Seven years after BYU left the Mountain West, a conference it helped form, and going it alone in football, the Cougars’ marquee sports program is at a crossroads.
After a dismal 2017 season in which the Cougars went 4-9 and fired one of the most beloved figures in their football history, Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, the stay-or-go question has divided fans, media members and former players more than ever. It continues to be a hot topic on social media websites, fan message boards and sports talk radio, mainly because of BYU’s struggles last season.
Is the program in a nosedive, or was last season — the worst season since 1970 — an aberration?