There were 129 FBS teams in 2017. The Pirates were ranked 129 in total defense, 129 in scoring defense, 127 in rushing defense, 129 in pass defense, and their offense was middle of the pack. BYU lost 33-17.
With a pair of desperate, one-win teams meeting at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Saturday, the BYU-East Carolina game may resemble two one-armed men punching at the wind.