BYU football: Cougars begin bowl preparations

PROVO — Will BYU return to Las Vegas for the fifth consecutive year?

Or will the Cougars make an inaugural trip to a relatively new bowl in the city that used to be their postseason home-away-from-home — San Diego?

In the aftermath of BYU's dramatic 26-23 overtime victory over Utah on Saturday, the Cougars (10-2, 7-1), who are now No. 16 in the Associated Press poll, No. 13 in the coaches' poll and No. 14 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, are awaiting to receive a bowl invitation from either the Las Vegas Bowl or the Poinsettia Bowl.

This year's bowl matchups won't be announced until next Sunday, according to Mountain West Conference officials, after the Bowl Championship Series pairings have been released.

The Las Vegas Bowl has the first choice of bowl-eligible Mountain West Conference teams. Last week, Las Vegas Bowl executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy told the Deseret News that a 32-person committee will determine the participating schools.

"Utah has not been in our game for a long time and there is a mindset that a fresh team is exciting," Kunzer-Murphy said. "We like BYU and they've been a great partner over the years. We feel we have great options."

BYU played in the San Diego-based Holiday Bowl from 1978-1984, and again from 1989-1991. The Cougars' final appearance in the Holiday Bowl was in 1993.

"Either (BYU or Utah) is a win for us," Poinsettia Bowl committee member Scott Flaming told the Deseret News Saturday. "What it comes down to generally is who travels — who puts bodies in the seats."

Senior tight end Andrew George, who caught the game-winning, 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Hall in the win over Utah, said he doesn't have a preference when it comes to his team's bowl destination.

"It doesn't matter to me. To play in a postseason game is awesome. It's an honor. It's something you earn. So to play in a postseason game is great. The Las Vegas Bowl has done a great job. They treat us well when we're down there. I'm sure the Poinsettia would do the same. So to me, it doesn't matter."

Said coach Bronco Mendenhall: "What I've learned is, I don't have much control over that. The pecking order is already in place. We'll take whatever game we get."

Regardless of the destination, both the Cougars and Utes are assured a meeting with a Pac-10 opponent. The Las Vegas Bowl has the No. 5 pick from the Pac-10 while the Poinsettia Bowl gets the No. 6 selection. The top four Pac-10 teams will go to the Rose, Holiday, Sun and Emerald Bowls, respectively.