How Long Can BYU Remain on Top?

Deja ECU?

Early in 2008, ECU came from out of nowhere to beat a pair of top twenty teams, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, and stake their claim to the #1 Quality Wins ranking. But the Pirates quickly fell to earth squeaking by Tulane in week 3 and then losing back to back to back against NC State, Houston, and Virginia.

Will BYU follow the ECU model or can they make a championship run deep into the season?

If, and it’s a big if, BYU gets by the Seminoles the schedule turns favorable with games against Colorado State, Utah State, UNLV and San Diego State leading up to the showdown in Provo with TCU on Oct 24th.

Meanwhile the rest of the field plays catch up.

Miami could get their first, as early as week 4, if they can string together quality wins against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Alabama could overtake the Cougars in week 6, if they can add Arkansas and Mississippi to their resume.

An undefeated Southern Cal squad would need to wait until week 7 in South Bend.

For Big XII powerhouse Texas it would be week 8 (Mizzou, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State) and for the Florida Gators circle Halloween Night in Jacksonville (Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia).

Beyond BCS Busting

BYU has a chance to do what no other non-BCS conference team has done: get to the top 5 quickly, beat four top twenty teams (Oklahoma, FSU, TCU, and Utah) and play for the national title.

But don’t get too excited – yet – there is simply too much football to be played (see ECU 2008), too many teams that will need to stumble (see Auburn 2004), and too many factors that need to align (see USC 2003) to make this once in a lifetime opportunity a reality.