Ryker Matthews is being honest. I've heard Bronco speak candidly about the motivation factor after an early loss and your bowl destiny is determined already.

There is some blame to go around to players and coaches but it's also just human nature. As fans it's easy for us to point the finger but going to school and playing college football is tough, but then considering a lot of our guys are older, married, have kids etc. it's hard to stay 100% motivated and hungry throughout the season playing exhibition game after exhibition game then take a month off and head to a lower level bowl. Football takes such a toll mentally and physically.

K State's Bill Snyder made a great comment regarding the importance of conference divisions for this exact reason. Even already being in a P5 conference and not having older married players, when you've lost your chance of a special season early on, you're still apart of a conference race, a division race, the parity and upsets give you new life and something to play for until the end unless your dead last in the league.

I think the "pro MWC'ers" for BYU ONLY if the P5 never invites us, are saying it for that reason. The small % of the teams that are true national title contenders are on another planet from where BYU truly is. The rest of the country plays for divisions and conference titles and it's fun and is a big deal. I'm not saying I'm pro MWC if we're ever truly shut out, but I see where they are coming from. I never cheer for Utah but I certainly have been following the p12 conference race just because it's far more interesting, then BYU playing exibition games late in the season.