The Answered Prayer: Part II

No matter how much better BYU is than Utah every year, we always make sure to play poorly enough to keep the game close. Last year's last second "answered prayer" was the epitome of this strategy, but this year's rivalry game was equally excruciating to watch.

BYU dominated the majority of the game, but due to extremely poor execution in the red zone, we were only leading 9-3 toward the end of the 4th quarter. Our defense had played well the entire game, but on Utah's last drive we appeared somewhat tired, and we allowed Utah to grind out a long touchdown drive and take the lead 10-9 with about one and a half minutes to go. Every BYU fan was torn between a sick "not again" feeling, and a feeling of hope based on what happened last year in the same situation.

Our hopes quickly shrank as the Cougars went backwards on the first series. We had one last chance on 4th down and 18 yards to go -- get a miracle or go home. Max Hall took the snap, scrambled a bit, and hurled the ball downfield to a wide open Austin Collie, for a 49 yard gain! Just like last year, BYU's prayer was answered.

We only needed a field goal to take the lead, but rather than take any chances, Harvey Unga smashed into the end zone for a touchdown. The 2 point conversion made it 17-10. Utah had one final series, but their Hail Mary from midfield was batted down, and the roller coaster came to a jubilant end.

BYU has a 1 in 42,512 chance to get into a BCS bowl

How long will we have to deal with this obnoxious nonsense called the BCS? Here's my brother Mark's take on what it would take for BYU to get into a BCS (Bowl Championship Series) bowl game:

Anyway, it just occurred to me that if Hawaii, Oregon, ASU, USC, Tennessee, and San Diego State all lose this weekend, then BYU will get an automatic bid to a BCS bowl! I wonder what the odds are at Vegas for that happening? Each team individually actually does have a decent chance of losing. The reason it matters is that if BYU gets into the top 16 of the BCS rankings and UCLA is Pac-10 champion with a lower BCS ranking, then BYU gets in automatically. So the absolutely critical games are ASU, USC, and, of course, San Diego State.

If ASU and USC don't lose, then the other possibility would be if Hawaii, Oregon and Tennessee lose, and Boston College loses badly. Then BYU would probably end up at #14 in the BCS and would have a great shot at being the fourth and last at-large pick for the BCS bowls (behind Georgia, ASU, and Kansas). This only works because each power conference can have only 2 teams in the BCS bowls, and the Big 10, Big East, and ACC don't have good second options. Even so, the stinking BCS people would probably pick Illinois or Clemson because they are corrupt.

Is that confusing enough for you?

By the way, how 'bout that Utah game? Go Cougars!!!!