Darnell Dickson - Daily Herald | Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:00 pm
There will be no questions about the BYU football team's strength of schedule in 2009.
The Cougars announced their non-conference slate on Tuesday and, as rumored for months, BYU opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against the Oklahoma Sooners in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. The game will be televised on ABC or ESPN as part of ESPN's second annual Kickoff Week.
Oklahoma is currently ranked No. 1 in the country and plays No. 2 Florida for the BCS championship on Thursday.
"We appreciate the unique opportunity of being part of the first college game played in the new home of the Dallas Cowboys," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Given the strong football traditions of Oklahoma, BYU and the Dallas Cowboys, it's a fitting matchup and a perfect venue for what should be a great football game."
The Oklahoma game will be followed by another road trip south to play at Tulane on Saturday, Sept. 12, before returning home against Florida State on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Cougars also host Utah State on General Conference weekend (Friday, Oct. 2).
It's easily one of BYU's most ambitious schedules ever.
"We are excited about our non-conference schedule for next season," Holmoe said. "There were several teams involved in making things work out and we appreciate all those who worked hard to make it happen. The home schedule should be one of the best in school history. In addition to perennial football power Florida State, fans will enjoy home games with in-state rivals Utah and Utah State as well as TCU, Colorado State and Air Force in conference."
In order to add Oklahoma, BYU had to reschedule a home-and-home series with Arizona State that was due to begin in 2009 in Tempe. So far, no word from BYU if that series will pick up again, but the Arizona Republic is reporting the 2011 game between Arizona State and BYU in Provo has also been canceled.
BYU won its only previous meeting against Oklahoma, 31-6 in the 1994 Copper Bowl.
In a press release, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, "I don't think there is a better place than Texas to celebrate the kickoff of the 2009 college football season, and I don't think you will find a better stadium for watching that football action than our new home in Arlington."
The Cougars have split a pair of games with Tulane, losing 41-27 in the 1998 Liberty Bowl and scoring a 70-35 victory over the Green Wave in the Black Coaches Association Classic to open the 2001 season.
Florida State won the two previous meetings with BYU (1991 and 2000). The Cougars and Utah State will meet for the 79th time in 2009. After its 34-14 win in 2008, BYU owns a 42-33-3 advantage in the longtime series.
• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com
BYU FOOTBALL 2009
NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
Oklahoma (12-1 in 2008)
• First thought: The top-ranked Sooners could lose outstanding sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford to the NFL -- among others -- but there will be plenty of high-caliber talent returning.
Tulane (2-10 in 2008)
• First thought: Tulane lost its final eight games of the season and head coach Bob Toledo has a lot of work to do.
Florida State (9-4 in 2008)
• First thought: The Seminoles aren't the powerhouse they used to be, but a 42-13 victory over Wisconsin the Champ Sports Bowl proves they are on the right track.
Utah State (3-9 in 2008)
• First thought: New head coach Gary Anderson will have some good offensive talent to work with, but the Aggies haven't won in Provo since 1978.