Looking ahead at BYU football schedules

2018 and 2019 are both full with 12 games for the duration of the existing ESPN contract.



For the next TV contract, these are the games that the TV networks would be bidding on:

2020 - BYU home games with Michigan State, Utah State, Houston, San Diego State, Missouri, and likely an FCS game.

2021 - BYU home games with Utah, Arizona State, USF, Boise State, Virginia, and likely an FCS game.



The next time BYU has a road game opening is 2021 (1 opening) and the next open non-FCS home game slot is in 2022 (3 openings). This also means that the Notre Dame return game to Provo would come no earlier than 2022 if it comes at all (ND could buy out return game).

Here are the next 5 years of football schedules as it stands today with the USU series extension:



2018

Cal

McNeese State

Utah State

Hawaii

Northern Illinois

New Mexico State



@ Arizona

@ Wisconsin

@ Washington

@ Boise State

@ UMass

@ Utah



2019

Utah

USC

Washington

Boise State

Liberty

Idaho State



@ Tennessee

@ Toledo

@ USF

@ Utah State

@ UMass

@ San Diego State



2020

Michigan State

Utah State

Houston

San Diego State

Missouri

[FCS]



@ Utah

@ Arizona State

@ Minnesota

@ Northern Illinois

@ Boise State

@ Stanford



2021

Utah

Arizona State

USF

Boise State

Virginia

[FCS]



@ Arizona (in Las Vegas)

@ Washington State

@ Georgia Southern

@ USC

@ Baylor

@ Utah State



2022

East Carolina

Baylor

Utah State

[FCS]

[OPEN]

[OPEN]



@ Utah

@ Oregon

@ Liberty

@ Boise State

@ Stanford

@ [OPEN]

Fido wrote:

This also means that the Notre Dame return game to Provo would come no earlier than 2022 if it comes at all (ND could buy out return game).

What's the timeframe on the return game for the buy-out clause?

As far as appeal to TV contracts, anybody know what our Nielsen ratings have been over the period of the ESPN contract? Did it change much last year? I'm curious about how much the sorry outing of 2017 may hurt our appeal for future contracts. My guess, though, is that the dip was less than 10%, meaning BYU is a fairly robust brand whose 2017 season was a total aberration. If we come slow out of the gate for 2018, though, I think ratings will drop precipitously. Or maybe just mine will!

There is a thread called tv ratings. I do not think I updated for last year but the link is there to do it.

Man look at 2020-2021. Those are very solid schedules and SOS.

CrimsonCoug wrote:

This also means that the Notre Dame return game to Provo would come no earlier than 2022 if it comes at all (ND could buy out return game).

What's the timeframe on the return game for the buy-out clause?

I've not heard a definitive timeline--though Holmoe has said in the past that BYU would be "patient" in getting that return game on the schedule. This was what Holmoe had to say as recently as January 2018:

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2018/01/24/byu-athletic-director-tom-holmoe-talks-espn-contract-cougars-future-as-a-football-independent-and-more/

He said BYU has been in recent discussions with Notre Dame for the Irish to make their long-awaited return trip to Provo for the football game they owe BYU. Holmoe said it will probably be settled with a game, and not a cash buyout, but it could take awhile.

I think we should charge them interest for the wait.

If I'm ND I schedule the return game asap. Who knows if BYU will have improved in the next couple of years and make it a trap game for them.