Another great article about Colorado and BYU

Football
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Linked by history, BYU and Colorado could become quite the pair in the Big 12 ByDaveMcCann
(Dave McCann - Deseret News) Jul 27, 2023 [excerpts and highlights only]

If Colorado does in fact leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big 12 as is expected Thursday (Reports: Colorado in ‘deep discussions’ to move from Pac-12 to Big 12 - Deseret News), it will find another convenient travel partner along its border but with a few significant differences — unlike its manufactured rivalry with Utah, Colorado and BYU are connected by history.

The last time the Cougars and Buffaloes shared a football field was at the 1988 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, California. It was the game where kicker Jason Chaffetz booted a pair of fourth-quarter field goals, including a 35-yarder with 2:33 remaining to win 20-17. Prior to the Freedom Bowl meeting, BYU and Colorado last tangled in Boulder, Colorado, on Sept. 26, 1981. Future NFL star quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Steve Young combined for five touchdown passes and the No. 9 Cougars routed the Buffaloes 41-20.

The two programs are close in career winning percentage with BYU at .581 and Colorado at .571. The Buffaloes have 26 conference championships. The Cougars have 23. BYU has played in 40 bowl games. Colorado has suited up in 30.

Both teams have spent the last 12 years in a strange place. The Cougars survived the landscape of independence, while the Buffaloes became uncomfortably accustomed to the bottom of the Pac-12. In 12 seasons of post Big 12 football, Colorado has mustered just two winning seasons, including a 4-2 COVID-19 year in 2020.

BYU managed 10 winning seasons during its run as an independent. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked as a bypass to something better. The Cougars make their long-awaited debut in the Big 12 in September. Whether Colorado joins them and becomes a travel partner or not, both programs share another thing in common — they have tremendously challenging roads ahead.

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What does it mean for BYU and Utah with Colorado leaving Pac-12 for Big 12? (msn.com)

Not long after Colorado announced the move, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported that the Big 12 will look to add one to three more schools to join Colorado in 2024.

“The odds of remaining at 13 schools in 2024 is slim,” a source told McMurphy. “We need to get to an even number for 2024, and our long-term vision is 16.”

The Big 12 will first look at adding other Pac-12 members, according to McMurphy — with Arizona the most likely candidate — before looking at possible other additions from the Group of Five if nothing materializes there.

Other Pac-12 schools that McMurphy listed as potential expansion candidates include Utah, Arizona State, Oregon and Washington, with the Four Corner schools of Utah, Arizona and Arizona State being the Big 12’s “dream scenario.”

Hmmmmm, do I hear an echo?

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Echo echo echo, echo from University Utah Rice Eccles (echo ) stadium all the way down south 15 miles to Sandy Utah. U said should we leave Pac12 And join Big 12?

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Naaaah who needs them? Arizona should come.

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Done deal. A10 picks off Or and Wash. most likely Stanford and Cal leaving Az, ASU and Utah to go to the B12. Called it when UCLA and USC left a year ago.

Wonder if the Commish of the Pac 12 and Craig Thompson are related?