Welcome to Too Optimistic Tuesday! This weekly column reminds BYU fans why they should count their many blessings and have an abundance of hope. Every season in every sport is full of both ups and downs. This column will amplify the "ups" and help fans quickly recover from the "downs". So put on your blue-tinted goggles and just enjoy your BYU fandom for a moment.
BYU football needs a killer instinct
BYU football is on a remarkable hot streak. Going back to last season Kalani Sitake's squad is 20-3 over its last 23 games. That's incredible. Some Power Four programs have never - nor will they ever - go on a run like BYU is currently enjoying. If AP Poll voters and the College Football Playoffs selection committee only looked records, the Cougars would be ranked higher than their current No. 12.
But voters don't just look at records.
They look for style points. Domination. Destroyers of worlds. Teams that immediately, unapologetically go for the jugular and never relax their grip.
The CFP selection committee salivates over teams like No. 2 Indiana (11-0) that beat Illinois by 53, Michigan State by 25, UCLA by 50, and Maryland by 45.
But that's not how BYU rolls.
While the Cougars have won 20 of their last 23, it feels like an inordinate amount of those victories were in doubt well into the fourth quarter. Last year five of BYU's 11 wins were by six points or less. This year BYU began their Big 12 slate with a 4-0 record, but two of those wins were by three points (Colorado, Utah) and another went into double overtime (Arizona).
But in its last two wins versus Iowa State and TCU, the Cougars are starting to show they are developing a killer instinct. This could bode very well for BYU's chances to make the College Football Playoffs this year.
Domination: The last six quarters of BYU's two most recent wins
Over their last three games, the Cougars have beaten Iowa State, lost to Texas Tech, and vanquished TCU. When throwing out the Texas Tech debacle, BYU has been simply dominant over the last six quarters of their two most recent wins.
While BYU started slowly at Iowa State, they went for the jugular in the second half. The Cougs outscored the Cyclones 24-3 after halftime.
Then last week BYU demolished TCU in an impressive 44-13 route.
Over the last six quarters of their two most recent wins, BYU has outscored two bowl eligible Power Four teams (Iowa State and TCU) by a combined 68-16.
68-16!
That's killer instinct. That's going for the jugular. Those are the style points the CFP selection committee and AP voters look for.
Kalani Sitake's team has a golden opportunity to do the same this week on the road at Cincinnati, a solid 7-3 previously-ranked team that's coming off back-to-back losses to Utah and Arizona. Another 20+ point victory this weekend for the Cougs would go a long way in the eyes of CFP voters.
BYU doesn't just need to win. They need to win in dominating fashion. And it looks like these Cougars are finally learning how to go for the jugular, just when it matters most.