BYU Cougars

Mendenhall: Cougars schedule is tough 'all the way through'

Published Aug. 3, 2015 9:01 p.m. ET

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With BYU opening up the 2015 season with matchups against Nebraska, Boise State, UCLA and Michigan, respectively, the front end of the Cougars schedule has received a lot of attention.

However, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall took a moment to remind everybody that the rest of the schedule isn't exactly filled with cupcakes.

“As part of independence, the schedule is usually front-end loaded. This year more than ever there is sustainable balance,” Mendenhall told the Deseret News. “I wouldn’t discount Cincinnati or East Carolina or Fresno State or Utah State for a second. This is a difficult schedule all the way through. In past seasons in independence, it would be front-loaded then kind of fall off at the end. I don’t view this schedule that way, even though what I’ve been hearing is the schedule at the front end. If you examine it front to back, there are some really good teams all the way through it.”

After the Cougars matchup with Michigan they will play AAC opponents UConn, East Carolina and Cincinnatti, then move on to face Wagner, San Jose State, Missouri and Fresno State before finishing out the regular season against Utah State.

While the back end of the schedule is tough, the Cougars first four opponents have been inthe forefront of their minds.

“It’s something we talk about frequently as a team and as an offense and as a coaching staff. We have a great opportunity in front of us,” quarterback Taysom Hill told the Deseret News. “That is kind of built our mentality through our offseason workouts, to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to be prepared. Not just for Nebraska, but doing all the injury-prevention stuff so we can last through September and through the season. It’s definitely on our minds.”

(h/t Deseret News)