BYU’s bowl game options were always limited this year, regardless of the final record.
In its last year of independence, the Cougars could only play in an ESPN-owned event that does not have a clear conference tie-in. It makes the options limited now as BYU awaits its bowl destination.
“Looking forward to finding out the destination,” head coach Kalani Sitake said this weekend. “Not really that important to me [where] or even the opponent right now. It is just extending the bowl prep and getting those extra practices. That is going to be key for our program and our development. Especially for those younger guys.”
Here are the main options for BYU as waits for its destination:
New Mexico Bowl
Albuquerque was always a strong possibility from the start of the year — and remains one of the strongest still. Because there are multiple conference tie-ins with Conference USA, the American, the Sun Belt and the Mid-American, it is an open bowl for BYU to get in.
If BYU heads to New Mexico, it would likely play a team out of the Mountain West.
The game is on Dec. 17, one of the earliest bowl games every year. The downside would be BYU would likely not be able to fit the maximum 15 extra practices allowed for bowl game prep. Because of the short turnaround, the Cougars may only get 12 practices in.
First Responder Bowl
ESPN could also place an independent team in Dallas. CBS Sports projected BYU could play Kansas on Dec. 27 on SMU’s campus. It would give the Cougars an opponent from its future conference, which would be enticing.
From a program perspective, though, the draw of the First Responder Bowl would be how late it is played. It would give BYU time to rest most of its players who are questionable to return for an early date, while also letting the Cougars practice the full 15 times.
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Here’s another pre-Christmas possibility.
The Dec. 19 contest has two open slots to fill. Because of the variety of teams that could get in, the projections on this game vary.
Armed Forces Bowl
A game in Fort Worth at TCU, BYU could face a team from the American. CBS Sports projected SMU as a likely team to fill the spot for the AAC, preparing to face a candidate of ESPN’s choosing.
Frisco Bowl
A couple of projections have BYU heading to Frisco as another open slot. On Dec. 21, it would be a sweet spot in terms of timing. Frisco Bowl representatives were in Dallas looking at Memphis and SMU as potential candidates for that bowl game. However, BYU’s opponent in this would not necessarily have to be out of the AAC.
