BYU football notebook: Virginia replaces Washington State on 2013 schedule, Bronco Mendenhall confirms

PROVO — BYU's future football schedules seem to be filling up quickly.

Wednesday, athletic director Tom Holmoe announced the Cougars and Virginia have agreed to a home-and-home football series in 2013 and 2014.

BYU will open the 2013 season at Virginia on Aug. 31, and the Cavaliers will visit Provo on Sept. 20, 2014.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Virginia replaces Washington State on the 2013 schedule.

"Virginia was as a result of Washington State wanting out of the contract," he said. "The (Atlantic Coast Conference) needs games and we've got a nice opportunity there. I like the matchup. Virginia has a really strong academic reputation and they play good football. So to go home-and-home, I like it a lot."

"I really like this series with Virginia," said Holmoe. "It's been more than a decade since we played at Virginia. It should be a great game for BYU fans in that part of the country and will provide a unique travel experience for both teams."

Tuesday, BYU and Michigan announced the two teams will play in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2015.

"I'm really excited," Mendenhall said about playing Virginia and Michigan. "We've been working on them for a long time, at least Michigan."

Washington State visited BYU in this year's season-opener as part of a home-and-home arrangement, with BYU scheduled to visit WSU next season. Will BYU eventually play WSU in Pullman, Wash.?

"That's really up to them," Mendenhall said. "They chose to not want the game. I don't know if we go back there or not."

Last week, BYU announced a home-and-home deal with Cincinnati in 2015 and 2016.

BYU and Virginia have met three times in football, with the Cavaliers owning a 2-1 lead. The last time the two teams met, in 2000, the Cougars won in overtime, 38-35, in LaVell Edwards' final season as head coach. BYU rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit.

TAYSOM HILL UPDATE: While BYU coaches are happy with the progress of injured freshman quarterback Taysom Hill, it's too early to know when he'll be able to be able to rejoin the team.

Hill, who sustained a torn LCL in his left knee and damaged his hamstring after absorbing a hard hit in the waning seconds against Utah State in early October, was projected to be out for 4-6 months. Spring ball starts in March.

"He's three weeks off from the surgery. He's finally starting to get up and move around," said offensive coordinator Brandon Doman. "The diagnosis was far better than what we had anticipated, and what we were kind of dreading at the time. He's in much better shape than we thought he was going to be in. We're quite pleased. Only time will tell. I think we're a month away from really knowing how well the movement is and how fast he'll progress. I don't think we'll know for a little while."

In six games this season, Hill rushed 55 times for 336 yards and four touchdowns, and he completed 42-of-71 passes for 425 yards and four TDs.

HAPPY 100TH: Mendenhall said he didn't know Saturday's game against Idaho would be his 100th as BYU's head coach until this week.

"It surprised me," he said. "I didn't know I'd make it to 100. It seems like a long time."

Odds of making it to 200 games?

"Slim," he said.

EMAIL: jeffc@desnews.com