UCLA was easily the biggest game in years -- I don't know how any could believe that playing unranked Michigan this week is "bigger" than the game against a top ten team in UCLA last week. It boggles my mind how many people don't recognize the national significance that a win at the Rose Bowl would have represented for this program. How many opportunities will BYU have (at least in independence) to better position themselves for an appearance in the college football playoffs and, ultimately, a shot at the National Championship. Is that not the chief objective among the myriad of expectations Mendenhall has set for this team?

When BYU surrendered a 10 point 4th quarter lead while on the road at the Rose Bowl, they simultaneously surrendered any hope that they would be included in the college football playoffs this year. They have not been in a more favorable position to interject themselves into serious discussion for a championship in the past decade. That was their chance, and all of us watched as it slipped through their proverbial fingers. With that loss BYU finds themselves neck-deep in the turbulent and unforgiving waters of national insignificance. They are barely afloat at this point; a loss at Michigan would merely mark their submersion.