College football bowl projections for BYU football, Utah, Utah State

At the midway point of the 2023 college football season, there is a strong possibility that BYU, Utah, and Utah State all have a chance to make a bowl appearance this year. The Cougars, with a 4-2 record (1-2 Big 12), are just two wins away from becoming eligible for the postseason in their first season in a Power Five conference. However, after a lopsided loss to TCU last week, the question arises: Is Saturday’s home game against Texas Tech a must-win for bowl eligibility?

Meanwhile, the Utes (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) are on track to become bowl eligible with only one more win needed. With upcoming tough competition in the Pac-12, their performance in the next few weeks will determine if they can secure another high-profile bowl appearance after making the Rose Bowl for the past two years.

As for the Aggies (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West), their chances of making a bowl game for the 11th time in 13 years remain uncertain. Despite their up-and-down season, Utah State has remained competitive throughout the year and still has a chance to string together a winning streak with their remaining schedule.

So, how has the first half of the season affected the midseason bowl projections for these Utah FBS schools? Let’s take a look at what several national media outlets have predicted:

For Utah football, Kyle Bonagura from ESPN projects them to play in the Holiday Bowl against Duke. Mark Schlabach, also from ESPN, predicts they will play in the Los Angeles Bowl against Wyoming. Jerry Palm from CBS Sports projects them to play in the Las Vegas Bowl against Iowa. Other projections include the Las Vegas Bowl against Wisconsin (Brett McMurphy, Action Network, Brad Crawford, 247 Sports), the Alamo Bowl against Kansas (Erick Smith, USA Today), and the Las Vegas Bowl against Iowa (Steve Lassan, Athlon Sports). College Football News predicts the Sun Bowl against Virginia Tech, while The Athletic predicts the Alamo Bowl against Kansas.

For BYU football, Kyle Bonagura projects them to play in the Independence Bowl against Washington State, while Mark Schlabach predicts they will play in the First Responder Bowl against New Mexico State. Jerry Palm projects them to play in the Armed Forces Bowl against Army, while other projections include the Independence Bowl against Washington State (Brett McMurphy, Action Network), the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Nebraska (Brad Crawford, 247 Sports), the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Minnesota (Erick Smith, USA Today), the Armed Forces Bowl against UTSA (Steve Lassan, Athlon Sports), the Gasparilla Bowl against South Florida (College Football News), and the Liberty Bowl against Kentucky (The Athletic).

For Utah State football, Kyle Bonagura projects them to play in the Idaho Potato Bowl against Miami (Ohio), while Mark Schlabach predicts they will play in the same bowl against Buffalo. Brad Crawford predicts they will play in the Hawaii Bowl against SMU, and Erick Smith predicts the Frisco Bowl against Louisiana-Lafayette. Other projections include the Cure Bowl against Appalachian State (College Football News) and the Hawaii Bowl against Tulsa (The Athletic).

What stands out is that while Utah has a chance to secure a high-profile bowl appearance, they are currently projected to be on the outside of most top Pac-12 bowl options due to the competitiveness of the league this season. Their upcoming games against ranked opponents like USC, Oregon, and Washington will determine their postseason options.

For BYU, the wide variety of bowl projections reflects their status as an independent team. They have the possibility of facing Power Five opponents like Washington State and Kentucky, as well as Group of Five opponents that may not excite the fanbase. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl could be a win-win option for the team and fans, as it matches up a Big 12 team against a Big Ten opponent in Phoenix.

Utah State’s projections have improved since the beginning of the season, with several outlets now predicting a bowl appearance for the Aggies. While some projections have them missing the postseason, their remaining schedule and competitive performances give them a chance to secure a bowl game.

Overall, the next few weeks will be crucial for these Utah FBS schools as they strive for bowl eligibility and position themselves for favorable postseason matchups.

Reference

Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.