Gabriel Mayberry-USA TODAY Sports
BYU played many top-tier games during the 12 years of independence. These top 10 games BYU played are at the top of many lists. This list of teams and their rankings here are based on opponents and gameplay. The Cougars played many Power 5 opponents, Top 25 schools, and rivals from old conferences over the 12 years.
10. Michigan Sept 26, 2015
BYU didn’t win this game and was shut out for the first time since 2003 the final score was 31-0. The Cougars went into the game ranked number 22. Michigan came out and beat the Cougars in every aspect of the game. All the points in this game were put up in the first half of the game and the Cougars only put up 105 yards of total offense. This game made my list due to the power 5 school and how much this game came to be a turning point of the 2015 season.
9. Notre Dame Oct 8, 2022
The Cougars came into this game ranked 16 and 4-2 on the season. BYU lost this game as well due to injuries, offensive struggles from the first play of scrimmage and a defense that couldn’t keep the Notre Dame offense off the field. The Cougars lost 20-28 for a second straight lose of the season. The defense struggled to stop the run game and a heavy dose of the tight ends of the fighting Irish. This game made it on here due to the many times that BYU played Notre Dame over the independence era but the Cougars could never come out with victory.
8. Wisconsin Sept 15, 2018
The Cougars went into Camp Randall and pulled off the ultimate upset of the Number 6th team in the country. BYU came out with the win 24-21 due to a missed field goal to end the game and an amazing stop by the defensive when the Badgers tried to make a final comeback to win the game. This win for the Cougars was won at the line of scrimmage and the run game. The BYU Wisconsin game made it here for the pure thrilling events of this game.
7. Oregon Sept 17, 2022
Another game that BYU didn’t win but could have during the independence era. This 2022 game against Oregon was a hard fought for the cougars. The Cougars struggled in every aspect of the game from the first kickoff to the final whistle. BYU found the endzone a couple of times due to the tight ends but the defense couldn’t keep the Ducks out of the endzone. This game ended 41-20 with both teams being ranked at 12 and 25. The Oregon game made it here as this was a highly talked about game and was a building block for the future BYU defense.
6. LSU Sept 2, 2017
The final loss on this list was LSU another shut out during the independence era one that came on a neutral site. BYU came into this game 1-1 with a season that came full of ups and downs. This season for BYU ended with no bowl game. The Cougars lost 27-0 as they never crossed midfield and the defense got stomped on. BYU ended this game with fewer than 100 yards of offense. This game made it here as it was a big game for the Cougars to play in.
5. Virginia Oct 30, 2021
Coming in at number 5 is the BYU Virginia game. This game was big for many reasons with the return of Bronco Mendenhall and the score at the end of the game (66-49). BYU came out and put up 21 straight points. Virginia finally put up points and from there it was a shoot out. Both teams put up more than 1,000 yards combined of total offense. BYU was ranked 25 at the start of that game. This game was a big one for the Cougars and not just because it help them climb the national rankings.
4. USC Sept 14, 2019
The Cougars won back to back games in overtime and this was game two of those wins. USC threw a late interception to give BYU the ball back and the Cougars put up a field goal. The Cougar defense then held on one last time to give BYU the victory of 30-27 in overtime. This game was the second straight come from behind victory and another Power 5 upset. This game made the top 5 due to the come from behind victory, the ranked opponent, and the story of the 2019 season.
3. Tennessee Sept 7, 2019
Know for the top 3, coming in at 3 is Tennessee. This 2019 game 3 was a thriller and was won 29-26 in double overtime. The comeback started with a 64 yard completion to Micah Simon, and then the run game finished off regulation. BYUs defense came up big from the start of the game and held onto give the Cougars a double overtime win.
2. Texas Sept 6, 2014
Number 2 is the BYU victory over Texas in 2014 with Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams running all over the Texas defense. BYU won 41-7 in a very offensive-heavy game for the Cougars. The Cougar offense put up over 400 yards of total offense and the defense held Texas to one touchdown. This game is number 2 due to the thrilling events of the game and how much Cougar fans waited to return to Texas for a revenge game.
1. Baylor Sept 10, 2022
The Cougars won this game 26-20 in double overtime due to missed field goals and penalties that hurt the Bears late in the fourth quarter. BYU didn’t have Puka Nacua or Gunner Romney and trusted Chase Roberts and Keanu Hill to fill those shoes. They both did an amazing job filling those shoes not just in this game but throughout the season. The Cougar defense made the difference in this game against the Bears by stopping Blake Shapen and the big Baylor run game. Both teams were ranked coming into this game at 9 and 21. BYU after beating Baylor ranked at number 9 made that their sixth top 10 win all time being the first at home since 1990 when the Cougars beat Miami.
