BYU Now Viewed as Power Five Program
The Atlantic Coast Conference has given Brigham Young University an opportunity by naming them a Power Five team, sources told ESPN.
ACC teams who schedule BYU will now be fulfilling a league requirement to play one non-conference Power Five opponent each year.
The reason behind the change has been attributed to fewer non-conference opportunities for the ACC. ESPN also stated that the ACC believes games against BYU would help the league’s overall strength of schedule.
However, Deseret News attributes the good news to Athletic Director Tom Holmoe, who made a special effort behind the scenes. When the Courgars first decided to leave the Mountain West Conference, Holmoe had to scramble to create a competitive schedule.
The recognition of Power Five status should create scheduling opportunities, helping BYU to secure a full season of quality opponents. This opportunity creates a higher likelihood of fulfilling the dream of Cougar fans: another national championship.