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These Top 5 seasons are from the BYU Independence Era. These were picked based on wins, player stats, season stats, bowl games played, and big wins. BYU had many big seasons; some could have been on this list, but these were some of the biggest. Each season below that is featured will have the season record, big wins, bowl game, and players’ stats who placed first in that category. The player stats are just amongst the independent schools and are from sports references.
5. 2014
8-5
The 2014 season didn’t go as planned they started out ranked and finished unranked. This was due to injuries to many key players. The Cougars beat Texas, Houston, and Virginia these games came with high stakes and the Cougars weren’t supposed to win these. BYU went onto the post season to lose in double overtime to Memphis. This game also ended in a brawl that led to multiple suspensions to kick off the 2015 season.
- Trevor Sampson K- FG %, Extra Point Attempts, and Extra Points Made
- Scott Arellano P- Punts, Punt Yds, and Punt Yds/Attempt
- Adam Hine RB- Kickoff Return Yds/Return
- Bronson Kaufusi DL- Sacks, and Fumbles forced
- Robertson Daniel DB – Pass Deflections
4. 2016
9-4
2016 was a year to remember with close games, players breaking records, and some big plays. The four loses that season consisted of seven points total in point differential. BYU beat Michigan State by double digits and Mississippi State at home in double overtime. The Cougars finished that season at the Poinsettia Bowl with a win over Wyoming in the rain with a backup quarterback.
- Taysom Hill QB- Pass Attempts and Total Plays
- Jamaal Williams RB- Rush Attempts, Rushing Yds, Plays from scrimmage, and Yds from scrimmage
- Rhett Almond K- Points, FG Attempts, FG Made, and FG %
- Garrett Juergens WR- Punt Returns, Punt Return/Yds, and Punt Yds/Return
- Kai Nacua LB- Interceptions
- Dayan Lake S- Interception Return Yds
3. 2021
10-3
BYU had a big 2021 season with beating Utah, owning the Pac-12, and fighting threw injuries. Those three loses weren’t exactly close but they did cause the Cougars to fall out of the top 25. The Cougars beat Utah, Arizona State, Virginia, and USC. BYU finished out the season by losing in the Independence Bowl to UAB.
- Jaren Hall QB- Pass Yds/Attempt and Adjusted Pass Yds/Attempt
- Tyler Allgeier RB- Rushing Attempts, Rushing Yds, Rush Yds/Attempt, Rush TDs, Plays from scrimmage, Yds from scrimmage, TDs from scrimmage, TDs, and Points
- Puka Nacua WR- Rec Yds/Reception
- Ryan Rhenkow K- Punt Yds/Punt
- Hobbs Nyberg PR- Punt Returns, and Punt Return YDs
2. 2011
10-3
Coming in at number 2 is the first season of the Independence Era. BYU had some big plays, some defensive scoring, and many close wins. The Cougars beat out Ole Miss and UCF to put their name on the map that season. BYU finished the season at the Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa for another close win to close out the first of 12 seasons as an independent school.
- Riley Nelson QB- Pass Yds/Attempt, and Adjusted Pass Yds/Attempt
- Cody Hoffman WR- Rec Yds/Reception, Kickoff Returns, and Rec TDs
- Justin Sorenson K- Points, Extra Points Made, Extra Point Attempts, FG Attempts, and FG Made
- Riley Stephenson K/P- Punt Yds/Punt, Punt Return Yds, and Punt Return Yds/Return
1. 2020
11-1
The Number One season of the Independence Era is 2020 with eleven wins during one of the hardest seasons to play games during. BYU beat Boise State, and Houston. The Cougars finished the season by winning the Boca Raton Bowl and beating UCF. This team overcame a pandemic to play on one of the biggest stages of college football that year. BYU was the team to beat that year and spent many weeks in the top 10.
- Zach Wilson QB- Pass Completions, Pass Attempts, Pass Comp%, Pass Yds, Pass Yds/Attempts, Adjusted Pass Yds/Attempts, Pass TDs, Total Yds, Total Yds/Play, and TDs Responsible for
- Tyler Allgeier RB- Rushing Attempts, Rushing Yds, Rush Yds/Attempts, Plays from Scrimmage, and Yds from Scrimmage
- Dax Milne WR- Receptions, and Reception Yds
- Gunner Romney WR- Rec Yds/Reception
- Isaac Rex TE- Rec TDs
- Jake Oldroyd K- Points, Extra Points Attempts, and Extra Points Made
- Caleb Christensen CB- Kickoff Returns
- Isaiah Kaufusi LB- Solo Tackles, Total Tackles, and Fumbles Forced
