No. 16 Utah and No. 17 Texas Tech are headed for a first-class noggin knockin’ in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday and BYU will travel two time zones to discover more of what it’s made of.
The Utes and Red Raiders is a featured game between two Big 12 contenders.
It’s a big stage. Two undefeated teams who’ve only played with toys so far. This game features offenses that can put up points in a hurry and defensively stomp opponents, as they did in the six combined “scrimmages” against Cal Poly, UCLA, Wyoming, Oregon State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Kent State.
Now they face the truth.
The Red Raiders will face the best offensive line they’ll see this year. The Utes have size, strength, technique, experience and girth in Caleb Lomu, Tanoa Togiai, Jaren Kump, Michael Mokofisi and Spencer Fano.
They’re maulers, especially Fano when he goes WWE.
This is reportedly the Big 12’s best O-line and could be one of the best in the nation.
They will face what Pro Football Focus ranks as the best defensive line in the country. Texas Tech went shopping last year and signed the No. 2-ranked transfer portal in the country, signing a national-best 13 four-star transfers while the rest of the league signed 12 combined. Many were on defense.
Utah’s protectors of the elusive Devon Dampier will face a front comprised of tackles Lee Hunter (UCF), Anthony Holmes (Houston), Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois) and edge rushers David Bailey (Stanford) and Romello Height (Georgia Tech). Gill-Howard is the No. 1 D-lineman in the country, says PFF.
Texas Tech’s defense is coached by one of last year’s best defensive coordinators, Houston’s Shiel Wood, who beat Utah’s struggling offense last year.
Utah is looking to clean up a penalty-filled exhibition with missed field goals and first-half clutter in a win at Wyoming.
BYU at East Carolina
Before BYU had a defense, this is a game it could easily have tripped over.
You take a true freshman QB up against a fired-up crowd on the road, and a team that has talent and athletic ability who wants to pound him into the ground, and it’s a recipe for trouble.
Fortunately for the Cougars, Jay Hill’s defense has shown it can game plan and adjust and perform at a high level, be it the run or pass (SMU on the road in 2024).
The Cougars will face their first big test, albeit a Group of Five team from the American Athletic Conference. The Pirates must be respected and that’s why it is huge that BYU got an extra week to scheme for this game.
BYU must get an above-average performance out of its offensive line and LJ Martin and Sione Moa must be productive in the run game to keep the pressure off QB Bear Bachmeier. By the same token, Bachmeier is going to have to make some plays. He’s got to be better in the red zone, although the Cougars did have dropped passes and penalties that nullified at least three scores in the last win against Stanford.
The Cougars need TDs and PATs from Will Ferrin, not field goals.
The Cougars will face speed and a lot of adrenaline in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday. ECU leads the FBS in turnover margin at plus-7. It will try to keep that going against BYU’s young QB.
BYU will counter with size, depth and superior special teams play. The Pirates offense depends on quick passes and yards after catch. They try to put stress on defenders to make tackles.
ECU is a team that has been penalized more than the Cougars and that could be a factor.
If BYU isn’t able to keep the chains moving with the run game or prevent ECU’s defense from getting at Bachmeier, the Pirates have a chance.
Utah State hosts McNeese
Well, look at the Aggies, a solid 2-1 start for Bronco Mendenhall, the Ultimate Fixer.
The Aggies have been a fun team to watch, finding ways to win, sans Texas A&M on the road.
Quarterback Bryson Barnes has turned into half-Max Hall and half-Taysom Hill. He’s doing it with his arm and legs. But he needs to stay healthy if the Aggies are to continue to make headway toward bowl eligibility and up the Mountain West standings.
USU will face some speed and athleticism out of this squad from Louisiana, but improving line play will make the difference in Logan.
This week’s predictions
Utah State 24, McNeese State 21
UCF 24, North Carolina 21
Notre Dame 31, Purdue 7
TCU 31, SMU 24
Miami 27, Florida 24
Kansas 28, West Virginia 24
Colorado 17, Wyoming 14
Oregon 42, Oregon State 14
Oklahoma 37, Auburn 28
Ole Miss 27, Tulane 17
Boise State 27, Air Force 19
Wisconsin 31, Maryland 28
Utah 31, Texas Tech 24
BYU 28, East Carolina 21