Which of the first 4 games is a "must win"?

Personally, I'm going with BSU. I recognize that a win in the other 3 would probably be bigger on the national scene, but I would love to beat down the broncos again after last years demolition of our defense in Boise. If BYU goes 1-3 in the first 4 games I want that win to be against BSU, anything after that is icing on the cake.

Easy. Nebraska. As far as "must wins" go it's the only game that matters because it is the next game; but even more bc until BYU is not undefeated; and then maybe BSU, Bc if they lose to Nebraska, then BSU, all the other games are just important games all the way up until game five, with UConn at home, which if BYu has gone 1-3 or heaven forbid, 0-4, BYU risks losing a large chunk of the fan base staring at 1-4 or 0-5 and Tom Holmoe and/or Bronco risks losing any and all job security. Then and only then is the next "must win"

Nebraska, because it's the first game, and the moment for BYU to make first impressions with the whole football world. A lot of people will decide whether or not they will be following, or ignoring BYU based on the first impression made then on national TV during prime Saturday football broadcast time. BSU comes in a close second, because it's at LES, and BYU must win at home. Got to avoid the diminishment of home stadium attendance.



However, I am more confident of wins in these two games than I am in the following two road games. The first game will be vim and vinegar all the way, even on the road. But two more road games against good opponents ((UCLA, Michigan) will be tough.



I am still bullish on the UCLA and MI games, viewed one at a time. But when taken as a consecutive group of four, I would venture to guess the following: odds of losing none: 1/10; losing one: 3/10; losing two: 3/10; losing three: 2/10; losing four: 1/10. By these numbers, chance of winning at least one: 9/10; winning at least two: 7/10; winning at least three: 4/10; winning all four: 1/10.



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I vote for BSU as a must win. It is at home, and the perception of the media and those other programs is that they are superior (P5), and they should beat us on their turf. When we win any of those other games it will only be a coo for us, if we lose any of them that will have been expected and it won't be a negative mark on the program to anyone outside of it or our fan base. BSU is considered a peer / rival that we should be expected to beat at LES and pay them back for the beat down that they gave us last fall.

If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

BSU



I have a lunch bet with a BSU alum on that game. When given a choice, I always vote for free hamburgers

hawkwing wrote:
If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

Most important or Must win? BYU is banking its future on a BSU rivalry? qute frankly, that's almost pathetic.

MesaCougFan wrote:
I vote for BSU as a must win. It is at home, and the perception of the media and those other programs is that they are superior (P5), and they should beat us on their turf. When we win any of those other games it will only be a coo for us, if we lose any of them that will have been expected and it won't be a negative mark on the program to anyone outside of it or our fan base. BSU is considered a peer / rival that we should be expected to beat at LES and pay them back for the beat down that they gave us last fall.

Agree. BYU needs rivals and especially rivalries that will grab eyeballs outside of the Mountain West. Boise St. is a great potential rival. If BYU can exchange punches and beat Boise St. again, that series will be 2-2 in the last four years - that could actually put BYU-BSU on the rivalry map. A BYU-Boise St. rivalry will be great for the fan bases and also generate some national interest.

Cougs_Rule wrote:

If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

Most important or Must win? BYU is banking its future on a BSU rivalry? qute frankly, that's almost pathetic.

I said most important win for a reason. I don't see any of the 4 as being a must win game.

Put BSU but I think I've changed my mind. Beating Nebraska opening week would be a huge jump start to the season and keep the team from being dismissed early.



It seems the narrative is it's easier to overcome losing early than late but I don't think that's true for a team in our position. If BYU loses early it takes moving a mountain to break in to the top 25 where if we are already in it and drop a game late we probably don't fall out due to one loss.

Every game is a must win.



Losing at home is an extra special kind of awful feeling. I chose BSU for that reason. I'm used to losing to quality teams from P5 conferences, especially on the road.

hawkwing wrote:

hawkwing wrote:
If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

Most important or Must win? BYU is banking its future on a BSU rivalry? qute frankly, that's almost pathetic.

I said most important win for a reason. I don't see any of the 4 as being a must win game.

Interesting. Do you see any "must win" games on the schedule this year?

I Think Nebraska would be the game I most expect BYU to win. Cornhuskers with new coach and going against a coach who is pretty familiar with Riley. Also, BYU could absorb a loss in lincoln far easier than losing to BSU in provo (national perception being that losing to a P5 Neb on the road is a better loss than BSU as unfair as that may be). BYU needs to beat BSU, beating Nebraska would be nice too. As has pointed out by others, BYU/BSU is a growing rivalry and personally (being from ID) I'd love to see another smackdown of the donkeys from the liberal hotbed of that great state. BYU already has too many losses to the smurfs.

Cougs_Rule wrote:

If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

Most important or Must win? BYU is banking its future on a BSU rivalry? qute frankly, that's almost pathetic.

Simply for geographic/recruiting reasons I feel that BSU is a more important game than Nebraska.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcZOaOG0YOk



Here's Brian Regan's answer to the OP's question. Enjoy!

Loved it.

BroncoBot wrote:

hawkwing wrote:
If BYU wants to develop the Boise State rivalry then BSU is our most important win of the first 4 games.

Most important or Must win? BYU is banking its future on a BSU rivalry? qute frankly, that's almost pathetic.

Simply for geographic/recruiting reasons I feel that BSU is a more important game than Nebraska.

Um, how many Utah or Idaho (or anywhere) recruits is BYU losing to BSU? For that matter how many head To head recruiting battles are we in with the Donks? I'm not Buying that argument.

Probably home field is best argument.

Ok, you got me. I just hate BSU.