Saturday's game is not going to be an easy win for BYU. Kyle is too good at preparing during a BYE. We are historically weak coming off a BYE. I know the Utes are down this year but they're still a talented team. With the right scheme, with early momentum, with a few key mistakes from the Cougars, we might find ourselves behind by a few scores. There are three things that I think BYU needs to do specifically to win:

1) We have to play our best assignment-sound football of the season.

We are going to see a new or altered offensive scheme from the Utes that will stretch the field horizontally and will focus on a mobile quarterback, short passes to the tight ends, shovel passes to the RB, etc. The Utes have nothing to lose right now and have had an absolutely abysmal offensive effort this season. They're gonna change it up to something we've not yet seen from them. We will have to lean into our assignments or we will be picked apart.

2) We will have to find a new level of mental toughness.

The Utes are going to antagonize us in every hidden way possible, just outside of the view of the refs, in order to get us to commit stupid penalties. They always do this. It pushes the game slightly to their advantage. If they win these mental games, we make more mistakes and the game gets nudged just a bit more in their favor. We need exceptional discipline. Brush it off. Play clean. If we do this we will win. If we play into the mental games and make bad mistakes, I worry.

3) We must have a counter to heavy pass rush.

Scalley wants to rattle Retzlaff early. The Utes will undoubtedly bring a heavy pass rush and late hits that are borderline dirty. I pray we are practicing solid counters to the pass rush this week. Really focusing on it. Turn the Utes strength into a weakness. Let them get aggressive and get blown up on a screen, etc.


It's going to be a close game. I know most don't want to hear that, but it'll very likely be a one-score game for most of the night. This will be the hardest game, mentally, we will play all year.

I still think BYU comes away with the win, because I think this team is special. We're skilled enough to blow Utah out of the water, but it just won't happen.

My prediction: BYU 31 - Utah 24