Thanks to Chris Yergensen's long-distance field goal and an overall impressive team performance, Utah appears assured of a berth in either the Weiser Lock Copper Bowl Dec. 29 in Tucson or the Dec. 30 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim.
BYU, though, despite the loss to put its season record at 5-5, will wind up as the WAC representative in the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl if it defeats UTEP next Saturday in Provo and Wyoming defeats San Diego State that night at Jack Murphy Stadium.In that event, BYU, Wyoming and Fresno State would all conclude conference play with 6-2 records.
WAC Associate Commissioner Jeff Hurd said from the Fresno State pressbox Saturday night while he was watching the Bulldogs dismantle San Diego State, 63-37, to finish the regular season with an 8-3 record and a probable Top 25 ranking, that the tiebreaker would work in favor of BYU.
According to Hurd, when three teams tie who did not all face each other during the regular season (BYU and Wyoming didn't play) how they did against the next highest finishing common WAC opponent determines who gets the league's automatic Holiday Bowl berth. Utah and Colorado State are tied for fourth with 5-3 records. Fresno State didn't play Utah so the Utes cannot be used in the tiebreaking formula. But BYU, Wyoming and Fresno State all played Colorado State. Only the Cougars beat the Rams, so BYU would get the berth in the Holiday Bowl, where they would face either Ohio State (9-1-1), Wisconsin (8-1-1) or Penn State (8-2).
The Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl, which covets Fresno State, would select the Bulldogs to oppose either Colorado or Oklahoma of the Big Eight on Christmas Day, and the Copper and the Freedom bowls would take Utah and Wyoming.
However, should San Diego State defeat Wyoming next week, then Fresno State would go to the Holiday Bowl. Assuming BYU defeats UTEP, Fresno State and BYU would tie for the conference crown with 6-2 records and Fresno would get the Holiday Bowl berth because it defeated the Cougars.
In that scenario, Aloha Bowl Executive Director Lenny Klompus said Saturday night that his bowl would take San Diego State and Marshall Faulk. That would leave three teams - Utah, BYU and Wyoming - for the Copper and Freedom bowl berths.
Freedom Bowl official Jim Murray said Saturday that it would be hard to eliminate Utah from a berth since the Utes defeated both BYU and San Diego State and won five of their last six games. Wyoming would be coming off three straight losses.
Though Wyoming would have a better season record than BYU at 7-4, it would be hard to eliminate a WAC co-champion, which would favor the Cougars.
Copper Bowl official Joe Hernandez, who was at the Fresno State-San Diego State game Saturday night, said, "We need to see what's going to be the best for everybody . . . We love Utah. They did a great job for us last year."
The Aloha, Copper and Freedom bowls will have conference calls with the WAC office this week.
"If Wyoming beats San Diego State next week, it makes things pretty easy," Murray added.
In the wacky WAC, don't count on it.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WAC scenarios
If BYU, Wyoming win next Saturday:
Holiday Bowl: BYU (6-5) vs. Ohio State (9-1-1), Wisconsin (8-1-1) or Penn State (8-2)
Aloha Bowl: Fresno State (8-3) vs. Colorado (7-3-1) or Oklahoma (8-2)
Copper Bowl: Utah (7-5) vs. Kansas State (8-2-1)
Freedom Bowl: Wyoming (8-3) vs. USC (7-5) or Arizona, Arizona State
If BYU, San Diego State win:
Holiday Bowl: Fresno State (8-3) vs. Ohio State (9-1-1), Wisconsin (8-1-1) or Penn State (8-2)
Aloha Bowl: San Diego State (7-5) vs. Colorado (7-3-1) or Oklahoma (8-2)
Copper Bowl: Utah, BYU or Wyoming vs. Kansas State (8-2-1)
Freedom Bowl: Utah, BYU or Wyoming vs. USC (7-5), Arizona or Arizona State