PROVO — Even if BYU weren't opening next football season against the defending national champions on national television, the Cougars would probably be looking at one of their most difficult schedules ever this fall.
BYU released its 12-game, 2000 schedule on Friday, and after facing Florida State in the Pigskin Classic, it doesn't get much easier for the Cougars. They will take on two foes from the Atlantic Coast Conference (FSU and Virginia), one from the Southeastern Conference (Mississippi State) and another from the Big East (Syracuse). Then there's Mountain West Conference games at Air Force, Colorado State and Utah.
"This is one of the most ambitious schedules we've undertaken," said athletic director Val Hale.
Ambitious indeed. Want more proof? Get this:
The Cougars will make three trips to the East Coast the first six weeks of the season (including back-to-back trips the first two weeks). They will play Syracuse for the first time in early September and visit Virginia, which defeated BYU 45-40 in Provo last season, the final day of that month.
BYU will travel 10,874 miles during the season, more than any other Division I program except for Hawaii.
The Cougars will face six teams that posted a 4-2 record in bowl games in 1999. In all, 2000 opponents posted a .594 winning percentage last season. FSU finished 12-0 and Mississippi State 10-2.
It marks the first time since 1991, when BYU started with Florida State in the Pigskin Classic, at UCLA and at Penn State, that BYU has opened a season with three road games. Four of the Cougars' first six contests are away from home.
BYU will play three made-for-TV Thursday Night games on ESPN. As a result, they will have only five days between the Air Force and Mississippi State games in September and five days between the San Diego State and Wyoming games in October.
The Cougars also have two bye weeks, giving them 15 days between the Utah State and San Diego State games and 16 days between the Colorado State and New Mexico games.
"This is certainly one of the most challenging and exciting schedules we've had since I've been at BYU," said coach LaVell Edwards, who is entering his 29th season at the helm. "We've certainly got our work cut out for us, but we're really looking forward to it."
Hale defends BYU's decision to play such an arduous string of non-conference games, despite the fact the Cougars must replace their starting quarterback, middle linebacker and cornerbacks.
"We will always continue to schedule top teams," he said. "I don't see many teams on our schedule we can't beat."