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BYU Football: How the Cougars can beat every team on the schedule

By Adam Gibby

PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 9: Cody Barton #30 of the Utah Utes pressures quarterback Tanner Mangum #12 of the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - SEPTEMBER 9: Cody Barton #30 of the Utah Utes pressures quarterback Tanner Mangum #12 of the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 9: Corbin Kaufusi #90 of the Brigham Young Cougars hits quarterback Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes after Huntley’s pass, in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 9: Corbin Kaufusi #90 of the Brigham Young Cougars hits quarterback Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes after Huntley’s pass, in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

UMass

The low point of BYU Football last season came in the home loss to UMass. The Minutemen got the upper-hand early in the game, and BYU didn’t respond until it was too late.

This season, the Cougars have to get the quarterback comfortable early. In the 2017 game, Joe Critchlow threw for over 250 yards but was intercepted four times.

The Minutemen also had BYU’s number in the running game. The Cougars only had 42 yards rushing. Although it will be important to establish the running game, that won’t be the key this year to winning. A lot of screens, slants and curling routes for easy 5-7 yard pickups will be the winning formula.

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New Mexico State

New Mexico State is on the rise and is hungry to make a statement in their first year of Independence. The Aggies are coming off their first bowl game win in 57 years. Granted, they were in the Sun Belt Conference, but BYU can’t overlook wthe Aggies.

Last season, New Mexico State liked to throw the ball. Senior QB Tyler Rogers threw for over 4,000 yards. The quarterback may be new, but the playing style likely won’t change this season.

Their top rusher also graduated, so New Mexico State will have plenty of inexperience in the backfield. Granted, this game is toward the end of the season, but the Cougars should still take advantage.

BYU can beat the Aggies by sending blitzes and making whoever the new quarterback is very uncomfortable. Similar to what UMass did against Critchlow last season, this could be an opportunity for a lot of turnovers.

Utah

Utah has beaten BYU seven straight times. In six of those games, Utah has scored first. In the first half of each game (minus the 2011 disaster), Utah outscored BYU 71-26. In the second half (again minus 2011), BYU outscored Utah 77-57.

The pattern that most games have followed is that BYU gets behind early, rallies late, but comes up short. That needs to change.

The Cougars need to score first, and the best way to do that is with the tight ends. Kalani Sitake and Jeff Grimes need to come up with four to five new plays that get the tight ends involved and open up the field for the run game. BYU’s opening drive needs to lead to a score, putting the Cougars up first. If BYU can get the lead early and then keep the same pattern of out-playing the Utes in the second half, BYU can win this game and end the streak.

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What do you think? Does BYU stand a chance against some of the bigger Power Five teams? What do you think the key will be to beat Utah? Let us know in the comments!

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