"BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said Wednesday that the 2009 schedule is "very close" to being finalized and that it could happen within the next week or two. Holmoe said he still cannot comment on the rumored matchup between Oklahoma and BYU in Dallas to open the 2009 season because contracts have not been signed.

"Right now, it is pretty obvious there are a lot of things that are going on. It is not that I have been trying to keep anything from the fans or the press or anything, but we are very close to solidifying a change," he said. There is speculation that BYU will drop Arizona State from its 2009 schedule to fit in the Oklahoma game and one other game, perhaps against Tulane. BYU's current nonconference schedule for 2009 includes ASU, Utah State and Florida State.

It became a topic Wednesday because Louisiana-Monroe released its schedule showing a game against ASU, which means ASU would have to drop one of its 2009 nonconference games, presumably vs. BYU.

"I think we have a good opportunity to put together a really competitive schedule next year with some great games, and do a little travel, and it is going to come together soon," Holmoe said."

I won't come out and say that I would rather play BYU next year rather than ULM. But really, playing BYU was going to be a good thing for our program if we could have pulled out the win. Playing Louisiana-Monroe does NOTHING for ASU.