BYU’s Life as an Independent
Once BYU declared that it was leaving the Mountain West and becoming an Independent football team, they had to scramble to put together a schedule. The Cougars made things very difficult for themselves early in the season. They start off with road games against Mississippi and Texas and then host tough Utah and UCF squads.
That may leave the Cougars in a similar position that they ended up in last season. BYU started the 2010 campaign with a 1-4 record before the schedule got a little easier. The Cougars should get off to a better start then 1-4 this time around, but that easier Mountain West conference slate is gone. BYU still has to travel to Oregon State, face off against TCU in Arlington, Texas and travel to Hawaii.
There are certainly six or seven very winnable games on the schedule, but BYU might be worn down after their tough opening stretch. The inexperienced defense has to grow up quickly and win a couple of those early games or BYU may again back their way into a bowl game.
BYU will have to get used to those tough schedules. It is not going to get too much easier for the Cougars as the years go by. Teams like Idaho and Idaho State may not be on the schedule too often in the years to come as the Cougars start making some new rivalries and this program better be able to consistently put up decent teams year in and year out if they hope to have any success as an independent football team.
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