Let's forget this one-game-at-a-time mentality and look at the big picture. Is Brigham Young, from a lowly non-Bowl Championship Conference, now in position for the big party prize — a berth to the BCS title game Jan. 7 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena?
The first release of the BCS standings won't come until next month, but that's simply too long to wait. This question requires an immediate answer, and thankfully there is Sam Chi, aka the BCS Guru.
Sam's first simulated BCS standings put BYU at No. 8 and within striking distance of the top two spots that earn berths to the BCS title game.
Granted, there is a lot of football to be played, but that could be a good thing for the Cougars. BYU's schedule is manageable and teams ahead of it must face the meat of their schedules. This essentially will allow the Cougars to be drafting for much of the season while the big boys crash into each other.
BYU is likely still celebrating its victory over Oklahoma, but if the clean-living Cougars don't have a milk hangover on Saturday, they should romp past Tulane.
After Saturday, six of BYU's final 10 games will be at home, including the three toughest ones: Sept. 19 against Florida State, Oct. 24 against Texas Christian and Nov. 28 against Utah.
Florida State's loss to Miami on Monday could actually hurt BYU. Had the Seminoles won, they would have been held in higher regard entering the Sept. 19 game at Provo. Nonetheless, BYU's dramatic move up the polls — 12 spots in the coaches poll to No. 12 — puts it in a strong position and resembles a path Alabama followed in 2008.
The Crimson Tide was No. 24 in the Associated Press poll when it opened against No. 9 Clemson. The Crimson Tide rolled to a 34-10 victory and moved up 11 spots. By the time the Southeastern Conference title game arrived, Alabama was No. 1. Had it beaten Florida, Alabama would have been in last season's BCS title game.
Although Clemson struggled the rest of the season and finished 7-6, its No. 9 preseason ranking was the springboard for Alabama's run to the top spot.
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