I'm thinking Nebraska and here is why. BYU suspensions, talent gap and home field advantage. I think their #1 RB will be out as well with injury.
I also have issue with the fact that BYU is a mid major program, and they stunk it up last year with five losses to other mid-major schools, while only beating three P5 schools. To get out of mid major status, they need to join a conference. Play 9 P5 schools plus an additional one or two in the non-con. Even an independent schedule like that will get BYU out of "mid major" classification.
"I'm thinking Nebraska and here is why. BYU suspensions,
talent gap and home field advantage. I think their #1 RB will be out as well with injury."
I agree with you about the game, but there isn't a talent gap at lots of positions. BYU's 8th linebacker is a good player. All the WR on the roster are good players, and our 2nd string QB is a potential All American in a couple of years. When you say talent gap it sounds like you think BYU is a Sunbelt team with a couple nice players.
I also have issue with the fact that BYU is a mid major program, and they stunk it up last year with five losses to other mid-major schools, while only beating three P5 schools. To get out of mid major status,
they need to join a conference. Play 9 P5 schools plus an additional one or two in the non-con.
Even an independent schedule like that will get BYU out of "mid major" classification.
Haha. "Let them eat cake."
The Pac X won't let BYU in because they don't want a Mormon school in the conference. It's referred to as "cultural differences". BYU's geography and refusal to play Sunday games are probably deal breakers for the Big 12. BYU would love to join a P5 conference.
BYU is playing the best games they can get right now. They can't just make a few calls and fill the whole schedule with H:H's with anyone they want all season long. The schedule shows the challenges BYU faces, getting late season games, and getting home games. They are playing the best schedule they can find and still get 6 home games.
Away games in 2015: Nebraska, UCLA, Michigan, Missouri ("Neutral"), San Jose State, and Utah State.
Home games in 2015: Boise State, Connecticut, East Carolina, Cincinnati, Wagner (part of the deal to play Missouri), and Fresno.
The program has been down for a few years, but still wins plenty of games in down years. I think you would have a hard time saying BYU's facilities and on the field performance are not at least on par with a middle of the pack P5 school.
There is a talent gap. Nebraska has been consistently recruiting above BYU for quite some time.
2011: Nebraska 16th ranked class, BYU 68th (9 Four Star players in Huskers class...0 in BYU's)
2012: Nebraska 30th ranked class, BYU 72nd (8 Four Star players in Husker class....2 in BYU's)
2013: Nebraska 22nd ranked class, BYU 64th (7 Four Star players in Husker class....1 in BYU's)
2014: Nebraska 36th ranked class, BYU 66th (2 Four Star players in Husker class...1 in BYU's)
2015: Nebraska 29th ranked class, BYU 64th (4 Four Star players in Husker class...0 in BYU's)I used 247's composite team rankings.
So over the course of the past 5 years (should cover most players still on rosters of both) Nebraska has had 30 four star players enter into its program and BYU has seen 4. Let that sink in for a minute. That's a considerable gap. In order to show talent on the field, you have to recruit talent. Coaching up only goes so far. Maybe you're not convinced...let's go with 3 star players...
2011: NU: 11 Three Stars, BYU: 10 Three Stars
2012: NU: 9 Three Stars, BYU: 6 Three Stars
2013: NU: 16 Three Stars, BYU: 15 Three Stars
2014: NU: 22 Three Stars, BYU: 12 Three Stars
2015: NU: 16 Three Stars, BYU: 15 Three StarsOnce again used 247's composite team rankings. Over 5 years, Nebraska has had 74 three star recruits, BYU has had 58.
So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with BYU getting most of recruits from the unranked and 2 star area. Nebraska gets its chunk from the 3 and 4 star area. That translates to a talent gap on the field. That is not to say that there are not talented players on BYU's team...there are. But overall depth will NOT be as talented as what Nebraska can field. Whether any BYU fan wants to admit it or not...there is a talent gap. Just like there is a talent gap between Nebraska and other Big Ten members who have recruited better over the past 5 years (read: Ohio State).
There is the Hoke-affect of course. This is a very odd phenomena that takes top 10 recruiting classes and can't get them to play together. Weeping, gnashing of teeth and lots of egg laying ensues. See Michigan the past few years for an example of this. Nebraska had a coach like that once named Callahan.
Anyway, all the rambling aside...I see a pretty big talent gap between my beloved Huskers and BYU...that doesn't guarantee victory (see Northwestern...they beat teams they shouldn't with their talent all the time) but it's a pretty good indication of overall talent level and the gap between the two teams.