BYU Football: Ranking the 5 Hardest Games of the 2015 Schedule
BYU is over a week into its spring football practices, and Bronco Mendenhall surely has his team's focus on the upcoming season. Although the Cougar basketball team is stealing the spotlight so far this month, the football squad has a big year coming up.
BYU's 2015 schedule is among the toughest in school history with big-name games almost every week. The Cougars return several starters, including stars like Taysom Hill and Bronson Kaufusi, and could be poised for a breakout season.
But what games will stand in the way of the Cougars having a big year? Here are five of them.
Honorable Mentions
October 10: vs. East Carolina
ECU is one of those teams that could surprise the Cougars. The Pirates upset Virginia Tech on the road last season, and they have the returning talent to be a good team.
October 17: vs. Cincinnati
Cincy, like East Carolina, could pose a trap for the Cougs. The Bearcats are another under-the-radar-program that could create problems in Provo.
November 28: at Utah State
Trips to Logan are always tough, but BYU walked away with a 31-14 win last time it played there in 2013. Of course, the Aggies beat the Cougs in Provo last year, so it should be a big game for both sides.
5. At Nebraska (Sept. 5)
Nebraska let go of Bo Pelini over the offseason, which leaves room for plenty of question marks. The Huskers return dual-threat QB Tommy Armstrong Jr., but they lost one of the nation's top running backs in Ameer Abdullah.
This game will be huge for both sides, as it is the season opener and Mike Riley's first game as head coach at Nebraska. Starting the year on a good note will be crucial for the Cougs, but it won't come easily.
4. At Michigan (Sept. 26)
Like Nebraska, the Wolverines will also be breaking in a new head coach in September. After the release of Brady Hoke, Michigan picked up former 49ers head man Jim Harbaugh.
Star quarterback Devin Gardner won't be back to lead the Wolverines, although they return several former starters to anchor the 2015 squad. But as was proven last season, you don't have to be a great team to win at the Big House, which will be BYU's goal come September.
3. Boise State (Sept. 12)
Boise State's offense will definitely need to be reloaded, as the Broncos lost star running back Jay Ajayi and quarterback Grant Hedrick over the offseason. But as it has proven for the last several years, Boise is always a contender for New Year's bowls and is a tough team to beat.
Although the game is in Provo this fall, it will be tough for BYU to squeak out a win. This game is sandwiched between road trips to Nebraska and UCLA, and BYU will need to stay focused to win its first home game.
2. Missouri (Nov. 14)
As back-to-back SEC East champions, Mizzou will undoubtedly be a tough team to hang with this season. Especially considering that BYU will play at a "neutral site"—120 miles from Missouri's main campus—getting a win in Kansas City will be a tall task.
It may help that the Tigers have road trips to Mississippi State and Tennessee on both sides of the BYU matchup, which are no pushovers. Undoubtedly, this game is the biggest on the back half of BYU's schedule, and if the Cougs can get a win, it will give them tons of momentum going into the final weeks.
1. At UCLA (Sept. 19)
UCLA is arguably the best team that BYU will face all season, and the Cougs get them on the road in Week 3. The Bruins return 10 offensive starters and brought in the 12th-best recruiting class this past offseason, per 247Sports.
The last thing BYU can do is overlook this game, as they play Boise State the week before and Michigan afterwards. Undoubtedly, this will be a huge test for the Cougs and may be a barometer for the rest of their season.