PROVO — BYU football's 2016 schedule is being touted as the program's toughest in school history. The Cougars will square off against six Power-5 conference opponents, including four straight to start their campaign.

Here are my rankings of each game on the schedule in terms of potential excitement value.

12. Southern Utah, Nov. 12

Hopefully for BYU fans, the Cougars' contest with the Thunderbirds will be a mostly dull blowout victory. Generally in games against FCS opponents, the only entertainment value is watching seldom-used players get their time to shine. This matchup has some storylines, however, with BYU coaches Jernaro Gilford and Ed Lamb coming to the Y. via SUU after helping the Thunderbirds reach new heights over the last few seasons.

11. UMass, Nov. 19

BYU's 2016 home slate is arguably the best it's had since going independent. Scheduling quality November games while schools are in the heart of their conference season remains an issue, however. The game against UMass is no exception. The Minutemen are not a quality team, and there are even talks at the school about cutting out the football program altogether. Add this one to the list of forgettable late-season matchups in independence.

10. Toledo, Sept. 30

In his four plus seasons as head coach of the Rockets, head coach Matt Campbell turned the program into one that competed for conference championships each year. After having his best season at Toledo in 2015, he bolted for a more lucrative position at Iowa State. Gone too is star quarterback Phillip Ely. 2016 looks to be a rebuilding year for the Rockets and doesn't look to have the makings of an exciting contest.

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9. Cincinnati, Nov. 5

The Cougars and Bearcats had an exciting offensively fueled contest last season, with BYU pulling away in the second half. Cincy will look to return the favor on its home turf this season. This game may be intriguing for bigger picture reasons as well. Most reputable sources that have been talking about Big 12 expansion have named BYU and Cincinnati as two prime candidates to bring the league back to 12 members. By this point in the season, the vote on expansion will already have taken place and the schools to be included may have been announced. However it all plays out, it could make for a very interesting contest.

8. Utah State, Nov. 26

Since legendary head coach LaVell Edwards took over in Provo, beating Utah State (usually badly) has been treated as an annual rite of passage for BYU football teams. For his part, Bronco Mendenhall had an 8-2 record against the Aggies. That win-loss total hides the fact that Utah State has gotten much better in recent years and the games between the in-state foes have become highly competitive. Also throw in the fact that Cougar quarterback, Taysom Hill will be looking for payback after suffering two season-ending injuries against the Aggies and the "Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel" should be an enjoyable game to watch to end the season.

7. West Virginia, Sept. 24

Similarly to the Cincinnati game, this contest is interesting because of the Big 12 connection. The Mountaineers were brought in to shore up the conference during the last go-round of expansion. Many national pundits have argued that BYU will not be taken by the Big 12 because of its distance away from Morgantown, West Virginia. If the conference does in fact expand and the Cougs are left out with the conference going east, a win in this one would be especially satisfying for Cougar players, coaches and fans.

6. Mississippi State, Oct. 14

While the Bulldogs are not in the same stratosphere as Alabama, they have quietly become a top 25 caliber program in the last few seasons in the mighty SEC. Getting a team from the undisputed best conference in the country to Provo is a big deal. Cougar nation should be pumped about this matchup. It is the other marquee home game in 2016 that BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe has worked so hard to bring to fruition. Mississippi State may be rebuilding after losing stud quarterback Dak Prescott, which means the Y. should have a good chance to beat it at home.

5. Michigan State, Oct. 8

Over the last three seasons, the Spartans have compiled a dominating 36-5 record. Last season, they made the College Football Playoffs. Although MSU is losing a lot of talent, including quarterback Connor Cook, it has a lot coming back to East Lansing and should be a force to be reckoned with again. The game will serve as a good measuring stick for BYU as a program. While it is doubtful that the Cougs will be expected to win the contest, a good showing, and even more so a victory, would go a long way toward helping the Y. become relevant nationally again.

4. Arizona, Sept. 3

The Cougars’ opening contest against the Wildcats marks the beginning of a new era. Gone is the familiarity that came with former head coach Bronco Mendenhall. The Y. is all in on the young and unproven but energetic and charismatic Kalani Sitake as the guy in charge. How will Sitake do in his first game? What will Heisman Trophy winner turned offensive coordinator Ty Detmer’s offense look like? Will Taysom Hill be healthy enough to start the first game and how will he look in the new scheme? Will Jamaal Williams be rusty after sitting out last season? There are many unknowns and storylines going into the Cougs' first game, and with it comes a buzz that has been absent from the program in recent years.

3. Boise State, Oct. 20

The rivalry between Boise State and BYU is becoming a very fun one. In the last four seasons, the two teams have squared off and alternated wins each year. The road team has yet to pull out a victory in the series since the Cougars went independent. The Y. will look to buck that trend this season. Last year’s game was an instant classic with BYU freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum throwing a last-minute desperation heave into the end zone that was caught by wide receiver Mitch Juergens, giving the Cougs the win. The Broncos will look to avenge the loss in a matchup between what are generally accepted as the best non-Power-5 programs in the nation.

2. UCLA, Sept. 17

Last year’s matchup between the Cougars and the Bruins drew national attention as being a showcase for two highly touted freshman quarterbacks in Tanner Mangum and Josh Rosen. Neither rookie signal-caller would end up having one of his better games, but the contest was still exciting. The rematch has a few storylines to look for. First of all, it’s BYU's first premier home game since it welcomed Texas to LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2013. More importantly, though, Cougar players and faithful have revenge on their mind after losing a game in Los Angeles that they should have won last season.

1. Utah, Sept. 10

This game, without question, is BYUs most important contest to win in 2016. The Cougars have not beaten the Utes since 2009, when Max Hall gave his infamous “I hate Utah” postgame interview. But there’s more that is at stake than simply ending a losing streak. The years since both programs left the Mountain West behind have been decidedly better for Utah. Moving to the Pac-12 (a Power-5 conference) has improved the Utes' home schedule, raised their revenue considerably and been something they can sell to recruits. While most Cougar fans would still take independence over the MWC, the sledding has been a little harder for the Y. The team has struggled to bring quality opponents to Provo (though that is changing some this year and in the upcoming schedules). But its revenue stream cannot compete with Power-5 conferences, and it has not enjoyed the same success on the field as it grew accustomed to in its WAC and MWC days. Kalani Sitake needs to change the culture at BYU in terms of how it handles rivalry games and take a game back from the Utes. The Cougs need to show that they are still a top dog in the state and can compete at a high level.

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