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Quarterback Steve Sarkisian stiff arms a Wyoming defender in the WAC Championship game on December 7, 1996.

13 Texas A&M to open the season, the Cougars’ only blemish was a 12-point loss at Washington in week 3. Winners of 11-straight games, WAC champions and with an impressive win over then No. 5 AP ranking and 13-1 record, BYU certainly looked like it was in a good place heading into Sunday. BYU’s exclusion sparked a debate between those who believed they deserved a shot and those who knew they’d never be given that chance. 5 in the AP Poll the next day but were ultimately denied the opportunity to play in a Bowl Alliance bowl game, the 1996 equivalent of a New Year’s Six bowl game. On a national stage and with representatives from each of the major bowls in attendance, BYU took a 13-0 lead into the half and would eventually win in overtime, 28-25, improving to 13-1 on the season.

All three conferences held championship games that Saturday, giving BYU and the WAC the nation’s undivided attention. 20 (10-1) Wyoming squared off at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship game.īoth the WAC and the Big 12 debuted conference championship games that season, joining the SEC, whose championship game had begun four seasons prior.