This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • Despite the Southeastern Conference's acknowledgement last summer that football games against BYU don't count toward a league mandate to play at least one nonconference game a year against a team from a so-called power conference, another SEC team has agreed to play the Cougars.
BYU and Louisiana State will open the 2017 college football season against each other at the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff on Sept. 2 at NRG Stadium in Houston, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, officials announced Thursday.
In November, the SEC's Missouri Tigers agreed to play BYU in 2015 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Cougars now have 31 games scheduled against Power-5 conference teams in the next 10 years, and that number does not include Notre Dame, which has four games contracted with BYU, but not yet scheduled.
The Cougars, who finished the 2014 season with an 8-5 record, played at NRG Stadium in 2013 when it was known as Reliant Stadium, beating the Houston Cougars 47-46 in front of 33,000 fans. BYU will play in at least six NFL stadiums over the next five years, with games already scheduled at FedEx field in Virginia, University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.
The 2017 opener will mark the first meeting between BYU and LSU.
"Any football team or fan who loves the game would be thrilled to have the chance to play a traditional powerhouse like LSU of the SEC in an awesome venue like NRG Stadium," said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. "We are excited and grateful for the invitation to play in such a great game."
LSU met Wisconsin last season in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff in Houston, downing the Badgers 28-24. Ironically, BYU was originally scheduled to host Wisconsin in its 2017 opener in Provo, but that game was moved to 2019 a few years ago.
"We continue to be pleased with the growth of the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff," said Pete Derzis, Sr. Vice President, ESPN Events. "Both teams have a great fan following and rich history, which will continue to bring a high level of interest to our game."
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, who on Wednesday announced he will oversee the defense again in 2015, said the Cougars welcome the opportunity to play such a storied program.
"As a program we want to play the biggest names on the biggest stages, and facing LSU at NRG Stadium certainly achieves both of those objectives," Mendenhall said. "We look forward to this challenge and opportunity to play an outstanding SEC team. It is another unique marquee matchup for our football program and our fans."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU's known 2017 schedule
(Incomplete)
Sept. 2 • vs. LSU at NRG Stadium, Houston
Sept. 9 • Utah
Sept. 29 • at Utah State
Oct. 7 • Boise State
Oct. 14 • Georgia Tech
Oct. 21 • at East Carolina
Oct. 28 • San Jose State
Nov. 4 • at Fresno State
Nov. 18 • UMass
Nov. 25 • at Hawaii