Taysom Hill stiff-arms a defender in BYU's 41-33 win over Virginia on Sept. 20, 2014. (Maddi Dayton)
A Power Five conference has given BYU football new life in its goal for national legitimacy.
ESPN college football reporter Brett McMurphy tweeted Thursday that the Atlantic Coast Conference will consider BYU as a viable Power Five program. ACC teams that schedule BYU will now be fulfilling a league rule requiring them to play one non-conference Power Five opponent each year.
The news comes as a reversal of the stance the ACC held last summer, which practically locked out the Independent Cougars from future scheduling consideration with ACC teams.
The recognition of Power Five status should encourage ACC schools to schedule the Cougars, helping BYU secure a future of quality opponents for many years to come.