The Countdown – #6

Over the next several weeks, HornSports is counting down the games of the 2014 football season. For this series, “most important games” is defined as those games having the biggest impact on the program’s outlook and the 2014 season.

The main question to ask is “How would a win help bolster Texas’s national perception?“

The Countdown: #6 BYU Cougars

Last 2 meetings:

2013: L 41-21

2011: W 17-16

Analysis:

After last season’s mauling at the hands of the Cougars, BYU is now a thorn in the side of the Texas Longhorns. However, the 2014 contest is a big game for both BYU and Charlie Strong. BYU has indicated strong interest in joining the Big 12. To date, their interest has not been reciprocated by the Big 12.

How can BYU show that it belongs? Beat Texas.

This is a big game for Charlie Strong as well. In fact, every game left on our countdown is going to be a litmus test for the 1st year of the Charlie Strong regime.

Specific to the BYU game…How will Coach Strong stop Taysom Hill? How will he shift his offensive line to protect the quarterback from the always intense BYU pass rush? This game will be the first test for Charlie Strong.

Strong will say all the right things leading up to the season opener, “We’re only focused on North Texas. They are going to be a challenge for our team.” However, he knows that BYU will be there next and Longhorns want to beat BYU.

This game will mean something to the national media and the perception of college football diehards across the nation. They remember the beatdown in Provo last season. Either that or College Football Live will replay that game over and over again in the days leading up to the game. With the only Michigan vs Notre Dame and Michigan State vs. Oregon as the big games that week, I expect this game to garner plenty of attention from national media.

In short, this game matters for the 2014 season.

About Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University was founded in 1875 but not by Brigham Young. Brigham Young, as the Governor of the Utah territory, established the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah). Because of his views of higher education being infiltrated by atheists, he also wanted an academy in Provo where Mormons could get a good education without outside influence. So in 1875, a part of the University of Deseret broke away from the the main campus to form Brigham Young Academy, later becoming BYU. Famous Alumni include Mitt Romney, Aaron Eckhart, Steve Young, and Jon Heder.

BYU football has a long and well-established history in college football. Notably, BYU was the last non-power conference national champion in 1984. They have produced great football players like Steve Young, Jim McMahon, and Ty Detmer. In 2010, BYU left the Mountain West Conference and chose to become an “independent”. Many thought this was a move to put BYU in a better position to get a spot in the Big 5 conferences. The Cougars are still waiting on that call.