BYU football 2019 season preview: Best and worst-case scenario

BYU football rebounded from a dismal 2017 season to go 7-6 last year but will Zach Wilson and the Cougars survive a tough schedule in 2019?

Things have been uneven for the BYU Cougars since head coach Kalani Sitake took the reins of the program. The program enjoyed a nine-win season in 2016 but fell dramatically to just 4-9 the following season. BYU football rebounded last year, though, going 7-6 overall and finishing the year with a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Zach Wilson took over the starting quarterback job for the Cougars last season as a freshman and the offense really took off after that. Surrounded by talented weapons like graduate transfer running back Ty’Son Williams, tight end Matt Bushman and wide receiver Gunner Romney. Playing behind a stout offensive line that should only get better given the youth on the unit, the BYU offense should be fun to watch.

The defense has plenty of ground to gain, though. Despite the fact that they have more secondary talent than BYU football is accustomed to, losing star linebacker Sione Takitaki to the NFL Draft will be difficult to contend. Perhaps the most important factor for the defense is keeping potential standouts like Zayne Anderson and Chris Wilcox healthy after they underwent surgery in the offseason.

Making matters difficult for BYU football is a tough schedule for the 2019 season. There are few breaks on the docket for the Cougars and, if they want to better the 7-6 mark the put forth last year, they’re going to need to put something special together. With that in mind, let’s look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for BYU this year.

BYU football best-case scenario

• Aug. 29 – vs. Utah – L
• Sept. 7 – at Tennessee – W
• Sept. 14 – vs. USC – W
• Sept. 21 – vs. Washington – L
• Sept. 28 – at Toledo – W
• Oct. 12 – at South Florida – W
• Oct. 19 – vs. Boise State – W
• Nov. 2 – at Utah State – L
• Nov. 9 – vs. Liberty – W
• Nov. 16 – vs. Idaho State – W
• Nov. 23 – at UMass – W
• Nov. 30 – at San Diego State – W

Record: 9-3

Starting off the season with the Holy War against the Utah Utes is an unwelcomed wrinkle to the Cougars schedule in 2019. Not only is this a high-emotion game every year but it also pits BYU against a potential winner of the Pac-12 this season. Even on the best of days for the Cougars, winning that matchup seems like a pipe dream.

The same thing can be said of their late-September matchup against Washington, another contender in the Pac-12 for 2019. BYU just simply can’t match the talent shot-for-shot that the Huskies are going to put on the field.

After that tough early-season stretch, though, BYU does get at least somewhat of a respite down the stretch. That trip to Utah State in early November, though, stands out as a potential loss, especially on the heels of the always-heated matchup against Boise State. The Aggies are a bonafide sleeper in the Group of 5 this season, led by star quarterback Jordan Love and the suspect Cougars defense could have their work cut out for them in that game.

BYU football worst-case scenario

• Aug. 29 – vs. Utah – L
• Sept. 7 – at Tennessee – L
• Sept. 14 – vs. USC – L
• Sept. 21 – vs. Washington – L
• Sept. 28 – at Toledo – W
• Oct. 12 – at South Florida – W
• Oct. 19 – vs. Boise State – L
• Nov. 2 – at Utah State – L
• Nov. 9 – vs. Liberty – W
• Nov. 16 – vs. Idaho State – W
• Nov. 23 – at UMass – W
• Nov. 30 – at San Diego State – W

Record: 6-6

In the simplest terms, the worst-case scenario for BYU football in the 2019 season is simply not surviving their opening stretch on the schedule. We’ve already touched on the matchups against Utah and Washington but then having to play a Tennessee Volunteers team that appears to be on the upswing in addition to a volatile but talented USC Trojans team could spell disaster for the Cougars.

If that wasn’t bad enough, having to take on the Broncos — even in Provo — and then go on the road to play Utah State is going to test BYU as well. In a worst-case scenario situation, the Cougars could still be licking their wounds after an 0-4 start to the season and drop both of those tough midseason contests.

Considering the schedule, a .500 season being the worst outcome for BYU might not seem bad. But as Sitake tries to earn some long-term job security with the Cougars, he’s certainly hoping that this team can contend with a brutal schedule and eclipse the seven-win effort they put forth a year ago.