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This is everything that devoted followers of the football program pictured when the school made the move from the Mountain West into new territory. ESPN will televise a Saturday afternoon home game against a recognizable opponent, in front of a sellout crowd.

Apparently, Utah stole BYU's script.

The Utes will host Arizona in a meeting of Top 25 teams, with Pac-12 South title ramifications in play. Meanwhile, BYU faces Savannah State, probably the worst team in its subdivision of college football.

This week's schedule is an extreme case. Yet clearly, these are trying times for BYU football fans — especially those living in Utah. The school's move to independence has created some benefits for the Cougars' followers in various pockets of the country, but the unintended consequence is punishing the people who actually occupy the seats of LaVell Edwards Stadium.

They will be rewarded by BYU's attractive home schedule in 2019, but that's an awfully long time from now.

Regardless of what percentage of the stadium was filled on a cold night last Saturday — and that number is certain to be even lower this week, for Savannah State's visit, with rain in the forecast — I'm commending BYU fans, not mocking them. They deserve better after four decades of consistent support, and they're being asked to show a lot of loyalty and patience in this transition to independence.

I'll say this: Whatever was the genuine number of people in the seats in Provo for the win over UNLV, it greatly exceeded the actual attendance at Stanford, where the two-time defending Pac-12 champions played nationally ranked Utah. The Bay Area is a pro market; I get that. But that turnout made me appreciate the support for college sports in our state even more.

Utah fans have been fabulous in filling Rice-Eccles Stadium and making it a tough venue - but that's not tough to do, when the opponents are USC, Oregon and Arizona. BYU's level of backing comes with a higher degree of difficulty. Even the Cougars' 2014 bowl bid is of no benefit to most Utahns. Have you priced Christmastime airfare to Miami?

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe's scheduling work has been impressive, overall. Considering this process started barely four years ago, Holmoe has delivered a remarkable set of opponents, extending into the next decade. He's broken into the Pac-12's November schedule, booked schools from every Power 5 conference and moved rivalry games with Utah State to the final weekend of the season.

His latest breakthrough is a two-game series with Missouri of the Southeastern Conference, at a neutral site in Kansas City next November and in Provo in 2020. That's good stuff, except for the deferred payoff to Utah residents. For a BYU fan in Atlanta as an example, independence has been wonderful, with at least one road game within easy driving distance every season and every home game televised.

But what about the season ticket-holders?

After the Missouri announcement last week, BYU football administrator Geoff Martzen tweeted, "SEC teams in NFL stadiums. Conference or not, we will play a power schedule."

That's true, the only trouble being that LaVell Edwards Stadium is not an NFL venue. Games with Missouri and West Virginia at pro sites the next two seasons are exciting, but those places are a long way from Provo. So are Michigan, Nebraska and UCLA, schools that will host the Cougars in 2015.

That's an incredible schedule, although possibly too ambitious, and I never would advocate BYU's returning to the Mountain West — even if that's the only foreseeable conference option for the Cougars. Watching them face those opponents next season on TV will be fun for their fans. But something's unfair about having East Carolina and Cincinnati as the most attractive visiting opponents.

Future home schedules gradually get better, with UCLA in 2016, Utah in '17 and California in '18. Then comes the big deferred bonus in '19, with Wisconsin, USC, Washington and, potentially, Utah.

That schedule is worth whatever it costs for season tickets.

Who knows what may happen with conference realignment between now and 2020. If no favorable opportunities materialize for BYU, at least Holmoe has proven that he can fill out a strong independent schedule with some brand-name opponents coming to Provo.

But this would be a good time for BYU to reward its current ticket-buyers somehow, to show more appreciation for what they've been forced to absorb lately with unattractive opponents and unfavorable kickoff times. Sure, they get a 1 p.m. start Saturday, but it's Savannah State.

The expression has to come straight from coach Bronco Mendenhall, who keeps saying he finds out about true friendship and loyalty during tough times, such as BYU's winless October. If there are more occupied seats than empty ones in the rain Saturday, Mendenhall and BYU's administration should be very thankful — and say so.

kkragthorpe@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribkurt —

Playing in Provo

The biggest-name opponents on BYU's home football schedule in the next six seasons:

2015 • East Carolina, Cincinnati, Boise State.

2016 • UCLA, Utah State.

2017 • Utah, Boise State.

2018 • California, Utah State.

2019 • Wisconsin, USC, Washington, Boise State.

2020 • Arizona, Missouri.