For some BYU fans, hopes for a special 2020 season seemed to be over in an instant following a 27-20 Cougar win over a UTSA team, a game in which BYU was favored by 34.5 points. “Great teams don’t struggle vs bad teams” seemed to be the outcry as BYU struggled to put the ball in the end zone vs the Roadrunner defense. So I ask the question, do truly great BYU teams struggle against teams they should dominate?
2011 BYU: 14-13 Win vs Ole Miss (2-10)
2009 BYU: 24-19 Win vs New Mexico (1-11)
2008 BYU: 28-27 Win vs Washington (0-12)
2006 BYU: 16-13 Loss vs Arizona (6-6)
2001 BYU: 35-31 Win vs UNLV (4-7)
1996 BYU: 17-14 Win vs New Mexico (6-5)
1994 BYU: 13-12 Win vs Hawaii (3-8-1)
1990 BYU: 59-28 Loss vs Hawaii (7-5)
1989 BYU: 46-41 Loss vs Washington State (6-5)
1985 BYU: 23-16 Loss vs UTEP (1-10)
1984 BYU: 20-14 Win vs Pitt (3-7-1)
1983 BYU: 38-34 Win vs Utah State (5-6)
1981 BYU: 45-41 Loss vs UNLV (6-6)
1980 BYU: 25-21 Loss vs New Mexico (4-7)
1977 BYU: 24-19 Loss vs Oregon State (2-9)
1976 BYU: 13-3 Loss vs Kansas State (1-10)
Looks like the answer is a resounding yes.
