Yes. That is VERY plausible.
It might not be true, but the fact remains, there is currently no game on their schedule that means as much as this game. None.
I wouldn't be surprised if the rumors are true about the locker room and players mood, the debacle of playing a hurt Cam Rising for the entire ASU game, and then losing to TCU ..... yeah, it's plausible that in his hubris, he thought so little of Houston that they could use that as a practice or prep game for BYU and still win, except it backfired on him.
I could see it.