I thought I would sort of know with a lot more clarity after the last game if it is so. I think they are at least a top 40 defense. I know many will think that sounds ridiculous, but here is how I see it...

Southern Illinois was not a challenge and we only learned that the defense did not suck in that it handled an inferior team without much difficulty.

SMU went with a running QB for most of the game who was a sub-par passer. BYU showed they could effectively bottle up a good running QB (which they had done to against SIU as well) They did put up 66 on TCU a few days ago where that sub-par passer only threw for under 140 yards, so somehow the rest of the team got it done in a big way.

Wyoming had a run/pass threat QB who really could not throw well. So BYU was able to easily corrall the pokes.

The KSU QB could not throw well. He had not really faced much adversity in his brief career yet and it looks like he has a long way to go to become a better passer.

I am not trying to downplay the BYU defense. I hope they are great as the season plays out. I just think they have not really been tested by a passing threat QB that can sling it well. In BYU's prior games this season, the QBs in all of them missed badly on multiple open receivers that would have been good gains that could have helped change the complextion of the games somewhat. I do think the BYU D is much improved from last year. The LBs are all good and athletic. The secondary seems deep and capable/adequate. The DL is playing soundly and (maybe?) overachieving a bit. Of those units, I am most concerned about the DL holding up well for the full season. So far, the D has been able to primarily key on a running threat QB. I hope when they face a QB that throws well and is given a little time to throw, that BYU's D can still respond well. I am still a little suspect about that though as I do not think they have been tested much in that way yet this year.