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PROVO — After a 24-23 heartbreaking loss at the hands of the 10th-ranked UCLA Bruins last week, BYU has yet another big game it has to get up for this Saturday.
Here are four reasons why the Cougars' upcoming matchup against the Michigan Wolverines is a must-win.
It is the last game until November to make a statement
The Cougars have had a brutal September schedule. Before the season began, national writer Phil Steele said BYU had the most difficult September schedule in the nation. The Michigan game is the final campaign the Y will play this month. After September, the schedule lightens up considerably, and the Cougs should be favored in their remaining games until what could be a top-25 showdown with Missouri in November. With the weaker remaining schedule, BYU will have considerably fewer opportunities to make a statement after the Michigan game. The Cougars need to finish September strong and show that the first three games were not flukes.
A win proves that BYU is a legitimate Top 25 team
Thus far, the Y has made great strides in proving it is a top 25 school. Wins at Nebraska and against a ranked Boise State team are evidence that BYU can play with the big boys. Even the loss to 10th-ranked UCLA did nothing to damper national voters' opinions about the Cougars, as they only fell three spots in The Associated Press poll after nearly pulling off an upset at the Rose Bowl. Ending September with a 3-1 record against four historic football powers will be enough to keep BYU as a top 20-25 team. Conversely, a 2-2 record will likely see the Cougars fall from the rankings.
A win keeps BYU's New Year's Six bowl dreams alive
BYU's hopes of making a New Year's Six bowl took a bit of a hit when the Cougars were unable to close out the game against the Bruins. But BYU is still ranked 22nd in the nation after the loss. A win over Michigan will be a third impressive win and the loss against UCLA is a good one, if any such thing exists. If the Y can win against Michigan, it has a good chance of still being a one-loss team when it meets Missouri in Kansas City. At that point, BYU could be 8-1 and in the top 15. A win over the Tigers might have the Cougars flirting with a top-10 ranking and putting pressure on the New Year's Six Bow Selection Committee to give BYU an at-large bid.
But none of this will be possible unless the Y takes care of business against the Wolverines.
A win brings continued exposure
Whether you like it or not, administrators at BYU believe the football team is a missionary tool that brings exposure to the LDS Church and its mission. Over the last three weeks, the Cougars have received an incredible amount of national exposure. The two Hail Mary plays the Cougs executed against Nebraska and Boise State were top plays on "SportsCenter" and talked in-depth about by ESPN and other sports networks. Even after the loss against the Bruins, BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum was interviewed on "The Dan Patrick Show." In that interview, Patrick asked Mangum in-depth questions about his experience as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The national exposure has been a welcomed reality for BYU administrators who look for any opportunity to get the university's message into the world.
A win against Michigan will keep BYU relevant and continue the exposure it has received. Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.
