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Armed Forces Bowl Preview – BYU vs Tulsa

December 30, 2011

The Cougars are heading to Dallas to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. This is the first meeting between the teams since BYU lost in a shootout to to Tulsa in 2007.

What we know about Tulsa (8-4, 7-1 C-USA)

Tulsa is perhaps a better team than their record implies. They do have four losses, but each loss came to a team that was ranked in the top ten at the time: #1 Oklahoma, #8 Oklahoma State, #4 Boise State, and #8 Houston. When those are your four losses, you have to be proud of being 8-4. Aside from that, Tulsa’s 7-1 conference record was good for second in the conference, but that one loss came to Houston, who represented the West division in the title game against SMU (and somehow lost). Tulsa boasts a top-25 offense, rolling up 250 passing yards, 205 rushing yards, and 34 points per game, while their defense only gives up 28 points per game.

What we know about BYU (9-3)

Tulsa should be a great measuring stick for the Cougars, who haven’t faced an opponent of this quality since losing to TCU in October. The WAC-heavy November schedule was favorable to BYU, and the Cougars showed a lot of improvement through the course of those games, capping things off with a convincing 41-20 rout of Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. The Cougars have a top-50 offense, with 245 passing yards, 166 rushing yards, and 31 points per game. The defense has been very stingy, giving up only 20 points per game, good for 23rd in the nation.

Keys to the game

Riley Nelson. A good test for the Cougars is also a good test for Riley Nelson. Jake Heaps’ withdrawal from BYU ensured that Tulsa would know which quarterback they would face (though Nelson’s starting role was never in question). Riley’s ability to create on the run and improvise when plays break down is something you can’t prepare for. He’s coming off a record passing game at Hawaii, and I think Riley will have a big day on the ground and through the air.

Receivers. This should be a great game for BYU’s receivers. Look for Hoffman to make at least one miracle one-handed catch. He and Apo should have a big day today, with Falslev, DiLuigi, and others making important contributions.

Defense. The Cougar D will follow Bronco’s typical pattern and try to force Tulsa to be one-dimensional, taking away the run. It will be an interesting test, the Cougar defense against a tough Tulsa run game. BYU’s linebacker group is one of the toughest in the nation, featuring Kyle Van Noy, Brandon Ogletree, and Uona Kaveinga as leading playmakers.

Prediction

This will be a good game. I think the lower the score stays, the more the game will favor the Cougars. BYU should be able to get it done today. I’m picking BYU 31, Tulsa 21.

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BYU 41, Hawaii 20

December 14, 2011

Led by the just recently healthy Riley Nelson, the Cougars ran away with this game in the islands, and came awfully close to my prediction of 49-20. Here’s the skinny on what went down.

Running away with it.

Riley Nelson. I’ve been waiting for this all season long: BYU finally had a quarterback with a breakout performance that included multiple touchdown passes (3), zero (0) interceptions, and more than three hundred (363) yards passing. But it wasn’t Jake Heaps. Riley Nelson was 25/37 in what became his career high game for passing yards.

Receivers. Cody Hoffman had a HUGE day, reeling in 7 passes for 123 receiving yards and a touchdown. Falslev and Mathews added 80 yards each, and Ross Apo caught two more TD passes in an effort that was very representative of the strength of this unit. These guys ran good routes, fought to get open, and broke routes to make plays when necessary. It was really a great day for BYU WR’s. Memorable moment: Hoffman’s one-handed TD reception.

Defense. The Cougar defense did a good job of clamping down after giving up a 79 yard TD pass in the second quarter. That left the Cougars trailing at halftime. In the end though, the defense had good stats for the day. They held the Warrior offense nearly 30 yards below their season average (308) in passing, and held them around 70 yards below their rushing average (95). Joe Sampson recovered an Uona Kaveinga forced fumble for a touchdown, which ended up being the winning score, and the true turning point in the game.

What we know about Hawaii (6-7, 3-4 WAC)

This loss officially disqualified Hawaii from the playoffs, and since then, their coach chose to retire rather than return for another season. With so many better jobs available this off-season, it will likely be difficult for the Warriors to bring in anyone of note.

What we know about BYU (9-3, 5-0 WAC)

Sure, I know BYU isn’t in the WAC, but they did dominate WAC play this year going unbeaten! On a more serious note, BYU is heading into the bowl season with the opportunity to win a tenth game. They will be playing against Tulsa (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 30th. The Cougars have plenty of momentum going into the bowl game, which should be a very good matchup. It will also be a good chance for revenge on Tulsa, who beat the Cougars in their last meeting (in 2007).

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Week 14 Preview – BYU @ Hawaii

December 2, 2011

The Cougars are headed to the islands to play the Warriors of Hawaii. This will be the regular season finale for the Cougars, and honestly, who doesn’t want to go to Hawaii in December? Here’s a look at what to expect in what should be an exciting matchup.

What we know about Hawaii (6-6, 3-4 WAC)

Well, this certainly isn’t the 10-win team that the Warriors fielded in 2010. They still have some fight though, especially at home, where they are 4-2 this season. The Warriors offense features a prolific passing attack, which ranks 10th in the country, averaging 311 yards per game. Their 101.9 rushing yards is only good enough for a ranking of 110th. Pretty much, you can think of this team like a beefed up New Mexico State. They are likely to put up more of a fight than the Aggies, but a look at common opponents pretty much tells the tale. The Warriors lost a close game to Utah State (BYU won). They beat Idaho 16-14 (BYU won 42-7). They beat New Mexico State 45-34 (BYU won 42-7). Finally, they lost a close game to San Jose State (BYU won 29-16).

What we know about BYU (8-3)

With this game, BYU has the opportunity to finish out the season a perfect 5-0 against WAC teams – that’s good enough for a share of the WAC championship right? All kidding aside, BYU has shown that they are more than capable of handling the WAC this year. The Cougars will be looking to close the regular season with a strong showing against the Warriors, and again in the Armed Forces Bowl, which would enable them to complete a 10 win season.

Keys to the game

Jake Heaps. It has been said that Riley Nelson is well enough to play, and is cleared to play. In fact, it’s been said that the decision about whether or not to play will be left up to him. I don’t think there is any way that Riley Nelson doesn’t start this game. However, I do believe that Jake filled in admirably last week, and especially showed some new escapability skills that he probably picked up in his weeks watching Riley from the sidelines. I will be excited to see Jake have the opportunity to come in late in this game (especially if it means the Cougars are already resting on a comfortable lead).

Receivers. I still don’t think we’ve had a “stellar” game from this crew this season. Hoffman has shined more than most, and Apo, Falslev, and DiLuigi have had some great moments, but I would really love to just see someone go out there and have a monster game against Hawaii – whether it’s Nelson or Heaps at QB. The Warriors typically give up 235 passing yards – and the Cougars are above average competition for the Warriors.

Defense. The Cougar defense has faced quite a few pass-dominant teams lately, and I have been impressed at what they have been able to do to stop them. Bronco usually focuses on taking away the run, and forcing teams to be one-dimensional, relying on the pass. In the games against teams that typically rely on the pass, the Cougar defense has shown that it can take away the pass when needed. I think recent experiences will help against the Warriors, but they are likely to still put up some points, even if the game gets lopsided in the Cougars’ favor.

Prediction

The Warriors are tough, especially when playing at home – I hear that Honolulu flight is a real bugger – but I think the Cougars will beat both the jet-lag and the Warriors this weekend. BYU 49, Hawaii 20

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BYU 42, New Mexico State 7

December 2, 2011

Senior day was a big hit, as the Cougars rolled over the Aggies of New Mexico State. The game was close early one, with the Cougars leading just 7-0 after the first quarter, but the game was well out of reach by the end of the third, as the lead had been extended to 35-7. Riley Nelson was watching from the sidelines as he continued to recover from a chest/lung injury, but Heaps was more than enough for the Aggies. Here’s a review of what were the keys to the Cougar victory.

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KVN honoring injured JP

Jake Heaps. Jake had a better game than his last start, completing 58% of his passes, going 21/36 for 238 yards, 4 TDs and one INT. Heaps completed just 44% of his passes against Utah State, the lowest in a series of declining percentages that started with a high of just 63% in his first start this season, at Ole Miss. The 58% mark represents his second highest completion percentage (when starting) this season. The 4 TD’s is a season high, and brought his total to 9. The best thing I saw from Heaps was this play (go to the 1:36 mark), in which he escaped pressure in the pocket and still managed to catch JD Falslev on the run down-field for the touchdown. It was a thing of beauty, seeing that Heaps may have learned a thing or two by watching Riley play.

Receivers. Apo was the man tonight, with 5 receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Falslev and Jacobson each had three grabs for 42 and 41 yards, respectively – and JD had the previously mentioned touchdown. Three catches by McKay was a welcome change.

Defense. The Cougar defense really stepped up this week. NMSU actually has a top-25 passing attack, typically averaging around 275 yards through the air. The Cougars limited the Aggies to just 159 passing yards. NMSU rushing totals were also down from 123 (average) to just 90 against the Cougar defense.

What we know about New Mexico State (4-7, 2-3 WAC)

New Mexico State has come a long way this season, but they still have more to do before they can even compete well in the WAC. They have two games left, and need to win both to become bowl eligible. First up next week is Louisiana Tech, followed by Utah State.

What we know about BYU (8-3)

BYU is on its way to the Armed Forces bowl. In two weeks though, they have a trip to Hawaii, and the Cougars will hope to pick up their ninth win of the season down in the islands, as a win there and in their bowl game would do a lot to provide momentum (as well as a 10 win season) for the Cougars as they head into their second year of independence.

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Week 12 Preview – New Mexico State @ BYU

November 19, 2011

It’s senior day at Lavell Edwards Stadium, and the Cougars are set to take on the New Mexico State Aggies. The Cougars will be led by Jake Heaps, who will start for the first time since losing his starting role to Riley Nelson during the Utah State game on September 30th. Riley Nelson was injured in last week’s rout of the Idaho Vandals.

What we know about New Mexico State (4-6, 2-3 WAC)Pistol Pete

2004 was the last year that the Aggies beat two FBS teams. In 2005, they didn’t win a single game. But these Aggies are improving. This season is easily the best for them since that 2004, 5 win season. NMSU already has 4 wins, and they have all come against FBS opponents: Minnesota, New Mexico, Idaho, and an exciting shootout last week against Fresno State. While none of these are a powerhouse, the Aggies have accomplished a lot. They have three games remaining, and only need two wins to become bowl eligible.

What we know about BYU (7-3)

BYU already knows that it’s destined for the Armed Forces Bowl, and they have already guaranteed themselves at least the same record as they ended up with last year. The game today should serve as a tune-up game for the Cougars, who will make the long trip to Hawaii to face the warriors on December 3rd. As Jake Heaps may be the starter for the Hawaii game as well, it will be especially important for him to settle into that role today.

Keys to the game

Jake Heaps. I would like to see Jake have a phenomenal day against the Aggies. I only have two requests: break 300 yards passing, and have no INTs. I’m sure that we can run all over the Aggies, whose opponents have averaged 207 rushing yards against them, but Jake is a passer, and I really want to see him have a breakout passing game, one that will build his confidence going into that Hawaii game.

Receivers. The obvious counterparts of that passing game. For Heaps to have a great game through the air, his receivers have to make some catches. Cody Hoffman has been making some amazing grabs this season. I’m not sure why he and Ross Apo haven’t stretched out more defenses for long TDs this year, but this is as good a game as any for them to start.

Defense. The Aggies are no slouch offensively, as they average 29 points per game, on about 300 passing yards and 120 rushing yards per game. Even in their losses, it is common for them to score 3-5 touchdowns. The Aggies basically have one main RB, in Kenny Turner, who more often than not has ended up with 100+ yards in games this season. They are led by senior QB Matt Christian, who has the ability to throw for 300+ yards per game, and can run the ball when needed. The Cougars will likely stick with their usual gameplan of taking away the run, and forcing the QB to make the throws necessary to win the game. However, last week the Cougars did just the opposite to the Idaho Vandals, allowing only 50 passing yards, while giving up 191 on the ground.

Prediction

While the Aggies are sure to put up a fight, the Cougars should outpace them and take this game out of reach fairly quickly. I like the Cougars in this game 45-17.

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BYU 42, Idaho 7

November 19, 2011

Sometimes coaches, like players, need to hold their peace rather than give the opposing team some locker room ammunition. Idaho head coach Robb Akey stated back in July that BYU was “not on the same level” as their other big-name opponents (Texas A&M and Virginia). The Cougars must have not taken kindly to those words, as the 42-7 drubbing they put on the Vandals was the worst they’d suffered this year. (A&M beat them 37-7, and Virginia needed OT to beat the Vandals 21-20).

This says it all

Riley Nelson was knocked out of the game early, as he was hit hard after throwing a touchdown pass. This wasn’t enough to stop the Cougar offense, however, as they rolled up 505 total yards, with 262 passing and 243 rushing. Jake Heaps looked good against the Vandals, going 15/20 for 185 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.

Special Teams. Apparently the punting squad got the practice they needed, as there were no long-snap issues today, and the punt unit had two successful punts for a total of 84 yards

What we know about Idaho (2-8, 1-4 WAC)

Idaho is well outside the realm of bowl contention at this point, with just two games remaining. Next up for them is Utah State, who can win just two of its last three to become bowl eligible. With two of those being Idaho and New Mexico State, the Aggies will be quite motivated. The last game for Idaho will be WAC-leading Nevada.

What we know about BYU (7-3)

The Cougars have to hope for a speedy recovery for Riley. I have no problem with the Cougars’ chances against New Mexico State; but Hawaii is a different story. The Warriors are somewhat bi-polar this season, and you don’t know which team you’ll face. One things for sure, playing @ Hawaii is not a cakewalk. I’d like to know Riley can make the flight, but if he can’t, the game will be a good measuring stick of Jake’s progress, so long as the right Hawaii team shows up.

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Week 11 Preview – Idaho @ BYU

November 11, 2011

The Cougars will host the Vandals of Idaho this weekend, after having a week off after the TCU loss. Hopefully the punt squad got some extra practice in this week, as even the Vandals would be hard to beat if you gifted them 21 points on egregious punt errors.

What we know about Idaho (2-7, 1-4 WAC)

Idaho broke a six game losing streak by beating the San Jose State Spartans last week. The 32-29 win was just the second of the season for the Vandals, whose only other win came in week 2 against North Dakota. The 2-7 record shouldn’t fool you though, the Vandals did take Virginia to overtime before losing 21-20, and they lost to Hawaii in another close one, 16-14. The Vandals average 195 passing yards and 96 rushing yards per game. They give up 28 points per game, while scoring only 21. This isn’t a good team. After all, they are at the bottom of the WAC standings, but they have been in some tough games, and the win over SJSU last week is their best of the season.

What we know about BYU (6-3)

I’ll go out on a limb and say that most fans thought the TCU game would be the one to say whether this BYU team was good or not. The sad thing about that loss was that our own errors gave the Horned Frogs so much extra help that it’s hard to say how the game comes out without them. Either way, BYU lost the game, and we are now left with only a road game at Hawaii and the TBD Armed Forces Bowl opponent to provide us with any sort of “how good are we?” moment. Win out, and you still end up 10-3 on the season, which looks great on paper.

Keys to the game

Special Teams. In “honor” of our opponent, I will forgo the usual keys to the game segment, and instead offer this handy little video for our punt team:

Prediction

BYU has shown that they are a good team, but nowhere near great. Idaho isn’t a good team, but they’re not Idaho State either. They are likely to put up a fight, but I think the Cougars will continue their domination of the lower-WAC with a 42-18 victory over the Vandals.

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TCU 38, BYU 28

November 7, 2011

I had hoped that returning to Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium would bring back some of the magic that was around for the Oklahoma game in 2009. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The Horned Frogs capitalized on three Cougar punts-but-not-punts to put up 21 points on short fields, en route to a 38-28 victory. I, like you, am baffled by the severity and quantity of punting errors, but I am also happy by the way our team played. For the first time in four years, our team was actually in this game.

How *not* to punt.

Keys to the game

Nelson. Riley threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for an additional 84 yards. He threw two interceptions as well. One of which was tipped by his receiver into the hands of a Horned Frog in the endzone. The other was a comical throw-it-up-in-the-air-as-you’re-falling gaffe that was a horrible decision. Despite that notable lack of judgement, I felt that Riley played a good game, and he was not, in fact, shut down by the TCU defense, as many feared he would be.

Receivers. There was only one passing touchdown, and that went to RB Michael Alisa. Hoffman, Apo, and Falslev led the pack with 67, 42, and 35 receiving yards each.

The Rush Attack. The Horned Frogs evidently had prepared for Michael Alisa, as he was only able to muster 11 yards on 6 carries. The only effective runners were DiLuigi (69 yards) and Nelson (84).

Special Teams. Unbelievable. For the first time in years, the Horned Frogs were a low enough caliber team to be beaten, and BYU actually played well enough to win. The bright spot was JD Falslev returning a punt 67 yards for a touchdown. That bright spot was overshadowed by the three bad punt snaps – two that led to no kick, and one that led to a partially blocked kick. Giving TCU 21 easy points in a 10 point game is no way to win.

Bronco D. The total yards and first down totals put up by TCU is misleading, because they nearly always had a short field, courtesy of the BYU punt team. The best stat for the Cougar defense was that TCU was only 5/14 on third downs. It’s hard to say if BYU could have kept the Horned Frogs off the scoreboard if the punts had been full length…in the end it doesn’t matter.

What we know about TCU (7-2, 4-0 MWC)

After beating BYU, the Horned Frogs went on to beat Wyoming, and will take a four game winning streak with them on the road next week as they take on #5 Boise State. This game will determine the MWC championship, and also will go a long way to determining who the Non-AQ BCS buster will be this year. If it’s not Boise State, Houston (9-0) may be another candidate. TCU will be moving on to bigger and better things next season as they begin play in the Big 12.

What we know about BYU (6-3)

If BYU went into the TCU game looking for an identity, they came out of it with one similar to what they had after the Utah game, with more comedy reel than highlight reel material. After having a week off, the Cougars will host the Idaho Vandals on Saturday November 12th. They wrap up the season with New Mexico State and Hawaii. Win all of those and the Armed Forces Bowl, and this team can still win ten games this year.

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Week 9 Preview – BYU @ TCU

October 28, 2011

The Cougars and Horned Frogs each had a tune-up game last week, with TCU clobbering New Mexico, and BYU thumping Idaho State.  The teams have played each other the last six years as members of the MWC, and TCU holds a 4-2 lead in the series since 2005. These teams will have a grand stage tonight at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. BYU fans will remember that as the place where their Cougars upset then #3 Oklahoma back in 2009.

What we know about TCU (5-2, 3-0 MWC)

TCU isn’t used to losing. After going 7-5 in 2007, the Horned Frogs went 11-2 in 2008, with their only losses coming to #2 Oklahoma and #8 Utah. In 2009, the Frogs were 12-1, their only loss being in the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State. Last year they went undefeated, capping an amazing regular season with a Rose bowl win against #5 Wisconsin. 2011 began with a surprise loss to Baylor, and later, an OT loss to SMU. What’s different about the Frogs this year? They returned only 2 starters on offense and 4 on defense from last year’s team. And the stats are telling. TCU led the nation in total defense (yards) in each of the last three seasons. #1. This year, they are currently 37th in that ranking, behind who? #34 BYU. The Horned Frogs are giving up an average of 347 yards per game, where last year that number was just 228. The Frogs led the nation last year in scoring defense as well, only allowing 12 points per game. this year? 21.9 – same as BYU. Don’t get cocky, these guys will still put up a lot of points, but they are not the same team they have been the last few years.

What we know about BYU (6-2)

BYU needs to win this game. This is the last non-WAC opponent on the Cougars’ schedule this year. It’s a big game, played in a big venue. This may be the only chance the Cougars have to prove just how much they have improved, and to show that they can perform well against more than just the league’s bottom feeders. BYU has looked great since Riley Nelson stepped in and took over the starting QB job during the Utah State game. Tonight’s game will show us just how good they really are.

Keys to the game

Nelson. Riley, when asked the difference between last year and this year, said that a lot of it has to do with his approach to the game. He was trying to force everything, trying to make every throw be the perfect one. This year, he says he has learned to trust his reads, and to allow his teammates to make plays. I would add that he makes smart decisions with the ball most of the time. The players and coaches believe in him, but most importantly, he believes too. The Horned Frogs will key on him for sure, and they may break up some plays. In my opinion though, that is where Riley has been at his best this year. When a play is broken, he recognizes it and escapes to rush or throw for a first down. I haven’t seen a BYU QB in recent history that is as elusive as he has been lately – and if there is a big loss on a play, Riley finds a way to get it back the next play. TCU may have planned for the set plays, but you can’t plan for the plays Riley creates when he’s thinking on his feet.

Receivers. The receivers have responded to Riley in an amazing way. There are always 8-10 guys in each game getting receptions and making big gains and touchdowns. Cody Hoffman has been showing us more of the stuff he did in the New Mexico Bowl last season. He has been so clutch on third down and in the endzone – making some amazing catches. When a play is broken, the receivers have done a good job of breaking their routes and getting open, and when they’re not receiving the ball, they are throwing good blocks for their teammates.

The Rush Attack. Mike Alisa was once again the rushing leader for the team against Idaho State, averaging more than 8 yards per carry on 8 carries. The only higher average was that of Nelson, who averaged nearly 9 yards per carry. BYU really spread the rushes around last week, with Quezada and DiLuigi also contributing significantly to the rushing yards total. All four of those guys had a rushing touchdown in the game as well. The best part about having so many capable runners? There is always somebody fresh to run against what is usually a stingy rushing defense.

Special Teams. Special teams determine field position, and field position wins close games. If the Cougars win today, I think it will be a close game. In big games, you hope that your special teams come up with something big. Time for another Hoffman kickoff return for TD.

Bronco D. More than anything, I think the BroncoD has to be happy to not be facing Andy Dalton again. Sure GPat will still be on the sidelines, with his visor and sweat towel girl, but Dalton was a red-headed menace that had the Cougars’ number the last three years. But, unlike the defense, the offense hasn’t had quite the drop-off this year. The Horned Frogs are still averaging nearly 44 points per game, good enough for 8th in the nation. They are averaging 234 yards passing and 217 yards rushing. That rushing total will be lower against the Cougars, and their quarterback will be forced to make plays with his arm. In the Horned Frogs wins, Pachall only has around 22 attempts, in the losses, he had around 40. Forcing the Frogs to pass is the only way BYU will beat them. Their QB is no slouch, but putting the game on the shoulders of the sophomore worked for Baylor and SMU.

Prediction

The Horned Frogs and Cougars have similar records, but the Frogs’ wins have been more impressive. And when they’ve lost, it’s been close. I’m not the only BYU fan hoping that Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium still has some magic left for the Cougars. This is as good a shot as the Cougars have had in this game for a few years, but I think TCU will win narrowly, defeating the Cougars 34-31.

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BYU 56, Idaho State 3

October 24, 2011

As expected, the Cougars decimated Idaho State, in a way that said, “we are an FBS team, and you are not.” The Cougars held the Bengals to just a single field goal, while tallying 8 touchdowns of their own: four rushing, three receiving, and one on defense. It was by far BYU’s best offensive and defensive performance of the season. It did come against a weak opponent, but the Cougars did everything they were expected to.

Pendleton and Eason combine for a tackle

Keys to the game

All the Cougars had to do was show up, and they did. The defense tallied three interceptions (one for a touchdown), held Idaho State to just 5/18 on third down, and allowed just 20 yards on 19 rushing attempts. They doubled their season sack total by reaching the quarterback six times. Offensively, the Cougars racked up more than 500 yards, with Nelson throwing for 215, and the team rushing for 290. Hoffman and Apo each had 5 receptions for 71 yards – Hoffman had 2 TD receptions, and Apo had one.

What we know about Idaho State (2-6, 1-4 Big Sky)

Idaho State got what they expected from this weekend: a six-figure paycheck. They have a couple of talented kids, and a coach who obviously cares about them and the program. It shouldn’t be hard to recruit a QB and WR’s to a program that is so dedicated to the passing game. I think they will likely see improvement over the next few years, but they certainly have a long way to go. Next week they continue in Big Sky Conference play as they will take on Montana State (7-1), which will likely lead to their sixth straight loss, as Montana State’s one loss came at the hands of Pac 12 Utah.

What we know about BYU (6-2)

The Cougars are now (Armed Forces) Bowl eligible, and riding a 5 game winning streak, since starting the season 1-2. Certainly the streak has been partly due to a change in difficulty, but there has also been a change of quarterback and a change of identity. This team is not the same one that lost to Utah 54-10. They are peaking at the right time, too, as they have a big game against TCU this week down at Cowboy’s Stadium in Dallas. This will be the perfect stage for the Cougars of 2011 to declare who they are.

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