The Waffle
BYU's 2011 schedule still has a few openings. I have written, on several occasions, about possible ways to fill it out. My main question today is: should BYU take advantage of the rare opportunity to play 13 games? BYU plays a game at Hawaii and is eligible to play a 13th game, should it choose to. So, should it choose to?
The Current Schedule
Road games: Oregon State, Texas, Hawaii, and Louisiana Tech
Home games: Utah, UCF (potential Big East member), Utah State, Idaho, New Mexico State, and San Jose State
Some Reasons For (not all-inclusive)
Playing a 13th game brings in additional revenue, particularly if you are talking about 7 or 8 home games. It gives BYU another opportunity to win and prove their mettle on a national stage, and another win would help in the BCS standings, should BYU be in the discussion next season. It is also another opportunity to gain experience for younger players and build the program for the future. ESPN needs another big-name opponent to play in Provo next season (since they are on the hook for at least 4 home games in 2011): they could help arrange a "marriage" and get another good team on BYU's schedule that it might not be able to get on its own. As a new independent, it provides another chance to make a splash and announce themselves on the national scene.
Some Reasons Against (not all-inclusive)
Travel between Oregon, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, plus at least one other road game is taxing. If BYU does play 8 home games and only 5 road games, a lot of people will dislike/discount the schedule. If BYU plays 7 and 6, they are going to have to add 2 additional road destinations to Corvallis, Austin, Honolulu, and Ruston. The closest feasible road game would be Vegas against UNLV. Next closest is going to be a lot further. Perhaps New Mexico or Wyoming? BYU is having a difficult time getting to 12 games as it is, and there are a lot of weak teams on the schedule already. Adding a 13th opponent, doesn't mean it will be a good opponent. It also means that BYU will need to win 7 games to get bowl eligible.
Mo's Stance
Generally speaking, I am in favor of playing 13 games, when possible. However, based on BYU's hectic travel schedule next season (Hawaii and Ruston), their poor performance this season, the number of low-quality opponents already on the 2011 schedule, and the difficulty in finding a quality opponent so late in the process, I would have some reservations about BYU doing it in 2011.
If I could find three regional/MWC opponents to play against (my preference would be at Wyoming, at UNLV, and Air Force/CSU), I would play 13 games. If one of the 13 was going to be an FCS team, I would probably not do it, unless that one was the University of San Diego, a West Coast Conference member. That would mean BYU would add two more road games. I am not a fan of any team playing 8 home games regardless of the reason, so I would want a balance of 7 home games and 6 road games. [I do not object to a 7-5 set-up for a 12-game schedule, particularly for an independent program.]
If I could not add 3 regional teams to get to 13 or if it involved 8 home games, I would not tough a 13-game schedule. What about you? Would you like to see a 13 game-schedule? Whom would you like to see BYU try to schedule for their remaining 2 or 3 games?
I would shoot for AFA at home and one other game for 13. I would go for 15, more experience. They won't be able to add a quality opponent at this stage, but another home game is just more money. I have no problem with 8 home games, the more the merrier.
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