It's a puzzle: Scheduling requires moves, counter moves, cooperation

"But that doesn't mean that we won't schedule someone that people think, 'They're out of your league, why did you schedule them?"' Holmoe said. "I'd love to play Florida, and Auburn would be great. We've played Texas, Michigan, Ohio State all in bowl games, but during the regular season would be fun. We've never played Virginia Tech. We'll find the teams that will be good for our program. That's the bottom line."

The scheduling rivalry

Another issue is whether to schedule each other, as has happened traditionally. USU's Barnes has said he may have to postpone the series with each school to build up the schedule for the Aggies.

"One of them (Utah or BYU) brings balance," Barnes said. "But both doesn't at this time, especially like next year, when they're on the road. Eventually, we'd like to get to a point where we have one of them at home and one on the road each year."

Cancellations of games have caused some speculation that BYU-Utah State and Utah-Utah State are not worth it any more because of the lack of competition Utah State has given the other two squads for the greater part of the past decade.

But don't mention that up on the hill or down in Provo.

Holmoe agrees that sometimes USU's priorities and BYU's "don't jibe," but insists the rivalry is helpful to both schools and the LDS populations that follow them because of the tradition of playing the game on the Friday night before LDS General Conference. Holmoe says this is beneficial because if the Cougars don't get that game, they have to play a road game after the Saturday priesthood session of conference ends, which means a game played well into the October night on the road with fewer fans than usual.

"Utah State is a great game for us and for the LDS players and fans at Utah State, because we have no conflict that weekend," Holmoe said. "For our culture, that is a great thing."

Hill said playing USU still remains a priority, despite postponing the series to be able to play Notre Dame in 2010.

"We have traditions that we want to keep in football," Hill said. "We don't want to get too big for our britches."

The sacrificial lamb

Another thing that irritates local fans with a superiority complex is when their school schedules a game against a top-notch team, but it's a one-time deal on the road. Fans either feel their schools have enough clout that they should get a home-and-home, or they see it as a sign of disrespect that the BCS schools won't come to Utah.

The ADs just don't see it that way.