So you were saying 9-3 before the season with (Taysom, Jamaal, Brown, others)
But now you would be disappointed with 8-5 despite this schedule without Taysom and Jamaal. With a true freshman QB, freshmen RBs and the injuries that have taken place?
Despite people saying BYU's September was the toughest in college football. Additionally, with people thinking BYU still has a tough schedule ahead. Not as tough as September, but still tough with dangerous games.
ECU - loses to Florida at Florida by 7 and defeats VT by 7. They did lose to Navy by 24. But a close loss to Florida and defeating VT shows a dangerous team
Cincinnati - defeated Miami at home by 11. They did lose to Memphis by 7 (but so did we). The win over Miami shows a dangerous team
Missouri - defeated UConn by 3 (keep in mind how close our game was tied at 10), Missouri defeated South Carolina by 14. The lost to Kentucky at Kentucky by 8 was not good but Kentucky is 4-1 with it's only loss coming from Florida by 5.
USU - lost to uu by 10 at Rice Chex. uu defeated Oregon by 42 and Fresno by 21 and Michigan by 7. Rivalry game in Logan on senior day, playing uu tough = dangerous game
The truth is no body knows how good a team is until about the fifth week. This is generally after teams have played their "Wagner" schedules and are entering conference play. However, BYU has been in the meat of their schedule from week one.
For BYU to finish 8-4 at this point minus for the season: Taysom and Jamaal then missing Brown, Tuiloma, Hine, and others for more than one game would be a successful season - IMO!
BYU's lack of depth is a fact that involves 85% of the players serving missions vs. less than 23% during Edwards' era. It was pointed out on either AFR, ESPN 960 or Sports Nation that the missionary program depletes the depth chart by two years, every year. In other words, for BYU to be successful to the point of winning 9 or more games (with the current schedules and future schedules) they cannot suffer injuries. In the 1984 Championship season, every starter played the entire season - no significant injuries.
8-4 for me would be a good season! 9-3 a great season! and 10-2 amazing!
Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!