BYU AD Tom Holmoe Releases Statement In Response To Scheduling Reports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe released a statement in response to scheduling reports that transpired over the weekend.

Reports swirled around Twitter regarding Washington reaching out to BYU to try and schedule a game this week. Washington’s game against Washington State was canceled on Sunday and BYU has an open date this weekend.

“We remain open to exploring options to add football games, and have been throughout the season,” Holmoe’s statement read. “In that exploration process there are a variety of factors that need to be considered, including location, prep time for the game, the chances of the game being played, the testing protocols that are in place and what the game would do for our resume.

“At this point of the season, having played nine games and being nationally ranked, we are involved in discussions for possible matchups with other teams, on common dates, for the benefit of both teams,” the statement continued.

A statement from Tom Holmoe. pic.twitter.com/NgDp1WrJoK

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 23, 2020

The reports started on Sunday afternoon when ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Kyle Bonagura tweeted that Washington reached out to BYU. The Cougars did not accept the offer.

Washington has reached out to BYU about scheduling a game for this week, but so far BYU has resisted, sources tell me and @ESPNRittenberg

— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) November 22, 2020

About 90 minutes later, FOX Sports and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported that Washington reached out to BYU on Saturday. The Cougars wanted to wait until after the College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday afternoon.

SOURCES: #BYU turned down the opportunity to play #Washington this coming weekend. UDub had reached out yesterday but was told BYU wanted to wait until after the CFP rankings Tuesday to gauge their place. "It's off the table."

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 23, 2020

Finally, Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports reported more context on the situation. Thamel tweeted that BYU was interested in playing Washington, only if they could lock in a contract immediately. BYU was concerned that the Pac-12 will make Washington play Utah on Sunday if Arizona State can’t face the Utes.

Source: Some context on the potential BYU-Washington game. BYU is interested in playing, but only if they can lock in a contract immediately. They are concerned that Pac-12 will make UW play Utah on Sunday if ASU can't play. "If we can get a game locked in, we want to play."

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 23, 2020

The Pac-12 announced last week that teams within the conference can schedule non-conference opponents if their game was canceled because of COVID-19 on the opposing team. In order for the game to take place, the non-conference team had to abide by the following criteria.

• “All Pac-12 testing and related protocols must be adhered to by the non-conference opponent;
• The non-conference game will in all cases be a home game for the Pac-12 team, broadcast by a Pac-12 television partner; and
• If a Pac-12 opponent becomes available by the end of day Thursday in any given week, the Conference game must be played in lieu of any non-conference game.”