Utah Utes Face Tough Schedule While BYU Has Easier Path Per CBS Sports
As of writing this article we are officially only 2 days away from August.
Why does that matter?
Well because simply put, August means football.
High School sees it’s first games start up here in Utah on the 15th, the NFL preseason will fill the entirety of the month, and college football’s famed week 0 will begin on August 23rd.
The month will be filled with fantasy football drafts, Friday night lights, Saturday tailgates and a mad scramble to make sure you have access to all the channels required to watch your favorite team.
Yet as quickly as the excitement and anticipation builds, it can evaporate just as easily.
One unexpected setback, a derivation from the expected win-loss total can do a team and a fan base in.
That’s why monitoring the strength of schedule is so important to fans who are trying to set realistic expectations.
You could have one of the best teams around, but deal with a gauntlet of games that are against you.
Whether that be consecutive road games in tough environments or drawing the short end of the straw in conference play, it all matters.
CBS Sports writer, Shehan Jeyarajah, just recently listed his rankings for all 16 teams in the Big 12, of course including the Utah Utes and BYU Cougars.
As far as his slate entails, the Baylor Bears were given the ranking of “toughest schedule in the Big 12” and rightfully so with a six week tour date featuring Auburn and SMU in preseason play and then Arizona State, Kansas State, and TCU to begin Big 12 play.
For the local teams, they were given very different rankings.
Utah, attempting to bounce back after an injury ridden season, will have an uphill climb according to Jeyarajah as he tabs them with the 3rd toughest schedule in the Big 12, right behind Baylor and TCU.
Counting an exciting week 1 tilt with former Pac-12 foe UCLA and a loaded conference slate here’s Jeyarajah’s synopsis of the road ahead for Utah:
“A matchup against Nico Iamaleava should be a sensational opening to the season, but the conference schedule is very difficult. The Utes play teams picked No. 1-4 in the preseason poll, and then have tricky games against Kansas and BYU on the road as well. The offense will have to quickly round into shape as Utah hosts Texas Tech and Arizona State in pivotal conference matchups.” ( Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports)
Tough games abound for Utah but there’s no reason to let the strength of schedule persuade you from feeling good about seeing a better year than last seasons outing.
Despite a docket of tough contests, Utah is credited as being a tough out themselves for any other Big 12 team who has them on the schedule.
So yes, it can be difficult for Utah to host Texas Tech, but it’ll be just as difficult if not more so for the Red Raiders to go into Salt Lake City.
The parity of the Big 12 is rampant, and Utah, despite their given schedule can still very much be a predominant force in the conference.
For their in state rival, BYU, their schedule is much more manageable according to the CBS article but also reiterates Utah’s standing as a true competitor.
“The Cougars are working through a quarterback change, but the program will have plenty of time to get back on track. BYU plays four of the teams picked bottom five in the conference and doesn't play a serious contender until Oct. 18 against Utah. Road games against Iowa State and Texas Tech are likely losses, but BYU could be favored in nearly every other game, even without consistency at quarterback.” ( Shehan Jeyarajah, CBS Sports)
As one can tell from the snippet, Jeyarajah is not too concerned with the Cougars dates outside of a handful of road games in Ames and Lubbock.
In fact, his level of concern is little enough that he gave BYU the 16th hardest schedule in the Big 12 AKA the easiest schedule in all of the conference.
Even with no idea of who will be under center for the Cougars, there is still a solid path for BYU to be stout.
With how competitive the Big 12 is, a loss here or there won’t necessarily doom any chance of appearing in the Big 12 championship game.
4 teams last year had a conference record of 7-2, tied for the best in the Big 12.
It will be more so about taking care of the teams your supposed to take beat and adding an “upset” win here or there to boot.
How the season ends up, no one knows, college football is known to be sporadic and unpredictable, but as of now, you can see two different paths for two different schools, and how they navigate it will be worth watching every weekend.
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