-forth shootout similar to the good ‘ol WAC days which ended in a BYU win 45-42.
Colorado State is looking to bounce back this season. After starting out 3-0 to open 2009, they lost their last nine.
Predicted announcers: James Bates and Todd Christensen
Saturday, November 20th: New Mexico @ BYU, 4 P.M.; The Mtn. HD
This is the fifth time since 1998 that BYU has hosted New Mexico in Provo the week before the Utah game.
New Mexico has been a program gaining some steam under second year man Mike Locksley. Locksley had a impressive recruiting class and the Lobos should be much better than their 1-11 2009 campaign. BYU has lost only twice to the Lobos in the Mountain West era (1999).
Predicted announcers: Dan Gutowsky and Blaine Fowler
Saturday, November 27th: BYU @ Utah, 1:30 P.M.; The Mtn. HD/CBS College Sports HD
The Holy War. Is there anything else I need to say? The 86th edition of this rivalry will yet again live up to the hype guaranteed.
BYU is undefeated against Utah in Holy War games played after Thanksgiving. Good stat for the Cougs.
Predicted announcers: James Bates and Todd Christensen
****
So what’s your thoughts on BYU’s 2010 slate? It looks top-heavy but there is a good balance. Personally, I like it. Again, I’m most thrilled about The Mtn. being in HD finally. It’s going to be some great TV viewing this year.
Read more from VTF Author Mitch Harper at Mitch's Minute or follow him on Twitter @Mitch_Harper
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8 wins is the worst
If Heaps starts and does bad 8 wins is fine. AFA, FSU, Washington, TCU, Utah, and to a lesser extent Nevada could go either way. I think TCU is a near certain loss, but the rest are winnable.
I agree with that
It’s a tough schedule, but as you said many winnable games.
I’m saying 10-2. TCU and Florida State. But other than TCU, BYU could win any of these games.
Utah State in Logan?
I hope 2010 will be the last game BYU agrees to play Utah State at Romney Stadium in Logan. Throw tradition out on this one, if Utah State is scheduled in the future beyond 2012 (they are under contract to come to Provo in 2011 & 2012), it should strictly be a Provo event at LaVell Edwards Stadium, since more $$$ are to be had by both schools, and one can hope that BYU AD Tom Holmoe understands this one and doesn’t bow to any political preassure. The same holds true for Utah State playing Utah as well when their series resumes in 2012 (2020 & 2011 it will go into hiatus), since Rice-Eccles Stadium can likewise generate more revenue, and the $$$ poor Aggies will only have a bus trip. For both BYU and Utah, scheduling Utah State in Logan is like unto scheduling an FCS opponent (Weber State, Idaho State or Southern Utah) on the road.
BYU on ESPN
It might be convenient for a few Dish Network users who always complain about the MTN Network’s monopoly on BYU and MWC games in general (what satellite provider is going to sacrifice bandwidth, particularly HDTV bandwidth to a league the size of the MWC?)…but the bottom line is that Utah State on the road is a $$$ loser for the program and this is why BYU has not played Utah State in the past (1995, 1998, 2003-2005 & 2007) in addition to the evolving conference affiliation of Utah State (SunBelt-WAC from Big Worst & Independent for a couple of years). Bronco hints he would like the series to continue, but where the game is played has been what determines if there is or isn’t a contract in future years, and this fan says no to playing Utah State unless it is in Provo!
SLC
It really is too bad that SLC doesn’t have an NFL team so they could play at a neutral site, much like the Red River Shoot-Out. Then it would be in a stadium with a big capacity no matter who the “home” team is and ESPN would carry the game because of their contracts with the WAC. Oh, well.
BYU vs. Utah State @Neutral Site
Football isn’t like basketball, and while the Energy Solutions Arena deal worked in basketball, football is just too large a revenue sport, and given the scope and depth of both programs, it makes the most financial sense for the series to be played in Provo at LaVell Edwards Stadium exclusively for the foreseeable future (the same with Rice-Eccles for Utah State vs. Utah). Until the dust settles from likely forthcoming league re-alignment I don’t see BYU and Utah State inking any new contracts for games beyond 2012, and the talk I’m hearing is that they will only play one (Utah or BYU) each year after that. If the Cougars and Ute’s are in BCS leagues after that point, I rather suspect it will alternate between Salt lake City (odd years) and Provo (even years) with BYU and Utah giving Utah State a big BCS punching bag payday that Oklahoma will be providing them this year for only making a bus trip. I highly doubt we’ll ever see an NFL team in Salt Lake City since the Sunday Play issue there is much bigger still than the BCS leagues and BYU membership.
Losses to TCU and FSU
Although I do think TCU is getting WAAAAAY more credit then they deserve. I do not think they will be near as good as they were last year, I see them ending up with 2 losses. The offense should be good but the D really made the O look better than it was, and since they lost anybody who’s anybody on D I don’t think they are going to be as dominant.
10-2
I guessed 10-2 with losses, in my mind, being likely @FSU and @TCU. Utah is always tough and Nevada is a decent team, but BYU should be able to beat these teams.
TCU certainly is losing a LOT on the defensive side of the ball, but they were ranked in the top 10 (I think even top-5) in total offense as well so they are not going to lay down for us in Fort Worth. A winnable game, but not one I would bet on.
FSU really had no answer defensively for BYU last year until the end when the Cougars started having to pass on every down and became VERY predictable. I don’t see FSU’s defense improving all that much in only a year and with a new coach. However, if BYU plays defense like they did last year against the Seminoles we will get another beat down. Again, a winnable game, but, on the road, not one that favors BYU.
The rest are not gimmees, but I think BYU will be a very good team offensively even without Dennis Pitta. Chambers, Apo, and Jacobsen are a solid receiving core and Hafoka and Ashworth had decent years last year as well. Plus Unga returns with Di Luigi, Kariya, and Quezada helping out at RB. Heaps is capable and so is Nelson so I see good things in the future for this team, though 10-2 seems to be the max for me right now.
BYU Has Played in Tallahassee before
I was at the game – I think it was 1998 – or 1999 – it was Lavel Edwards last year coaching and FSU won 30-3 or 29-3.
You all are way more athletic taem these days – should be a good game again. We will have played at OU the week before – you all could win.
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