PROVO -- The Mountain West Conference today released the 2005 league schedule. In addition to six home games, BYU will take to the road five times during the 11-game schedule, including four road games against league opponents. BYU will open the season with three straight games in Provo. With an open date on Sept. 17, the Cougars will not leave Provo until the fifth week of the season.
"We're looking forward to the 2005 season," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "It doesn't matter how many road games we have in a row, or who we play before or after another team. We'll be prepared to play the teams we're supposed to play, when we're supposed to play them."
The Cougars will open the 83rd season in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 3, taking on Boston College. The following week, Sept. 10, the Cougars will host Eastern Illinois, marking the first time BYU has played a Division I-AA opponent since defeating Murray State, 47-12, in 1998. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Following an open date on Sept. 17, BYU will begin league play in Provo, taking on former WAC rival and new Mountain West Conference member TCU. The Sept. 24 match-up will mark the Horned Frogs first visit to Edwards Stadium since the 1997 season.
On Oct. 1, the Cougars will travel to San Diego State for the first of two straight road games. The following week, Oct. 8, BYU will travel to University Stadium in Albuquerque to take on New Mexico.
BYU will welcome Colorado State to Edwards Stadium on Oct. 15 before the Cougars round out their 2005 non-conference schedule at Notre Dame on Oct. 22. The game in South Bend, Ind., will mark the final contest of a three-game series against the Fighting Irish. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC, beginning at 1:30 p.m. (ET).
On Saturday, Oct. 29, BYU will play host to Air Force before traveling to UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium on Nov. 5 for the first of two straight, late-season road games. The following week, Nov. 12, the Cougars will head to War Memorial Stadium to take on Wyoming. The 2005 regular season will conclude in Provo with the traditional in-state rivalry game against Utah.
Broadcast information and game times will be released at a later date.
Fans interested in renewing season tickets may do so during the renewal period, which begins April 1. Fans may also contact the BYU ticket office at (801) 422-BYU1 after April 1 to place season-ticket orders.
2005 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Location Time
Sept. 3 Boston College Provo, UT TBA
Sept. 10 Eastern Illinois Provo, UT TBA
Sept. 17 Open
Sept. 24 TCU Provo, UT TBA
Oct. 1 San Diego State San Diego, CA TBA
Oct. 8 New Mexico Albuquerque, NM TBA
Oct. 15 Colorado State Provo, UT TBA (Homecoming)
Oct. 22 Notre Dame South Bend, IN 1:30 p.m. (NBC)
Oct. 29 Air Force Provo, UT TBA
Nov. 5 UNLV Las Vegas, NV TBA
Nov. 12 Wyoming Laramie, WY TBA
Nov. 19 Utah Provo, UT TBA