Since Pat McAfee started quoting verses from the Book of Mormon on “College GameDay” last Saturday before BYU’s win over Notre Dame, and who knows what book McAfee might quote from this week when the show originates from Utah’s campus before the Utes take on Houston, I wondered what other bits of scripture might fit football better than the ones he chose.

The NFL-punter-turned-broadcaster went with two verses, connecting them in one form or another to football: 1 Nephi 17:36 and 2 Nephi 32:4, which read thusly:

• “Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.”

• “Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them, it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.”

Actually, Brother McAfee, who later said the whole schtick was impromptu, could have done those scriptures one or two or three or four better.

It may not be an absolute fact, but it seems as though half the verses in the Book of Mormon begin with the words: “And it came to pass …”

Perfect. And they came to pass.

Three of four examples cited here come from the same book within the Book of Mormon from which McAfee initially quoted.

• 1 Nephi 3:1 — “And it came to pass that I, [Bear], returned from speaking with … [Kalani Sitake].”

• 1 Nephi 8:1 — “And it came to pass that we had gathered together … [in a huddle to call the next play].”

• 1 Nephi 17:11 — “And it came to pass that … [BYU’s LaVell Edwards darn near introduced the forward pass to the college game].”

• 3 Nephi 11:9 — “And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand … [to fumble a spiked ball at the goal line].”

There are also verses such as Mosiah 4:27: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a [quarterback] should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize [and the game].”

And Ether 12:27 — “And if men come unto me [Kalani], I will show unto them [on game film] their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may [stay] humble [and hungry]. … For if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me [and my strength and conditioning coaches], then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

McAfee also could have turned to the Doctrine and Covenants, another canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which states in Section 89: “And all [Cougars] who remember to keep and do these [things], walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones … And shall run [to daylight] and not be weary, and shall [pick up first downs] and not faint.”

If he’d cracked open the Bible, using various translations, he could’ve gone with Jeremiah 30:17, which makes a pledge to injured players like LJ Martin and others, too, linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, quarterbacks, running backs and receivers: “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy [ACL and MCL tears and ankle sprains and hamstring pulls and concussions].”

Also:

• Proverbs 27:17 — “As iron sharpens iron, so one [team] sharpens another.”

• Philippians 3:13,14 — “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize.”

• Ezekiel 39:5 — “You will fall in the open field.”

• Job 19:8 — “He has blocked my way so I cannot pass.”

• Psalm 108:13 — “With [Bear] we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our [opponents].”

And, if you’re Notre Dame, as the game turned out, there’s always these four scriptures, and likely many others as well:

• Luke 14:2 — “And there was a certain [quarterback] before him who had dropsy.”

• Romans 13:11 — “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out.”

• Matthew 24:6 — “For all these things must come to pass, but the end [if the replay booth had so ruled] is not yet.”

• Jeremiah 9:9 — “Should I not punish them for this? … Should I not avenge myself on such a [Big 12 refereeing crew] as this?”

And, of course:

• John 11:35 — “[Touchdown] Jesus wept.”