Some not-so-distant historical past is working towards BYU because the No. 14 Cougars (5-0) come off their bye week and stay up for Saturday’s 2 p.m. kickoff with the Arizona Wildcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The final time BYU was 5-0, the then-No. 10 Cougars had been driving excessive after wins over Arizona, Utah, Arizona State, USF and Utah State when the turnover bug bit on Oct. 9, 2019, they usually had been upset 26-17 by an unranked Boise State group that was 2-3 getting into the rivalry matchup.
Jaren Corridor threw for 302 yards, however 4 turnovers doomed BYU to its first of three losses that yr.
The final time BYU had a bye, after beating Cincinnati 35-27 in Provo on Sept. 29, 2023, it misplaced a few of that momentum because it headed off to Fort Value, Texas, the next week and was walloped 44-11 by so-so TCU.
In fact, this can be a completely different BYU group than the one which faltered in 2023 after a 4-1 begin, or the one in 2021 that had defeated Utah, Arizona State and USF at dwelling, Arizona in Las Vegas, and Utah State in Logan.
This group has gained with excellent protection and simply sufficient offense, significantly towards SMU and Baylor. That protection will likely be examined Saturday at LES as Arizona brings loads of offensive weapons into Provo.
Arizona (3-2, 1-1) downed No. 16 Utah 23-10 the final time it was within the Beehive State, however couldn’t duplicate that stingy defensive efficiency late Saturday evening at dwelling, falling 28-22 to new Large 12 chief Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0).
Tahj Brooks ran for 128 yards and scored three TDs for the Pink Raiders, who are actually atop the Large 12 standings however aren’t scheduled to play BYU this season.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was 28 of 49 for 301 yards and no touchdowns, with two interceptions. His favourite goal, future NFL receiver Tetairoa McMillan, caught eight passes for 161 yards and nearly single-handedly stored Arizona within the recreation, together with Fifita and operating again Quali Conley, who rushed for 97 yards and a landing.
So Jay Hill’s much-improved protection has its work lower out for it. And Aaron Roderick’s offense must duplicate its play within the first half towards Baylor, and never the second half, when it mustered only a subject aim within the 34-28 win.
A yr after struggling to remain inside the highest 100 defensively, BYU is among the many prime 25 in a number of key defensive statistics nationally, together with group passing effectivity protection (fifth), passes intercepted (thirteenth), scoring protection (seventeenth) and complete protection (twenty first).
The Cougars are tied for 59th in group sacks, with 10, after getting 11 all of final yr. They’re tied for 77th in group tackles for loss, with 27.
“I believe it’s a mixture of a bunch of things,” mentioned coach Kalani Sitake final Monday. “We’ve got an incredible teaching workers on offense and protection and particular groups. The hot button is having lots of veteran gamers assist us out, too, leaders. And in Yr Two of the system, they’re understanding it now. .. Yeah, it’s working actually properly proper now.”
BYU’s protection has remained wholesome, for essentially the most half. Beginning linebacker Harrison Taggart bought dinged up towards Baylor and left the sport within the first half, however Sitake mentioned the Oregon switch will likely be accessible this week.
BYU’s offense has seen its share of accidents, most notably to operating backs LJ Martin, Hinckley Ropati, Sione I. Moa and Enoch Nawahine and to beginning middle Connor Pay. Sitake mentioned all of the RBs will likely be accessible towards Arizona, however that Pay is out after sustaining an harm towards Baylor.
Pay informed the “Locked on Cougars” podcast that he fractured a bone in his left foot, and is hoping to be again for the Utah recreation on Nov. 9 in Salt Lake Metropolis. Sonny Makasini will presumably fill in for Pay once more, as he did final Saturday, however that requires extra shuffling as a result of the redshirt sophomore was the beginning proper guard.
“We’ve got succesful gamers. It’s only a matter of what offers us the perfect 5, and who’s the one that’s going to be snapping the ball,” Sitake mentioned. “We’ve got some depth there. Offensive line coach TJ (Woods) will determine it out, and I belief him.”
Sitake mentioned the “entire group getting higher” was the first goal final week, per week that was significantly wanted to heal up guys and get them refocused on the duty at hand.
“We simply gotta belief the fellows to get the job finished, and belief our coaches to do it,” Sitake mentioned.
The coach mentioned quarterback Jake Retzlaff is “doing an incredible job” and dealing nicely with the opposite QBs within the group. Retzlaff is tied for 18th nationally in passing touchdowns, with 12, and BYU is twenty second in crimson zone offense.
“By way of the offense, I believe (Retzlaff) is admittedly beginning to come into his personal. So I really feel actually snug with the whole lot, the timing of all of it. He can get higher. However I like the place he’s at proper now. And I like the place his mindset is at. I look ahead to seeing nice issues from him,” Sitake mentioned.
“We requested him to perform a little bit extra operating within the final recreation, particularly within the first half. So he’s going to do no matter it takes. I just like the dynamic of that quarterback room. I like having Gerry (Bohanon) there, along with his expertise, and McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet and the remainder of the group.”
The Cougars moved from No. 17 to No. 14 within the Related Press High 25 launched Sunday. BYU has been within the prime 15 at one level in 4 of the final 5 seasons.
Three different Large 12 groups are additionally ranked: No. 11 Iowa State, No. 16 Utah and No. 18 Kansas State. SMU checked in at No. 25 after its upset of No. 22 Louisville.
Cougars on the air
Arizona (3-2, 1-1) at No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0)
• Saturday, 2 p.m. MDT
• At LaVell Edwards Stadium (Capability: 62,073)
• Provo, Utah
• TV: FOX
• Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM
