Best-case scenario for BYU football


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PROVO — Summer is almost over and school is about to start for students across the country. With the start of each school year also comes college football.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall has left for the same position at the University of Virginia, and Kalani Sitake has taken over the BYU program. With the change comes a sense of optimism that maybe this is the Y’s year to do big things.

Here’s a look at the best-case scenario for BYU football’s 2016 season.

vs. Arizona

The Cougars experience some kinks implementing new schemes on both sides of the ball for the first time against a real opponent. The game goes back and forth throughout and it comes down to which team has the ball last. Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer's mastermind for strategy comes in handy as he puts the game in the hands of his dynamic fifth-year seniors, Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams. Hill orchestrates an incredible last-minute drive in which he uses his legs and arm to equally devastating results and Williams jumps over the pile at the goal line to beat Arizona and start the Kalani Sitake era off with a bang.

Final score: BYU 35, Arizona 28 | Record: 1-0 - - - - - -

At Utah

A game that is expected to be a nail-biter between the two bitter rivals turns into a laugher as the Y takes out five years of frustration on the Utes. The U.'s new quarterback, Troy Williams, falls apart in the big game and turns the ball over five times as the Cougs flip the script from recent years. After the game, Sitake praises Utah's football program, fan base and academics and thus officially ends the "Max Hall Curse." In large part because of the win (maybe), the new head coach graciously accepts Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby's official invitation to join the conference.

Final score: BYU 35, Utah 14 | Record: 2-0

- - - - - -

Photo: Mark Terrill, AP Photo
Photo: Mark Terrill, AP Photo

vs. UCLA

The Cougars had the Bruins on the ropes in L.A. in last year's matchup before letting the game slip away in the fourth quarter. UCLA stud freshman quarterback Josh Rosen had by far his worst game in his rookie campaign against the Y. He meets a similar fate as Cougar defenders come out hitting the young gunslinger early and often. By halftime, Rosen has happy feet and is overthrowing his receivers. Meanwhile, Hill continues his rise up Heisman charts as he leads BYU to a de facto Pac-12 South conference championship after beating three teams from that division.

Final score: BYU 28, UCLA 21 | Record: 3-0


vs. West Virginia

In another "neutral-site" game, BYU travels to the East Coast to take on an improved Mountaineer team. Though by no means the best squad the Cougars have faced, they run out of gas after playing three straight tough opponents. West Virginia capitalizes on their short trip to the stadium and their acclimation to the humidity against a team from the Wasatch Front. Hill does everything in his power to make it close, but it's clear that BYU players have nothing left in their tanks and lose for the first time to fall to 3-1.

Final score: West Virginia 24, BYU 17 | Record: 3-1

vs. Toledo

After four straight games against Power-5 teams, BYU comes home and gets a much more manageable game. The Rockets are pesky but lost their head coach and most of their key contributors from last year's big season. Harvey Langi goes beast mode and has three sacks to shut down a high-scoring MAC offense. Williams rushes for a trio of touchdowns on the team's first three drives. All the starters are pulled at halftime. Cougar fans get a glimpse of the future as Tanner Mangum and Squally Canada have some impressive drives of their own.

Final score: BYU 56, Toledo 14 | Record: 4-1


at Michigan State

The Spartans have quietly become a college football powerhouse over the past decade or so. In five of their last six seasons, the team has won at least 11 games. They haven't lost in East Lansing since 2012. Even in a dream season, that is too much to ask for out of the Cougs to go there and win. The Y puts up a struggle but MSU pulls away in the second half.

No disrespect here for Michigan State.

Final score: Michigan State 31, BYU 14 | Record: 4-2


Utah Predictions

vs. Mississippi State

After taking their lumps against the Spartans, the Cougars come back to LaVell Edwards Stadium to face an SEC team. At this point, BYU has fallen out of the national spotlight with two losses. The Bulldogs represent a perfect opportunity to remind people that this is a very good team from Provo. Taking advantage of the altitude factor and a young MSU quarterback following the departure of Dak Prescott, BYU beats a solid but not great Bulldog team for homecoming. Hill continues his brilliant season and once again displays his growth as a pure passer in Detmer’s offense.

Final score: BYU 35, Mississippi State 21 | Record: 5-2


at Boise State

Yet another tough matchup for BYU as the team again only has a short week to prepare for a ranked Bronco team in Boise. The Cougars struggle early on, looking road weary and beat up. At halftime, Sitake draws upon "Rudy," "Remember the Titans," "Invincible" and every other formulaic but inspiring football movie he can think of and gives one of the most incredible pep talks of all time. Mostly, he just reminds the team that they have a bye next week and he promises them he will go light in practice if they pull out a win. BYU comes out swinging in the second half and gets a hard-fought come-from-behind win on the smurf turf.

Final score: BYU 24, Boise State 21 | Record: 6-2


vs. Cincinnati

In the last game the teams will meet before they become conference foes, the Cougars send a message in a new Big 12 preview. BYU players open up a can in Ohio, and show the conference who the real expansion prize will prove to be. The game is indicative of many to come as Cincy becomes BYU’s new Wyoming.

Final score: BYU 42, Cincinnati 14 | Record: 7-2


vs. Southern Utah

All you need to know about this game is that it happens, and a few fans will see it live in the stadium.

Final score: BYU 63, SUU 0 | Record: 8-2


Photo: BYU Photo
Photo: BYU Photo

vs. UMass

The Minutemen are independent just like the Cougs, which is kind of neat. Like the Y, they've put together a schedule with some tough opponents, as they will face three SEC squads and an ACC school this year. That's pretty much where the comparisons end, however. UMass finished 3-9 last year in the MAC. They are in football’s no-man’s land and have a tough road ahead of them. Unlike BYU, who is considered a P5 equivalent by most of the big conference, UMass is not seen as anything near an equal by the powerhouses they will be facing. Instead, the team will go into those matchups as a sacrificial lamb. BYU wins big again.

Final score: BYU 52, UMass 7 | Record: 9-2


vs. Utah State

The last few years have been drastically better for football fans in Logan as the Aggies have become much more competitive. After a step back last year, the program looks to re-establish itself as one of the best group of five members in the nation. With the change of USU’s fortunes, the rivalry between the Cougs and Aggies has become decidedly much less one-sided. Still, even with the increase in competition, Bronco Mendenhall won eight of the 10 matchups between the two schools.

Sitake gets off on the right foot in the battle for “The Old Wagon Wheel” as BYU wins by two scores.

Final score: BYU 28, Utah State 17 | Record: 10-2


Goodyear Cotton Bowl: vs. Texas

What better way for 2016 to end for BYU football than a trip to the Cotton Bowl?

This year marks the 20-year anniversary of the 1996 squad that went 14-1 and beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl. And who better to play against than the team that put Taysom Hill on the map nationally in the first place? Texas comes into the bowl game eager to shut down the quarterback who embarrassed them (twice) on national television. The Longhorns leave disappointed as Hill slices and dices UT’s defense to the tune of four touchdowns through the air.

Just as a reminder that he still is as explosive as he was in the previous meetings, he also breaks off a 60-yard touchdown run in which he hurdles a helpless defender.

Photo: Jon Hardy, Deseret News
Photo: Jon Hardy, Deseret News

Final score: BYU 42, Texas 28 | Final record: 12-2

The Kalani Sitake era gets off to an incredible start and Ty Detmer becomes a hot name around the nation for head coaching vacancies but decides to come back to lead BYU to even greater heights as star pupil, Tanner Mangum, readies for his time to shine in 2017.

Maybe this all sounds impossible and dreamlike. Then again, so did 1984.


![Dylan Cannon](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2539/253958/25395882\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Dylan Cannon ------------------------------

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.

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