BYU Football has a third straight 3-0 start for the first time in school history, and hopes to keep winning in conference play.
BYU Football has completed nonconference play and excelled, finishing 3-0. The Cougars only allowed 16 points while scoring 130. BYU only allowed one touchdown and held opponents to three field goals. True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier showed growth, and while he still has much to learn, he looked ready to take on other Big 12 teams. BYU’s defense looked hungry, and I expect them to be even better than last year.
BYU beat up on Portland State 69-0 before running past Stanford 27-3. The Cougars then throttled East Carolina 34-13. BYU has a point differential of +114, largely helped by the dominant win at home against Portland State. BYU looks ready for Big 12 play, and as Bachmeier continues to develop, he will only get better and more dangerous.
Of course, the Big 12 is a difficult league, and BYU will have to earn every win. Playing in a Power Four conference is a tall task, and BYU will definitely face tougher competition. The Cougars were able to figure out some things in the three nonconference games; now it is time to get ready for better teams. BYU has a lot to prove, including the fact that last year was not just a gimmick and that the Cougars are a legitimate team.
BYU Football opens conference play at Colorado in Boulder. The Buffaloes lost key players last year and are off to a 2-2 start. Colorado is struggling, and BYU smells blood. The Cougars will be looking to get going early, and they need to. BYU will also go through a tough stretch that includes Utah, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and TCU. BYU will need to be ready for those games, and they won’t be easy.
BYU beat all three of this year’s returning foes last season: Arizona, Utah, and UCF. BYU will see Arizona in Tucson before meeting up with Utah the week after in Provo. BYU will then see UCF on senior night to close the season. BYU will also play West Virginia and Cincinnati. BYU is expected to have a good season, and there will be strong adversity.
BYU’s hardest game will probably be Texas Tech. The Red Raiders blew past Utah last week by a score of 34-10. The Red Raiders had to replace their injured starting quarterback with a redshirt freshman, and still dominated. That game was full of turnovers, and Utah couldn’t really get anything going. BYU will need to start hot and fast if it wants to beat Texas Tech.
BYU’s easiest opponent is most likely West Virginia. The Mountaineers are 2-2 and are second-to-last in the Big 12 standings. WVU was blown out by Kansas 41-10 on the road, and they really haven’t gotten the results they needed. To make matters worse, WVU lost to Ohio. The Mountaineers’ only wins came against Pitt and Robert Morris. BYU should have this one in the bag, but anything can happen.
BYU’s most likely result in conference play is 7-2, and Texas Tech and TCU will prove to be tough teams to beat, but I feel optimistic. The Cougars need to stay strong and not get ahead of themselves. Nothing comes free in college football. The Cougars should be able to make it to the conference championship game, and if they win, they will be in the College Football Playoff.
BYU has a chance to make some magic happen, and they are no stranger to aversity. BYU can and needs to prove that last year was not a fluke and that they can compete at the highest level. The Big 12 is a tough conference, and BYU needs to be careful, but I feel like they can win and do big things this year.
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