Boise State University (-7.5) vs Brigham Young University

Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022

Time: 5:00pm MT

Stadium: Albertsons “Bronco” Stadium (36,382)

TV:FS2

TV Commentators: Dan Helle and Petro Papadakis

Radio: KBOI 670 AM

Commentators: Bob Behler and Pete Cavender

Know Thy Enemy

Cosmo Cougar hopes he’s not attending his own funeral as Buster and Bronco Nation, dressed in black, plan to pull the plug on a BYU season that’s on life support. It’s Boise State. It’s BYU. It’s rivalry week!

There is no love lost between these two teams and there have certainly been some exciting moments over the years, from “Canadian Bacon” pick six, unsportsmanlike actions, missed game winning field goals, ‘Mangum Magic’, goal line stands, to top-10 upsets, each year seemed more memorable than the last and this year hopes to be no different. However, the trajectory of these two teams could not be any different coming into Saturday.

BYU came into the 2022 season with high hopes and high expectations. Entering the season as the #25 team in the country, the Cougars quickly climbed to #12 in the nation after a 2-0 start. After losing to #25 Oregon, BYU rebounded with two more wins to set up a meeting with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in Las Vegas. That's when the wheels started to fall off. BYU would lose a tough one 28-20 to the Golden Domers and then proceed to lose their next three games. A blowout loss at home to Arkansas, a major collapse in Lynchburg, VA to Liberty, and then a tough loss to East Carolina by a field goal as time expired. The Cougars are in desperation mode to save their season and are desperate for a win.

Offense hasn’t been the cause for most of the woes. This offense is very high powered led by a quarterback who is having a great season, their receiver corps is something nightmares are made of, and their front is very big and physical. On the season the Cougars are averaging over 400 yards and close to 30 points per game. They will run a much more “pro-style” offense than a lot of college teams that focuses on the zone run scheme and the play action pass game. However, BYU will be without two of its more productive players on Saturday as third-year freshman receiver Kody Epps and transfer running back Chris Brooks are both out for the season with injuries.

On Defense the Cougs have struggled a bit. Yes they have played some top-end competition this season, but have struggled to keep teams off the scoreboard. During their current losing streak the BYU defense is giving up 37 points per game. They have had real issues in stopping the run, giving up an average of 250 yards per game in the same stretch of games. The Cougars like to play a lot of zone defense which means the Broncos will have to find ways to find the holes in those zones and capitalize on those opportunities.

BYU is coached by Kalani Sitake. Sitake is in his seventh season as head coach of the cougars. The former Cougars fullback is 52-34 as a head coach all-time. The five losses so far this season are the most in the last three seasons and second most in the last five seasons. Sitake is the first Tongan to become a collegiate football head coach.

With BYU moving to the Big 12 starting in 2023, this year will be the last meeting between these geographical rivals for the foreseeable future. BYU vs BSU has been played 12 times since 2003 and annually since 2012. Boise State leads the all-time series 8-4 and is 5-1 at home. These games are usually close, with five of the games being decided by less than 5 points.

What Happened Last Time

Hank Bachmeier threw for 172 yards and Boise State forced four turnovers in a 26-17 upset victory over No. 10 BYU in front of a packed house in Provo. The loss was the Cougars first loss on the season. The win for the Broncos also snapped a two-game losing streak in the series.

Boise State’s running back combo of Cyrus Habibi-Likio and Andrew Van Buren both had season best performances. Cyrus Habibi-Likio ran for a season-high 75 yards and a touchdown, and Andrew Van Buren added a season-high 60 yards and a touchdown.

The Cougars were led by Jaren Hall who threw for a career-high 302 yards and a touchdown for BYU. Tyler Allgeier ran for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Hall looked sharp during the first quarter despite a two-game absence with a rib injury. He completed long passes to open each of BYU's first two drives. Hall punctuated the second drive with a 14-yard strike to Samson Nacua that made it 10-0.

The Broncos tied it when Cyrus Habibi-Likio broke free for an 11-yard sprint. Scott Matlock recovered a fumble by Allgeier at the BYU 24 to set up Boise State's first touchdown.

Boise State went ahead 17-10 on a 1-yard plunge from Andrew Van Buren. At that moment the Broncos became the first opponent to take a lead against the Cougars at that point in the season. The Broncos' second touchdown came five plays after Lopini Katoa fumbled a kickoff return at the BYU 23.

Boise State took a 20-10 lead in the locker room, capitalizing on those back-to-back BYU fumbles.

The Cougars struggled to rally after repeatedly failing to convert in the red zone in the second half. Katoa's second fumble stopped one drive at the Broncos 13. An incomplete fourth-down pass from Hall stopped a second drive at the Boise State 5.

BYU finally cut it to 23-17 midway through the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge by Allgeier. A 59-yard catch by Gunner Romney on the opening play of the drive set up the score.

Jonah Dalmas hit a 22-yard field goal with 3:27 left and Kaonohi Kaniho picked off a pass from Hall at the Broncos 11 to seal it.

Players to Watch

Brigham Young

Rs.JR., JAREN HALL, QB #3

Hall could quite possibly be the best quarterback that Boise State has faced and might face all season. He’s very accurate with the football and that can be seen with this touchdown to interception ratio that sits at 7 to 1. He also possesses the ability to extend the pocket and extend the play to find the open receivers. Last year against the Broncos, Hall completed 22 passes for 302 yards, 1 touchdown and one interception. Hall also played baseball for the Cougs in 2019 and 2020.

JR., PUKA NACUA, WR #12

Nacua, the junior from Provo, UT has been a major target for Jaren Hall this season. Nacua led the team in receiving a year ago and this season leads the team in all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving yards combined) with 538 yards. Last week Nacu led all receivers with 7 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown against ECU. Fun fact, Nacua bowls a 200 average.

SO., BEN BYWATER, LB #2

Bywater took his opportunity in the starting lineup last season, ran with and has become a stud of the Cougars. He is the heart and soul of this defense and is pretty much one of a few that is doing anything productive for a unit that is really struggling. Bywater leads the team in tackles and tackles for loss. He is second on the team in interceptions and also has one sack on the season. Bywater could be a menace on Saturday and will need to be accounted for.

BOISE STATE

Rs.SR., STEFAN COBBS, WR #5

Cobbs this week indicated that he would indeed utilize his extra year of eligibility and come back next season. There could be a myriad of reasons why, but one of them has to be the prospect of playing another season, a full season with Taylen Green. Cobbs has come on as of late and last week against CSU was by far his best outing of the season with his 5 grabs for 91 yards. Cobbs has not scored a touchdown since the UTEP game so look for him to break out in a big way against the Cougars.

Rs.SR., CORTEZ HOGANS, EDGE #33

What a debut for the young man out of Palatine, IL. Cortez Hogans’ debut was highly anticipated and due to a foot injury had to be delayed a little more than Bronco Nation expected, but the wait was worth it and the future looks bright. In his first action of the season Hogans had six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. With the George Tarlas out for the season, #33 will more than likely be the starter going forward and if what we saw last Saturday is any indication of what is to come, Bronco Nation should get excited.

Rs.SR., JL SKINNER, S #0

JL Skinner seems to play his best when the lights are the brightest. This week the lights aren’t as bright as they could have been, but it’s still a huge game in the minds of the Broncos and Skinner is due for a huge game. The Senior hasn’t had as many of the ‘splash’ plays that he did a season ago, but he seems to think he’s having a better season this year than last, “YOu know the splash plays and all that was last year. WE have a very good defense this year. I wasn’t supposed to be making those plays last year. If you look at our defense across the board we are very high ranked in a lot of things and because of that we are doing good, I am having a great season.” Skinner didn’t play in the second half of last season's game against BYU so zero might have a little extra motivation coming into this one.

Focus Position Group: Offensive Line

Many have said that this group of offensive lineman for Boise State do a better job going forward then backward. In other words, they are better run blockers than pass blockers. This logic seems to be true because since the “Great Change of 2022” happened the offense has been revitalized including the run game which is arguably the best it's been in a few seasons. In the first four games of the season the rushing attack was averaging 120 yards per game, 3.6 yards per carry and five touchdowns. IN the last four games they are averaging 239 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns. Some of that success has to be credited to the play of the offensive line. They have figured something out and this unit is playing some inspired football. This week they go against a defense that is ghastly in stopping the run. Look for the Broncos O-line to line up and kick some Cougar tail this week.

Rev's Route to a Bronco Win

Punch em in the mouth

Last year this was also the first key to the game. Last year that's exactly what Boise State did and the Cougars could never recover. This year Boise State has to come out and start fast and be physical. The offense must show they can line up and run the ball into the teeth of the Cougars defense and the Boise State defense has to show the Cougars that their high defensive ranks are no fluke. If Boise State can start fast with a few 3-and-outs on defense and put up some early points the Cougs are in for a long night.

Big Play Broncos

In BYU’s five losses this season they have given up at least nine and at most 17 big plays. A big play is considered a run of 10+ yards or a pass of 15+ yards. Last week against Colorado State, the Broncos had their fair share of big plays and recorded 22 of those plays in the win. If the Broncos want to win this week they will have to hit on some of those big pass plays and break a couple of those runs for big gains.

Keep Doing What You’re Doing

It’s clear that whatever coach Koetter has been doing with the offense is working. The stats show it and so does the score board. Not only has the offense been clicking, the defense has been outstanding, especially in the second half of games. In the last eight second half quarters the Boneyard Boys have given up a total of 3 points. It seems like the only thing that can beat Boise State at this point is Boise State. If the Broncos can just keep doing what they're doing then a win seems likely. As the old adage goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

Editorial Note:

Superman Wears a Taylen Green Jersey

Another game and another reason to fall in love with TG10. With his performance last week Taylen Green not only was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week, but his 305 yards and two touchdowns through the air and his 13 yards and touchdown on the ground was good enough to get him named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week. In four games Green has taken home Mountain West weekly honors two times. Some questioned his ability to throw the football, but those questions seemed to be answered last week and if he continues to show progress like he has the last four weeks, look out because he could be one of the special ones.

Dressed for Success?

All signs are pointing to Boise State wearing black on The Blue Saturday night. Boise State first donned black uniforms against UNLV back in 2012. Since that season Boise State has worn black as a part of their uniform 22 times. In those 22 games the Broncos are 17-5. However, interestingly enough Boise State has worn black against the Cougars 4 times and in those four times they are 1-3. I’m glad I’m not not superstitious and only a little-stitious because I wouldn’t choose to wear black this week.

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON TITLE:

D.N.R.: BYU SEASON OVER AFTER BEATDOWN BY THE BRONCOS

Boise State is not afraid to come out and run the football. BYU has shown that they really don't want to stop their opponents from running the football. Holani and Jeanty both go over 100 yards and the Broncos Cruise to their fifth straight win.

Boise State 35, BYU 14

Rev's Rundown

Boise State University (6-2,5-0) (-7.5) vs Brigham Young University (4-5, 0-0)