National Championship Game - Jan 12, 2015 - AT&T Stadium - Dallas, TX - #2 South Carolina vs #4 BYU

BYU won the first college football game ever played in this stadium when they upset #3 OU and derailed Sam Bradford’s NC hopes. They now look to derail Steve Spurrier's second NC run and become the first “college football playoff” champion. Spurrier's been running his mouth all week about how much the SEC prepares them for this stage and how little he knows about BYU..."Where are they again...Idaho?" Taysom has that pinned up in his locker, and the camera crew gets a sneak peak before the game of him staring at it. ESPN runs a special called “Return with Honor” that details BYU’s “return” to the national football stage, their 1984 national championship compared to this season’s run and the “return” of 21 missionaries to the team this season, an unprecedented number, many of whom play. It’s an awesome 30 for 30 like segment that details the everything from QBU, the real “hail mary” from McMahon, the NC, the 1996 and 2001 teams which some believe started the BCS process, the down years with Crowton years and the “return” to glory under Bronco Mendenhall (unis and all). It ends with Holmoe showing the first glimpse of the commemorative 30 year anniversary, white jersey/royal pant uniform that BYU will don in the championship game. Sweet!

While South Carolina has looked good all season, they’ve never really been tested with an offense like BYU’s. The SEC was barren of great QB's this season and Taysom Hill is, to quote Kirk Herbstriet "a GREAT QB". In addition, Kirk reminds everyone that if you don't know about BYU's defense the last several seasons then you are not a "real college football fan."

Hill leads the team out and goes ¾ for 41 yards (Leslie - 12 yards, JSwag - 8 yards, Mahina - 21 yards) and JSwag bounces off the pile and trots into the endzone from 2 yards out...7-0 Cougars, 12:22 left in first. Teams exchange punts for most of the first quarter until JSwag hits the gap and bolts 42 yards for another touchdown! 14-0 BYU heading into the second quarter.

Spurrier adjusts well on defense and holds BYU at 14 at the half but his offense cannot score against Bronco’s aggressive D. The “hit heard ‘round the world” comes when Daniel comes blazing through the line on a delayed safety blitz and absolutely lights up Dylan Thompson. Graham Rowley also knocked him down early in the 2nd and Fua got another sack just before halftime to kill their best drive of the half. BYU goes in with a 14-0 lead.

SoCaro looks shocked as Spurrier is lighting into them in the tunnel. Herbstreit and Fowler are beside themselves as they cannot figure out how this is happening. Herbi, ever diplomatic, suggests that “anyone who hasn’t noticed BYU’s defense under Bronco Mendenhall is not a real college football team...the guy can flat out coach.” Sadly, Thompson nails their TE over the middle for a TD early in the third, Lasike fumbles the ball and then Thompson takes it to the house from 35 yards out to tie the game heading into the 4th. The Gamecocks makes it 17 unanswered points when they tack on a FG with 10:02 left. Hill has struggled a bit with his throwing so Anae goes back to his “bread and butter” which is Hill and JSwag on the option. BYU runs the ball on 7 straight plays to get to midfield. Finally Hill hits Leslie over the middle and then JSwag gets into “FG range” on a keeper. However a false start penalty and a delay of game cause BYU to get forced into a 3rd and 18 from the 29. Hill runs a designed draw to get to the middle of the field and get a bit closer. 4th and 11 from the 21...BYU’s kicker has made 4, repeat 4 FG’s all season long. He can’t miss this one right? Do you even send him out to make the most important play of the game? Anae does. Stewart goes out to hold and the camera catches a giant smirk on his face as they trot onto the field. The ball is snapped and Stewart stands up, fakes a pass out into the flat for Blackmon and nails Mahina over the middle for a wide open TD. Ballsiest call in the history of mankind? Probably. BYU’s D continues to pressure Thompson and Herbie declares, “I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m not sure Carolina believed they'd see this type of speed outside of the SEC.” BYU holds the Gamecocks off and wins 21-17...Christian Stewart wins the MVP award and ends his career on an unmatched high note.

Player of the Game - Christian Stewart - 1 pass attempt, 21 yards, 1 game winning TD

BYU joins Florida, LSU, Nebraska, Miami, USC, Oklahoma and Alabama as the only school to win multiple national championships in the last 30 years.

Given the Big-12’s exclusion to the CFP, they act quickly and BYU is invited to the Big-12 and Pac12. BYU uses the conferences against eachother and gets all their sports into the conference they really want...Pac12. The Pac12 also gives CU back to Big12 who is desperate to get to 12 and add a CFP game. (Big12 also adds UCF)

BYU’s 2015 schedule looks like this: @ Neb, BSU, @ UCLA (now div game), @ Michigan, bye, vs Fresno State (moved), vs ASU, @ UofA, vs USC, bye, vs UW, @ Stanford, vs Cal, @ Oregon, vs Utah (“rivalry week”)

Can’t wait for 2015...