Is this really a more difficult schedule than this year?

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/mtn-west/2013-byu-cougars-football-schedule.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would say the ND, Wisconsin, BSU, :utard: , and Texas games make it one tough game harder than this year's schedule.

craigoscarson wrote:
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/mtn-west/2013-byu-cougars-football-schedule.php

Clearly more difficult.

KingCoug wrote:

http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/mtn-west/2013-byu-cougars-football-schedule.php

Clearly more difficult.

Having seen the games and knowing how close BYU was to winning some of those games it is easy to say "clarly more difficult". BUT go back to the beginning of 2012 and check the predictions and look at the schedules without knowledge of 20/20 hindsight vision (remember when GT was top 25?) and I think it's pretty close.

I agree with this thread. The difficulty of U and BSU (nothwithstanding both were down years) both on the road, with five days rest, make next year only slightly more difficult. And since BYU can negate the supposed advantage a Sr QB usually provides, not to mention the clear downsides and limitations to Mr Nelson, and with Hoff and KVN back, it really is only a slightly more difficult 2013. Wont NDs Defense be down over 2012?

We won't know for sure until the games are played. Teams can make very dramatic shifts in talent in a single year.

I am waiting to see the last two games on the schedule. We know for certain that we won't have the horrible games at the bottom (Idaho and NMSU). That alone leads to an upgrade.

Perception wise yes, by far.

BroncoBot wrote:

craigoscarson wrote:
http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-13/mtn-west/2013-byu-cougars-football-schedule.php

Clearly more difficult.

Having seen the games and knowing how close BYU was to winning some of those games it is easy to say "clarly more difficult". BUT go back to the beginning of 2012 and check the predictions and look at the schedules without knowledge of 20/20 hindsight vision (remember when GT was top 25?) and I think it's pretty close.

Pretty close until you also go back and OSU and SJSU were supposed to be cake.



It just all depends on how the teams show. But the issue isn't whether ND was tougher this year or next. Every game was winnable. Every game. But there were at least 6 that were games that could go either way. You win some and you lose some.



If you are just asking which schedule would be likely to produce the most losses. 2013.



But 2012 turned out even tougher than expected.



Utah and BSU about as expected. ND better than most expected. OSU and SJSU and USU better than expected. GT weaker than expected.



2013 just does not have as many sure wins - thus more that could go either way.



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Schmoe wrote:
I would say the ND, Wisconsin, BSU, :utard: , and Texas games make it one tough game harder than this year's schedule.

Honestly, I think the difference is that they're name teams and not Utah State and SJSU



Personally I think Ga Tech will be better than Wisconsin, BSU, Utah, and Texas by seasons end.



I like that we get Ga Tech, BSU, Utah, and Texas at home

Wisconsin is overrated, Texas is poorly coached and coming to us, Utah will take a step back without Star (they had a ton of seniors) and I don't know what to make of Boise, but they are coming to Provo. I think you could make an argument that Notre Dame will not be better than 2012, Ga Tech will be better but they'll be in Provo, this years SJSU and Utah State would both be competitive against anyone on next years list and that USU will be much worse next year. I honestly don't think the 2013 schedule is more daunting in retrospect than this seasons schedule was. The bowl results and final records of the 2012 teams make a good argument that while we have a nice schedule for next year it certainly isn't monumentally more difficult than this years.



Throw in the fact that Nelson is gone and all we're really losing is Ansah, Kaveinga, and Hadley (unless any of you think that the Bradens really played well this year) and replacing them with quality players (though the verdict might be out on Trammel)

Lawboy wrote:
Perception wise yes, by far.

+1

Schmoe wrote:
I would say the ND, Wisconsin, BSU, :utard: , and Texas games make it one tough game harder than this year's schedule.

Boise State, Utah, and Georgia Tech will be less difficult than 2012 because we get home games. Still tough games, but we get home field advantage. Notre Dame 2013 will be will be slightly less difficult than 2012 - Notre Dame is #1 team in the country. Notre Dame will still be top 10, but likely not #1.



Texas 2013 will likely be slightly more difficult than Oregon State 2012. Texas 2012 edged OSU 2012 in the Sun Bowl. I'm not sure a game at Wisconsin 2013 will be that much more difficult than SJSU 2012 (a top 25 team). Wisconsin 2013 will be more difficult because of location, but not by a wide margin. Wisconsin has a new coach and loses its leading-rusher Montee Ball.



The top six 2012 games are equal to, or perhaps even beat out, the top six 2013 games.

The main difference in the 2013 schedule that makes it more difficult isn't at the top.



We travel to Utah State and Hawaii = more difficult. We travel to Virginia instead of hosting Washington State = more difficult. We trade out creampuffs Idaho and NMSU for Middle Tennessee (8-4 - beat Georgia Tech by 21) and Houston on the road = more difficult. It's the bottom half of the 2013 schedule that solidifies it as one of the most difficult schedules ever for BYU.

YNot wrote:

I would say the ND, Wisconsin, BSU, :utard: , and Texas games make it one tough game harder than this year's schedule.

Boise State, Utah, and Georgia Tech will be less difficult than 2012 because we get home games. Still tough games, but we get home field advantage. Notre Dame 2013 will be will be slightly less difficult than 2012 - Notre Dame is #1 team in the country. Notre Dame will still be top 10, but likely not #1.



Texas 2013 will likely be slightly more difficult than Oregon State 2012. Texas 2012 edged OSU 2012 in the Sun Bowl. I'm not sure a game at Wisconsin 2013 will be that much more difficult than SJSU 2012 (a top 25 team). Wisconsin 2013 will be more difficult because of location, but not by a wide margin. Wisconsin has a new coach and loses its leading-rusher Montee Ball.



The top six 2012 games are equal to, or perhaps even beat out, the top six 2013 games.

The main difference in the 2013 schedule that makes it more difficult isn't at the top.



We travel to Utah State and Hawaii = more difficult. We travel to Virginia instead of hosting Washington State = more difficult. We trade out creampuffs Idaho and NMSU for Middle Tennessee (8-4 - beat Georgia Tech by 21) and Houston on the road = more difficult. It's the bottom half of the 2013 schedule that solidifies it as one of the most difficult schedules ever for BYU.

Exactly.



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I disagree about GT being an easier game. They've improved by leaps and bounds over the second half of the season and you can't discount the revenge factor after the butt-kicking we gave them this year.



Utah being easier I'd call a toss up; we will be at home, but I don't think we'll see another U team as poor as the one this year for some time.



We should be able to handle BSU at home.

Schmoe wrote:
I disagree about GT being an easier game. They've improved by leaps and bounds over the second half of the season and you can't discount the revenge factor after the butt-kicking we gave them this year.

Agreed. Remember how that easy Oregon St. game turned out this year, after blowing them up in Corvallis?

At this point, I would give a slight edge to 2013 being more difficult and that could increase whenever the final 2 teams are added...





Opponents in both 2012 and 2013

Utah

Utah State

Boise State

Hawaii

Notre Dame

Georgia Tech



Opponents in 2012 only

Washington State

Oregon State

Idaho

San Jose State

New Mexico State

Weber State



Opponents in 2013 only

Virginia

Houston

Wisconsin

Middle Tennessee State

???

???

The utes also lost Kruger from the D-line.. I'd assume Utah's D to be worse next year and their O to improve with a returning soph Qb.



All that said; Has Utah's record or talent ever made a difference in how hard the game is/ :sick: