BYU has won at least 10 games for a fourth consecutive season, and coach Bronco Mendenhall has a 42-9 overall record during that span, topped only by Boise State, Florida, Texas, and Ohio State.
So what do the 15th-ranked Cougars have to show for their success? Another Las Vegas Bowl appearance.
Not that there's anything wrong with the Las Vegas Bowl, but it's become an annual destination for BYU. With their fifth Las Vegas Bowl in as many years approaching, you'd think the Cougars would long for another postseason destination.
"A year ago I would have said yes," Mendenhall said. "I was very disappointed with how I prepared my team a year ago. We peaked for the conference championship."
The Cougars, who were coming off a loss to Utah in a game that determined the Mountain West championship last year, lost to Arizona 31-21 in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl.
The Mountain West champion automatically goes to the Las Vegas Bowl unless it is selected for a BCS game. Last year, conference champion Utah defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. This year, No. 3 TCU will represent the Mountain West against No. 6 Boise State in a battle of unbeatens in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Cougars are pleased to have a quality opponent such as No. 16 Oregon State, which tied for second place in the Pac-10.
"We consider Oregon State one of the best if not the best teams in the Pac-10," said Mendenhall, a defensive back/linebacker for two seasons at OSU during his playing days. "For this game there is plenty of motivation."
Mendenhall also has coaching ties to OSU. He was the Beavers' defensive line coach in 1995, and defensive coordinator/secondary coach in 1996. He also met informally with Beavers coach Mike Riley during Riley's first coaching stint at OSU.
It will be the final game for a talented group of BYU seniors, led by quarterback Max Hall and all-America tight end Dennis Pitta.
Hall, who has thrown for 3,368 yards (67.5 completion percentage) and 30 touchdowns with 14 interceptions this season, is third in the nation in pass efficiency. He is second behind former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer in many of BYU's career passing statistics, including yards and touchdowns.
Pitta needs two receptions in the bowl game to become the NCAA career leader in receptions for tight ends.
"The numbers say everything for Dennis and his career," Hall said.
BYU ranks 12th nationally in scoring offense (34.8 points per game) and passing offense (288.9 yards per game), and 18th in total offense (437.1 ypg).
An intriguing matchup of senior quarterbacks is shaping up between Hall and Oregon State's Sean Canfield, who was named first-team all-Pac-10. BYU's Harvey Unga and OSU's Jacquizz Rodgers both rushed for more than 1,000 yards. It figures to be a high-scoring game.
"On paper it looks like that, but you never know what could happen," Hall said. "We thought us and Utah would be a high-scoring game and it ended up being 26-23."
BYU opened the season with a 14-13 upset of then-No. 3 Oklahoma at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, suffered a shoulder injury late in the first half and did not return. But even with Bradford in the game, BYU was playing the Sooners on even terms.
"People go back to that game and say we only won because Bradford was out," said defensive end Jan Jorgensen, the Mountain West's career leader in tackles for loss. "He didn't go out until right before halftime and they had a three-point lead."
The Cougars suffered two lopsided home defeats, 54-28 to Florida State and 38-7 to TCU.
It will be the ninth meeting between BYU and OSU, and first since 1986 when Mendenhall played for the Beavers. OSU has a 5-3 advantage in the overall series.
"I'm treating this like a national championship game," said cornerback Brian Logan, who is tied for second in the nation with 17 passes defended.
Riley called Mendenhall a "great fit" for BYU.
"(He) has basically established the values in his program that he wants and then you see the results of success," Riley said. "Obviously, a very good football coach and one that I have a lot of admiration for."
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