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September was brutal for BYU football, can October get better?

By Nathan Cunningham

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Kalani Sitake of the Brigham Young Cougars looks on during a time out in the second half of their 40-6 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Kalani Sitake of the Brigham Young Cougars looks on during a time out in the second half of their 40-6 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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BYU football’s September was brutally bad. Can the Cougars make October better? Luckily for them, it’d be hard to get much worse.

BYU football is banged up, bruised, nearly win-less and mostly inept offensively.

Still here?

Slow clap for you, because most would’ve nodded, sunken in their chair, sighed and clicked away, hoping to forget the gridiron altogether.

September 2017 was a month that all BYU football fans, players and coaches would like to forget entirely.

The Cougars went 0-4 on the field, losing to two ranked teams and two in-state rivals. They scored just 43 points in the four games, lost three quarterbacks to significant injuries and allowed 40 points in back-to-back contests.

If it weren’t for Portland State in week zero, BYU football would be without a win entirely, and looking at an 0-6 record after clashing with Boise State and Mississippi State.

Granted, at this point, the difference between 0-6 and 1-6 doesn’t seem to be much. Everyone is clamoring for change, but no one is exactly sure how to carve up the blame.

Next: How Good Is Tanner Mangum?

Ty Detmer’s offense is very, very bad, but it’s played great defenses, dealt with injuries, and is making do without his recruits.

The defense hasn’t been what most expected, but it’s been on the field way too long to be effective.

It’s worth noting, the last time BYU football lost at Utah State, a coordinator lost his job. Is it happening this time? Probably not. The difference being tenure. If you hire Detmer and let him go 20 or so games in, that’s not exactly a great look.

Then again, neither is not scoring.

Now the calendar flips to October. BYU football gets two home contests (Boise State and San Jose State) book-ending the month and two away contests (Mississippi State and East Carolina).

Worst-case scenario? The Cougars drop all four games before traveling to Fresno State in November. The best-case? Win all four, turn some heads, play for pride. The realistic one? Lose to Boise State, Mississippi State, East Carolina, then defeat San Jose State at home.

So, will it get better? I suppose. Getting one win is better than no wins, even if it only comes over a cringe-worthy SJSU team.

Just, don’t give up on the Cougars yet. Things are bleak now, but they will eventually get better.

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