No. 2 BYU’s trip to UCF has all the makings of a sneaky hard ask, and the betting line says as much. The Cougars are only favored by a touchdown despite walking in unbeaten, coming off an emotional win over top-five Notre Dame, and having to deal with a two-time-zone road swing.
On Saturday morning, the ESPN College GameDay crew weighed in, and the panel leaned toward BYU. GameDay was in Salt Lake City for Utah-Houston, but the group still turned its attention to the Cougars-Knights matchup.
One pick came with a simple verdict: "We had a chance to see these guys in person last week...that defense, those guys are for real. Defense travels. I'm going with BYU."
That call was backed up by what BYU did to Notre Dame. The Cougars’ defense stood up to one of the best offenses in college football, even with the Fighting Irish getting two short fields. BYU still held Notre Dame to 24 points and two touchdowns.
Another analyst pointed to the feel of the team after seeing them up close in Provo. "You know, after being in Provo last week, the DNA of this team, just seems like they got it together. So I know they're going to be challenged by, you know, UCF today, but I'm going to BYU."
Nick Saban also landed on the Cougars, continuing a season-long trend of backing BYU more than most.
"I'll tell you what, how could you not go with BYU? A shoutout to Provo getting another big-time win, Dalton. The BYU Cougars number 2 team in the country, mature enough to handle it, I think, Dalton."
Not everyone was ready to ride with the unbeaten Cougars, though. One analyst pointed to the setup around the game and called for an upset.
"You think they're mature enough to handle it on the other side, I do not. I think, you know, they're coming off an emotional win last week and they're heading to UCF. UCF's got a homecoming game, and I think they pull it out today."
Pat McAfee was the lone GameDay analyst who correctly backed BYU to beat Notre Dame last week, while celebrity guest picker Steve Young went a perfect 10-0 with his selections. In a weekend full of chaos across college football, Young’s spotless record stood out.
Another pick on the panel focused on UCF’s quarterback situation and BYU’s overall edge.
"Keyone Jenkins, the backup quarterback for UCF, I think he's the key to this game. He's been playing over the last 5 weeks or so, but Bear Bachmier, as a starter, he's 18-2, only two losses to Texas Tech.
I think it's a challenge. It's a tougher game than you think, so you might be right, but I think the Cougs end up winning."
In Other News...
BYU Just Made Its Support For Kalani Sitake Very Clear
BYU is backing up its public praise for Kalani Sitake with real money, as athletic director Brian Santiago confirmed the school is investing more than $25 million into football capital projects. The message coming out of Provo is that the university wants to keep building around its head coach, even as the athletic department works through administrative changes behind the scenes.
Santiago said the football oversight structure will be a collaborative one with Vice President Keith Vorkink, and the focus is on lifting the program even higher. That comes at a time when BYU is sitting No. 2 nationally, its best ranking since 1984, which only adds to the sense that the Cougars see this as a moment to push forward rather than reset. [Read more 🡒]
GameDay Backed BYU But One Warning Still Looms At UCF
ESPNs College GameDay had plenty of confidence in No. 2 BYU heading into its matchup at UCF, with Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard and Kirk Herbstreit all backing the Cougars to come away with a win. The pregame chatter centered on BYUs ability to handle the stage, with analysts pointing to the teams key players and the composure it has shown during this run.
Dalton Kincaid was the one voice on the set who went the other way, picking UCF and highlighting the kind of emotional letdown that can follow a big week. He also leaned into the Knights homecoming setting, a reminder that even when the national spotlight is tilted heavily in one direction, a road game can still carry plenty of traps for a highly ranked team. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Just Put BYU And Kalani Sitake In The Spotlight
Nick Sabans recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show gave BYU another national moment, and it came with a pretty flattering nod from one of the sports most respected voices. Saban praised the excitement and passion of Cougars fans, and he also singled out Kalani Sitake for the leadership he has brought to the program, adding to the sense that BYU has become one of college footballs more compelling stories this season.
The praise landed with even more weight because Saban pointed to the confidence BYU carried into its game against Notre Dame, a performance that helped fuel the buzz around the program. The Cougars College GameDay appearance drew more than 3 million viewers, and 9.2 million watched the upset of Notre Dame, so the spotlight on Sitakes team is no longer just local or regional. The bigger question now is how much more attention this run can keep generating. [Read more 🡒]