While the Las Vegas bowl seems the most likely scenario for BYU at this point, BYU could find itself bowling with the big boys this holiday season.
During a teleconference this past Tuesday, the BCS announced 18 potential teams still in contention for a Bowl Championship Series game. BYU was 1 of the 18 teams announced. Now, at this point it is a long shot, but crazier things have happened this year (i.e. Appalachian State). BYU is only guaranteed a BCS berth if they end up ranked in the top 12. They would also be in contention IF their final ranking is better than 16, and higher than the champion from a BCS conference. The Cougars are currently ranked #19.
For an at-large selection, BYU need 9 wins and ranked in the top 14. If fewer than 10 teams in the top 14 are eligible, the at-large pool will be expanded to the top 18 in the BCS rankings.
Imagine if this were to happen this Saturday…
UCLA beats USC
Arizona beats ASU
UCLA is Pac-10 champ (according to their tie-breaker method)
BYU pounds SDSU, and slips into the top 16 in the BCS and is ranked ahead of Pac-10 champ UCLA.
BYU takes UCLA’s spot in the Rose Bowl.
Again, it’s a long-shot, but definitely possible! We might need other help as well (Hawaii loss to WA, OSU beating Oregon), but either way who would of thought a 2 loss non-BCS school had a shot at this point in time? So, let’s not only cheer hard for our Cougars this weekend, but GO Bruins! And GO Wildcats!