- Successfully establish the run game. Get 200+ on the ground to balance out another 200+ through the air.

- Protect the pocket. Don't want to expose Jake to big blindside hits that can cause him to fumble the ball or worse yet, get injured.

- STOP THEIR RUNS! Put pressure on whichever QB they play to win with their arm. This should allow BYU to get a lot of pressure on them and force some big mistakes (interceptions).

- Score an early TD (1st or 2nd drive of the game) to set the tone on offense.

- Keep Utah from scoring anything more than a field goal early to set the tone for defense.

-Win the turnover battle (the most obvious key here). Most especially, DO NOT turn the ball over in the 1st quarter.

The last one is the biggest one for me because that more than anything else is what can get Utah extra juiced with momentum and things can snowball from there, especially if it's an early pick 6 or something like that.

Seems like the worst games BYU has lost in this series over the last couple decades is when they shot themselves in the foot early (see 2015 Vegas Bowl) or when their injuries and lack of depth came home to roost (see 2019 game when BYU watched their 21 point second half lead melt away because of no defensive depth).

I'm not as concerned about that latter issue now because BYU has probably never been healthier and deeper this late in the season. At least not for a very long time. So for me, it's all about being able to take whatever initial punches they try to throw early on, roll with them, and come back swinging harder without losing any composure. It's most critical that Jake doesn't try to force things that aren't certain to be there when slinging it downfield.

Do all that and BYU will probably have Utah chasing them the rest of the game.

Go Cougs!

(edited to add a 6th one further above, a big and obvious one that was pointed out in the replies below. Thanks RG!)