Here is my take with future schedules and SOS. I assume that Holmoe and Co schedules teams with the intent/belief that MOST of these teams will have .500 or higher records that will provide BYU with decent SOS by the end of the season. Obviously, the schedules are put together years in advance. Play some good P5 teams and play some of the upper fourth of the non-P5 teams. We can complain all night about BYU’s SOS, but if our opponents don’t perform as expected, we are screwed.

Who would’ve thought our SOS for 2015 would be so high…..in the upper 60s? I think many of us thought the SOS would be a much better – but our opponents did us no favors this year. So many teams ended the season with worse records than the year before. Take a look…..

2015:
Sept 5 – @ Nebraska (ENDED SEASON 5-7……They were 9-4 the last two seasons. 5-7 is a very poor record for the Huskers. Since 1969, NU has only missed going to a bowl game three times – 2015=3rd time)
Sept 12 – BOISE STATE (ENDED SEASON 8-4……. Most of us thought they would be 11-1 or 10-2 – like they have been for the past 10 years)
Sept 19 – @ UCLA (ENDED SEASON 8-4…..Most of us thought they would be 10-2 or 11-1 and be in the playoff discussion)
Sept 26 – @ Michigan (ENDED SEASON 9-3….This surprised many of us based on their 2014 record – but we figured Harbaugh would turn things around rather quickly)
Oct 2 – UCONN (ENDED SEASON 6-6…Most of us thought they would have been much worse.
Oct 10 – EAST CAROLINA (ENDED SEASON 5-7….Based on 2014, this was a big disappointing year for the Pirates. We expected them to be around 9-3 and competing for the AAC championship.
Oct 16 – CINCINNATI (ENDED THE SEASON 7-5….Based on 2014, this was a big drop off and we expected them to be 10-2 or 9-3 with their returning QB)
Oct 24 – WAGNER COLLEGE (DO I EVEN NEED TO QUALIFY THIS….Last week, nearly all of the SEC teams played FCS teams. Some even struggled i.e. The Citadal)
Nov 6 – @ San Jose State (ENDED SEASON 5-7….They were 3-9 last year, so they were better than I had expected them to be)
Nov 14 – Missouri (ENDED SEASON 5-7….We all expected them to be much better – more like the 11-3 (2014) and 12-2 (2013)
Nov 21 – FRESNO STATE (ENDED SEASON 3-9….I think we expected them to be a little better, like their 6-6 record in 2014. They played BSU in the MWC Championship game last year.
Nov 28 – @ Utah State (ENDED SEASON 6-6…We expected them to be 8-4/9-3 and compete with BSU for the MWC title…...What were we thinking??)

Now for 2016 - - We are all excited about our 2016 season and I believe our SOS COULD be top 20-30. If our opponents tank their games like many did this year, back to the 60s-70s

2016:
Sept 3 – In AZ vs Arizona (This team could be mediocre AGAIN– bottom half of the Pac 12, maybe even another 6-6 season. If RichRod leaves, it could get even uglier.)
Sept 10 – @ Utah (Could be really average – losing their starting QB and RB to graduation…Might finish 6-6 or 7-5)
Sept 17 – UCLA (Could be good again – LOTS of weapons back at QB, RB and WR. An 11 or 10 win season is realistic expectation)
Sept 24 – West Virginia (They have not won more than 7 games over the past four regular seasons)
Sept 30 – TOLEDO (9-2 this year – but their coach just left and they will lose some key players to graduation)
Oct 8 – @ Michigan State (We should probably expect this team to have 10 or 11 wins again next year. They have been consistent the past several years)
Oct 15 – MISSISSIPPI STATE (Since Mullen began coaching in 2009, MSU has averaged 7.9 wins. Last year they were 10-3, this year 8-4. We should expect MSU to be in the 9 -10 win range)
Oct 22 – @ Boise State (Will the old BSU 10 or 11 win team show up in 2016 or will it be a repeat of 2015)
Nov 5 – @ Cincinnati (Will Cincinnati regain their 9-10 win season mojo or be back to the 2015 7-5 record?)
Nov 12 – SOUTHERN UTAH – This game will likely not help our SOS – no matter how well SUU does in their league…)
Nov 19 – UMASS (3-9 in 2015. I don’t think we should expect much change next year…)
Nov 26 – UTAH STATE (Will USU improve next year?? I think 6-6 or 7-5 should be expected in 2016)
Poinsettia Bowl vs Mountain West (OH BOY!!! HOLD ME BACK, I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOWL GAME!!!!!! At least it will not be on Christmas Eve.)

Let me end by saying this - - I don't care that much about SOS. I really do care SO MUCH MORE about Ws and Ls. I'd love to see us go 9-3 OR BETTER next year - - lead by Taysom Hill.