BYU's Bye Week

Obviously, there were some negatives from BYU's bye week with the announcement that WR/PR JD Falslev and LB Austen Jorgensen are sidelined basically for the season.  However, BYU did extremely well this off-week in a few major ways.  Taysom Hill needed some rest before taking on what will be a physical Wisconsin team.  There were 3 concussions suffered against Boise State and all three players expect to be back next week after taking the week off.  In my opinion, with the offense clicking so much, another major benefit is that it can add additional wrinkles, perhaps a trick play even (that doesn't involve a rugby-style option play)???

Additionally, 10 of BYU's 11 FBS opponents played this weekend and went a combined 8-2.  The 2 losses were by two of the bottom three on the schedule (Virginia and Nevada), both against ranked opponents where they were 17-point (or more) underdogs.  8-2 should help BYU significantly in terms of computer rankings.  The win against Texas looks better and better as they move to 5-0 in the Big XII after a win this weekend against Jake Heaps and Kansas.  While the Virginia loss continues to baffle as they dropped another game today by a wide margin, Utah did manage to beat Stanford a few weeks back (bye this weekend).  Middle Tennessee is now just one win away from bowl eligibility and is in the hunt for a CUSA division crown after a road win in conference today.  Utah State kept pace with Boise in the MWC with another 5 TD margin of victory.  Georgia Tech has won 3 straight games after BYU beat them.  Houston moved to 7-1 with another large victory in conference.  Admittedly, they play the 2nd-5th place teams the next 4 weeks so college football nation will learn if they are contenders or pretenders soon.  Boise State put a beat down on Colorado State on the road this week.  Wisconsin won by 19 at Iowa in a game that ensures BYU will be on the road against a ranked opponent this week in Madison.  Notre Dame laid an egg defensively against Navy but still pulled out the victory in a game that should likewise cement them in the BCS standings for BYU's trip there.  Nevada had a respectable game against Fresno State, but, on the road, against a top 20 opponent, they fell short.

Without playing, BYU made some noise this weekend.  CBS projected (unofficially) BYU to be 28th in the BCS standings last week, with 3 teams ahead of them losing this week (Texas Tech, Michigan, and Virginia Tech) and only 1 team behind them that had a somewhat big win over the weekend (Georgia beating Florida).  According to CBS, BYU's average computer ranking is 22.25, and they should only move up (though it's possible any gains there will be offset by losses in human polls that are fickle enough to punish teams during bye weeks).  My model has BYU in the top 25 again this week, after cracking it after Boise State for the first time this season.  BYU should certainly be knocking on the door of the BCS standings for the first time since December of 2009.  I'd say, all in all, not a bad week for a team that didn't play a game.

But it's all for naught though unless BYU earns it.  It's nice to think that BYU will be somewhere between #25 and #27 Sunday night, but if they don't beat a Wisconsin team that should be ranked around 20-23 next week in Madison, it doesn't matter.  It's always been my contention that BYU, Bronco, the team, Cougar fans, etc. need to stop talking and start winning.  If BYU beat Virginia OR scored a few points in the red zone against Utah, BYU would be ranked right now no questions asked.  They'd be deserving of that ranking too.  The fact is, though, they lost those two games b/c they were not a top 25 team back then, and, therefore, not a BCS team now.

If BYU wants to be ranked at the end of the year, they know what they have to do.  I'll give you a hint, it doesn't involve wondering "what if" for Virginia and Utah.  It is all about beating Wisconsin and Notre Dame.  Nothing says we belong in the top 15 like ending the season on a 10-game winning streak (which BYU could do if it won out and their bowl game).  Nothing says we're setting our sights on a BCS Bowl game in 2014 like an 11-2 season, returning a lot of players including a QB, and heading into a significantly easier schedule in 2014 than 2013.  Regardless of how it turns out, I'm sure Cougar Nation will hear something this off season about a BCS game.  Someone always says something.  The fact is though: BYU hasn't really been close since 2006, when one Hawaii loss would have put the greatest BYU team of my adult lifetime into the Sugar Bowl game against Georgia instead of a 38-8 beat down of Oregon in Las Vegas.

I am ready for BYU to put up, b/c I know we never shut up!  The stage is set this week: BYU could not ask for a bigger stage to get it done.  To quote Daryl from The Office: you've got to get out there and earn, son!