PROVO — In a span of two weeks, BYU's postseason aspirations went from a shot at a multi-million dollar New Year's Six bowl bid against a Power Five conference opponent to a berth in the Boca Raton Bowl, with an average payout of $900,000 against a team from the American Athletic Conference.
In a bowl season where motivation often trumps talent, the Cougars (10-1) are in a position where motivation could easily be lacking after a five-point loss to Coastal Carolina seemingly ended any hopes of an undefeated season and top-tier glory.
At least, on the surface.
Even as it built itself up as one of the best college football teams in the west with a win over Boise State — only five teams west of Texas have just one loss, and most of them have half the wins that BYU does — the No. 16-ranked Cougars still have plenty to prove as they prepare to face UCF on Tuesday (5 p.m. MT, ESPN).