BYU Football Undefeated In 2022? ‘Interesting Shot,’ Says CFB Writer

PROVO, Utah – Could BYU football go undefeated in 2022? Anything is possible. But with a schedule that features five Power Five opponents, with four of those teams in the KSL Sports Way-Too-Early Top 25, it would be a daunting challenge.

One college football writer thinks they could have a shot if they get by one team early in their schedule. ESPN’s Bill Connelly was on Twitter announcing that his rosters for the 2022 seasons are together. In the following tweets after that announcement, he mentioned that if BYU gets past Baylor on September 10 in Provo, the Cougars could have an “interesting shot” at an undefeated season.

BYU too—win that one, and they’ll have a pretty interesting shot at 12-0. https://t.co/xutS7CnaFs

— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) February 6, 2022

Connelly brought up BYU in response to a tweet one of his followers sent that we will “learn a lot” about Baylor after the BYU game. That’s when the creator of the SP+ ratings chimed in about the Cougars, who are coming off back-to-back double-digit win seasons.

Is there a path for BYU football to go undefeated in 2022?

Let’s think about this possible undefeated path for a second by looking at BYU’s 2022 schedule.

If BYU gets by a tricky game against USF in Tampa to open the season (don’t be surprised if the Bulls are much improved with one of the top transfer portal classes this year), they would need to pull off an upset against Big 12 Champion Baylor. If BYU gets by Baylor, who crushed BYU last year in Waco, this is where Connelly’s “interesting shot” at an unbeaten campaign comes into play.

Keep in mind, Connelly emphasized it’s interesting, not an “overwhelming” chance at running the table.

Oregon would be the following week in Eugene. The Ducks are in the KSL Sports preseason rankings, but they have a first-time head coach in former Georgia DC Dan Lanning. There’s no talent shortage at Oregon, but is Auburn transfer Bo Nix the answer at QB?

After the Ducks, BYU has a pair of Mountain West teams that won bowl games in Wyoming and Utah State. Unfortunately for Wyoming, the Pokes have been decimated by the Transfer Portal, to the point their head coach had to issue a public statement that they will find a QB.

Utah State finished in the final AP Top 25 last year. They will be making their first trip to Provo since the 2018 season.

That’s just the first month of the season.

The rest of BYU’s schedule includes games against Notre Dame in Las Vegas, Arkansas in Provo, and road games against Boise State and Stanford.

Top priorities for BYU in 2022

There’s also the potential for an undefeated season. But the number one priority for BYU football has to be staying healthy, their top-end talent taking significant steps forward in their games, plus player development to sure up the depth. It’s a lot to ask. And when you’re a team outside of a power conference, it’s challenging to find a road towards an undefeated campaign. But Kalani Sitake’s program performed well in big games, going 6-1 against Power Five opponents last season.

Replacing Tyler Allgeier at running back will be a top priority plus being more stout against the run on defense will also play significant roles in BYU potentially making a run at a magical season that they haven’t experienced since 1984.

Less than seven months away till we start to find out.

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 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper. 

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