Last year was the first time in 17 consecutive seasons that Brigham Young University didn't march in the postseason parade.
Since head coach LaVell Edwards took over the program in 1972, the Cougars have won 224 games, 17 league championships - including 10 in a row - and made 19 bowl appearances.
A 7-4 finish last year broke the bowl string and had some whispering that maybe Edwards should start thinking about playing golf full time.
Instead of getting mad, Edwards put together his finest season since capturing the national championship in 1984. That team won 13 games, something the Cougars conceivably could surpass this season.
BYU touched down late last night at Honolulu International with a top -10 ranking and a 10-1 record. If the Cougars run the table - and Edwards maintains that's a big if - they could finish 14-1.
For that to happen, they have to beat the University of Hawaii this Saturday at Aloha Stadium, knock off archrival Utah at the Utes' place next Saturday, win the WAC title game in Las Vegas Dec. 7 and win a bowl game a month after that.
Piece of cake, right? Not to hear Edwards tell it.
"First of all, Hawaii is a team that plays very hard and that impresses me," Edwards said. "They've struggled a bit in winning games, but they've certainly played hard throughout the whole ballgame.
"Whenever we play over there, it's a big game, a lot of emotion since we have a lot of players from over there. We anticipate a very physical, hard-hitting game."
That may be, but most folks figure Edwards can't help glancing down the road, and thinking what winning could mean for BYU and the WAC as well.
At this point, the conference isn't in the bowl alliance's plans. The champions from the Big 12, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences have guaranteed alliance berths.
The other two are at-large spots that are supposed to go to the highest-ranked teams available. This is where it gets tricky.
One will probably go to Notre Dame because of the money that program generates, while the other is likely slated for the runner-up in one of the four conferences that make up the alliance.
Even WAC commissioner Karl Benson can't help looking longingly at the megabucks BYU would bring to the league if it lands a New Year's Day game.
"I heard Beano Cook say on ESPN's wrap-up show Saturday that if a 13-1 BYU team was rejected by the alliance, it would be a travesty," Benson said during this week's conference call.
"I would echo those thoughts. I think if BYU goes 13-1 and doesn't get in, I think people would seriously question the credibility of the alliance."
Does that put any extra pressure on BYU? Not to hear Edwards tell it.
"Historically, we've had a tough time playing in Hawaii," Edwards said. "In the last three years, Utah has beaten us, and we've got to play them over there.
"I just find myself not thinking a whole lot about anything else, but trying to win these next two ballgames. It it works out, fine."
The Cougars come to Hawaii on an eight-game winning streak. They opened the season with a stunning upset of Texas A&M and have lost only once since, at the University of Washington.
BYU has done it with a high-powered offense and a stingy defense that is second in the league and No. 36 in the nation, yielding an average of 332.3 yards a game.
The Cougars are fifth nationally in total offense, generating 494.2 yards a game. Senior Steve Sarkisian is second in the country in passing efficiency with 3,501 yards and 30 touchdowns.
If that's not scary enough, consider this. BYU averages 165.4 yards a game rushing. Last week against Rice, the Cougars ran 62 times and passed only 15.
Is that the wave of the future?
"That certainly wasn't our design in the Rice game," Edwards said. "Our plan was to be able to do both. I'm pleased with the way we've been playing and I'd like to keep it going."