USU announces 2004 Schedule

The 2004 schedule looks to be solitified by USU, but the other Universities we supposidly play in 04 may have something different to say.

USU has officially announced the 2004 Football Schedule. But what is even more confusing is 2005's schedule. Lets look at the prospective schedules and figure out some answers to the obvious questions:

Official:

Sept. 4 at Alabama
Sept. 11 ARKANSAS STATE*
Sept. 18 UTAH
Sept. 25 at Nevada-Las Vegas
Oct. 2 at UL-Monroe*
Oct. 9 NORTH TEXAS*
Oct. 16 at Clemson
Oct. 23 TROY STATE*
Oct. 30 at UL-Lafayette*
Nov. 6 Bye
Nov. 13 IDAHO*
Nov. 20 at Middle Tennessee

* - Sun Belt Conference Game

Ok so let me get this strait, we are NOT getting a return Conference game from New Mexico State, and in return, we are traveling to Alabama. When we were Independent, we had a one-for-one arrangement with NMSU. But now that we are conference mates (and will continue to be in the WAC), why does this change? To further complicate this, we show that Arkansans State will return to Logan again this year, in lieu of us reciprocating with a trip to play them at home? Why in the world would ASU agree to such an arrangement when we will no longer be a member of the Sun Belt Conference after 2004?

Also, notice a return game missing somewhere? Yes, how about that game we owe Wyoming in Laramie for two at home games in Logan? How is it that Wyoming is willing to forgive our return game? Is it possible that Wyoming would give us a 2-0 deal? If you remember, we were supposed to play Wyoming in 2000 at Laramie, but they canceled the game to play Texas Tech. In return, we still got to keep our two home games for one away game (the deal was a two-for-two). I would assume that we deferred the Wyoming game until 05, but what about ASU? Are we to believe that a Sun Belt Conference school would allow us to schedule to home games for no return game?

Which brings us to the 2005 tentative schedule. This is not official, but my account. So if we do give Wyoming a return game, plus start our series back up with in-State rival BYU, here is how our 2005 schedule should look:

@Wyoming*
UNLV (return game for 04 in Las Vegas)
@Utah
@byu

Rumor has it that we are scheduled to play these two schools as well:

@Alabama (again)
@Texas (as reported by Agzrule)
Assumed WAC games:
NMSU
@SJSU (as reported by Chuck Bell) UTEP
UNR
Questionable?

Boise @ USU (might move to MWC)
Fresno (same as above)
Hawaii (same as above)
La Tech (might move to C-USA)

So by my count, we have a possibility of 14 games in 2005. I doubt the NCAA will give us an exemption for a 14 game schedule, which means something will give. Here is another possible scenario:

UNLV
@Utah
@byu
NMSU
@SJSU
UTEP
UNR
Boise (@ USU)
Fresno
Hawaii
**La Tech (or University of North Texas/University of Idaho)

We can also look to speculate about 2006 as well:

@ Oregon (return trip for 2001 game in Logan)
Utah
BYU
NMSU
SJSU (@ USU)
UTEP
UNR
@Boise
Fresno
Hawaii
**La Tech (or University of North Texas/University of Idaho)

With guaranteed home games with Utah, BYU and our WAC schedule, one might assume a 6 home game year in 2006.

*This game may have been canceled.
**The assumption is that if the MWC takes TCU, La Tech will take their place in the C-USA. The WAC then invites either the University of Idaho, or North Texas, and maybe both.