More BYU football hype

Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel really likes the Cougars.

In the last four college football seasons we have seen three "mid-majors" crash the BCS party (Utah in 2004, Boise State in 2006 and Hawaii in 2007). Do you think another mid-major will rise up and earn a spot in a BCS game during the 2008 season? If so, which team has the best chance to make it? -- Brett Butler, Boise, Idaho

BYU has all the right ingredients. The Cougars have quietly posted consecutive 11-win seasons. They return practically their entire offense. They're most likely going to be ranked at the start of the season, so it wouldn't take that much to climb into the top 12. And they play a schedule not unlike the one Utah did during its dream season in 2004, with two games against "name" opponents -- UCLA and Washington -- that will add credibility, but whom the Cougars should be favored to beat.

I usually don't get too interested in college football until after the NBA playoffs are over, but all this talk about BYU is pretty awesome.

In my opinion, a lot is riding on quarterback Max Hall. Last season he was good, but not great. Though for a first-time starter with zero Div 1-A experience, he was positively fantastic.

But the jump from good to incredible is a hard one to make. It took Beck a good long while to be able to absolutely carve apart opposing defenses, and most quarterbacks never get there, in my opinion. I question Max's arm strength. We'll see.