GOAL #1: NY6 Game. The money, excitement and stage associated with NY6 are something BYU has not tasted since 1996. That's pretty insane considering our history. Let's not talk about Playoffs until it expands beyond 4 teams or we make an NY6.

GOAL#2: National Ranking. With Independence there is no conference to follow, no standings to keep tabs on and help feed intrigue into a season. I'd argue that BYU being in the Top 25 is more important than it has ever been for fans and players.

GOAL#3: Perception of being a winning program. 5,6,7 win seasons are bad for BYU. We don't have the luxury of being in a P5 conference. We don't have access to that money or the prestige. If TCU wins 4 games, they can bounce back. If Utah has back to back losing seasons, they can come back. They have built in recruiting. BYU, like in times of old, and like UCF and Boise today needs to win games. Lots of games.

With those goals in mind, this would be my recipe for an Independent Schedule:

1 Top Tier P5 Program (Example: LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington) - or - 1 Mid Tier P5 Program (Example: UCLA, Cal, K-State, Ole Miss)
2 Bottom feeder P5 (Oregon St, Kansas, Rutgers)
1 Top Tier G5 Program (Boise, UCF, Cinci, Memphis)
1 Local G5 Program (Air Force, CSU, UNLV)
2 Mid Tier G5 Programs (Fresno, Troy, Nevada)
2 Low Tier G5 Programs (New Mexico St, Uconn, SJSU)
Utah
Utah State
Hawaii

This gives BYU a couple of things. First off there are 4 P5 games on that schedule, and a couple of strong G5 teams. This schedule gives BYU up to 5 "rivalry" (used loosely) type games in a given season. Hawaii, USU, Boise, Air Force are regional or traditional rivalries that I think are important. Another key here, as much as possible, is to not front load the schedule. If the season starts with Utah, LSU, and UCF for example, that spells trouble. Best case is to start with someone like Air Force or Fresno, then have a Kansas, then Utah with the LSU and UCF later in the season. I know this may be difficult, not stating that it will work out all the time.

The schedule is strong enough to matter, but not so overdone that BYU can't compete. Let's not pretend we are P5 when it comes to recruiting, we aren't. Not close. We don't have the depth for schedules like we have coming up. But if BYU can get double digit wins, and with a very good team beat their top P5 team, then we know that the media give attention. Look at this year, look at the begging of the 2014 season. When BYU wins people talk. And looking at the proposed above, there are likely 2-4 ranked teams on that schedule.

I don't think BYU can go as light as they were forced to in 2020, but I also see problems with top tier P5 loaded schedules. I think the above gives a good balance.