BYU Two Wins Away From ‘Ultimate Fan Bracket’ Title, Trash Talk Billboard Near Utah’s Campus
Apr 20, 2020, 11:30 AM
BYU Basketball fans cheering during game in WCC Tournament on March 9th, 2020. (BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
(BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
PROVO, Utah – The BYU fan base continues to come together for online Twitter polls. After sending Cosmo from not placed in the mascot bracket to National Champion, now BYU fans have their eyes set on being the best fans in college basketball.
On Monday, BYU defeated Tennessee in the Elite 8 of FOX Sports’ “Ultimate Fan Bracket: College Basketball Edition.” Now BYU is two wins away from the best fan base title and with a championship, BYU fans would get the chance to place a billboard near rival Utah’s campus.
The underdogs are still alive! @BYUBasketball advances to the Final Four in our Ultimate Fan Bracket 🙌 #FOXFanVote pic.twitter.com/MeteePmIvy
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 20, 2020
Yes, that’s right. The winner of this bracket gets to place a smack talk billboard on or near their rival’s campus. So there’s an actual prize to winning this contest, unlike the mascot bracket.
Where or what would be on the billboard is not yet known, but it’s sure to ignite the rivalry banter if BYU gets a billboard.
The billboard will be paid by Fox Sports and this is what Fox said will be on the billboard for the winning fan base.
“Oh, just a nice friendly message that basically says, we’re better than you and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. That’s right, we might not have March Madness this year but we’re still giving you the opportunity to rub your greatness in your rival’s face. Isn’t that what being a college basketball fan is all about?”
BYU draws blueblood in Final Four of Ultimate Fan Bracket
Next up for BYU in their quest to win the billboard is their toughest test yet. No. 1 seed Indiana awaits the Cougars in the Final Four and the Hoosiers have over 1 million followers on their team Twitter account to BYU’s 33,786 followers.
Voting begins on Monday and will go to Thursday.
Michigan. Indiana. UNC. BYU.
The Final Four in our Ultimate Fan Bracket is locked in 🔒🔥 #FOXFanVote pic.twitter.com/4jAp1vp9kk
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 20, 2020
BYU and Indiana have gone up against each other twice all-time on the actual hardwood with the last meeting coming in 1973. Indiana, coached by Bob Knight, won both meetings in 1971 and 1973.
If BYU finds a way to get past Indiana, they will face the winner of the North Carolina-Michigan matchup.
Path to the Best Fan Base
Like the mascot bracket, BYU was in a play-in game to make into the round of 64. Cougar fans defeated Creighton in the First Four, then knocked off the Missouri Tigers in the round of 64. BYU fans then made a big statement knocking off Michigan State in the second round.
Then the Cougars took down Dayton in the Sweet 16 in a vote that nearly compiled 100,000 votes. Then BYU’s most comfortable win coming in the Elite 8 against Tennessee.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
