Welcome to Memoirs from the Mount, a weekly adventure through the twisting catacombs of my ever-decaying stream of consciousness. From the solitary peak of Mount Fuji to the cascading slopes of Mount Timpanogos, I'm sending a telegram of my perspective on current events surrounding BYU athletics.
Hey, listen. I understand that there is very little that my words can do to affect the result of a football game. For starters, I highly doubt that this text will ever enter the eyes of an individual like Kalani Sitake, Kyle Whittingham, Shane Reese, Brian Santiago, Jay Hill, and the like. Frankly, it's a miracle that you are reading this right now (thanks for reading, by the way). Truth be told, I understand that this article will likely become another clump of letters to eventually decay into the digital obscurity, swallowed by the ceaseless tsunami of college football content constantly getting scooped onto the pile. There are so many reasons to skim through this article, move on with your life, and never again think about what you've read here for the rest of your days. I'm at peace with this; it's a natural part of the gig.
But I've got some thoughts, and as long as I have the floor, I think we should all be considering the following question: why do we make predictions?
Seriously, what's the point right? Is it for engagement? Attention? Does spewing the jumble in our brain to other like-minded individuals bring us some sort of catharsis or inner peace? Or do we think that maybe, just maybe, by putting that energy into the swirling stew of fate, we may just have some sort of impact -- no matter how small -- on the events of the future?
Maybe we'll say something so outlandish that our words become locker room material for our projected victim. It's possible that we'll empower some faltering athlete by instilling a double-dose of confidence. Who knows, maybe God does actually answer prayers about football games if you're really sure that your team is on his side after all?
Maybe, but probably not.
So why is it, that despite all this, I still feel the need to post my opinion on the bulletin board for the world to see? Why, oh why, do I insist on promoting my stream of consciousness as one that's worth entertaining? It could be because in the case of the incoming Holy War between BYU and their arch-rival Utah, I have an opinion that doesn't seem to be shared by any neutral parties (and certainly not by any opposing parties), and I need to make sure that I'm not being completely blinded by bias.
I think BYU wins at home against Utah this weekend. And I think they win by a lot.
I listened to Josh Pate's Thursday night show when he highlighted this weekend's battle for the Beehive Boot. In it, he was complementary of BYU's accomplishments to this point in the year, going undefeated with a freshman quarterback and finding ways to win even in dire circumstances. But when it comes to the Utah Utes on the other sideline, Pate's glowing endorsement of the program's revival made me feel like I was the only one who saw where BYU has the advantage in this one.
You can watch this segment of his show starting at the 18:24 timestamp.
But one point in particular caught my attention, and forced me to frisk the medicine cabinet for crazy pills. Utah's got Pate's trust at this point in the season, despite recent history suggesting BYU's a hotter team. Though he pointed out that anything can happen during a rivalry game, Utah just has his trust all throughout -- he believes they're the stronger and more reliable team. Why is that? It's hard to say, but national sentiment seems to share a similar feeling.
The Utes are favored in this game, despite the Cougars' superior record, ranking, and home field advantage. So why, oh why, do I feel like the only person who believes BYU football could win this game -- and win it comfortably?
Against Arizona, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick insisted on the running game. The Cougs were run-heavy, and gutted out a challenging win through the ground game. Was this a sign of low faith in his freshman quarterback? Not even a little bit. This game took place during a torrential downpour that included an hour-long weather delay. Visibility was low, the ball was slick, and turnovers were bound to take place under such circumstances.
The defense has been excellent all season, especially now with linebackers Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker officially back and healthy once again. LJ Martin has been a workhorse from the backfield. Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston have been unstoppable weapons for Bear Bachmeier, who has likewise been excellent all season for his team.
But it seems Devon Dampier and the Utes have the faith of the nation this weekend against the Cougars. I understand that this year's team is not the same bunch that lost seven games last season. I understand that Kyle Whittingham has an all-time advantage over BYU as a head coach. And yes, I understand that aside from the (now unbeveled) double-T branded on their hindquarters, Utah's body of work is stronger than BYU's overall.
But anyone who isn't a BYU homer is projecting a Utah victory this weekend in Provo. Well count me out -- I'm all in on the Cougs in 2025.
Is it pride? Hubris? Somebody please tell me if I'm too blinded by my own greed and hunger for victories to see what's clearly right before me. The closer the clock ticks to kickoff, the more my faith in the Cougars swells. Call me crazy. Call me diluted. Call me a poor judge of football teams. Call me whatever you like, but don't deny that BYU, now 6-0 for the second straight year as a Big 12 member, has more than a fighter's chance to come away with minor scrapes and bruises this weekend. Gaze into my royal blue crystal ball, and just try to tell me that BYU isn't destined for glory on Saturday. I dare you -- I'll throw you straight out of the divining chamber (coat closet) of my fortress of spirituality (rented space in a strip mall).
I'd like to send a shout-out to our resident contributor, D.A. Sweat, who likewise seems convinced that the Cougars will stifle the Utes on Saturday. He handled our site's prediction article for the matchup, and his final score stood at a commanding 27-17 BYU advantage. On the matchup, he declared:
"The Cougars will win this week because they are the better team and they are playing at home. "
"By saying 'BYU is the better team,' I mean the Cougars have beaten Utah twice in a row, they finished last year ranked higher than Utah, and they are ranked higher than the Utes again this year. All that plus the Cougars are playing at home. Give me Kalani Sitake & Co. in a landslide!"
There is so much about this matchup that, on paper, should lean in BYU's favor. The fact that this team is still begging for national respect is infuriating for me, and I'd love to see this team finally just win a game comfortably. So whether it's hubris, or blinded self-interest, I'm picking the Cougars this weekend.
Post that on your bulletin board.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.