BYU is trying to turn the page fast.
Saturday’s 28-20 loss to Utah knocked a serious dent in the Cougars’ postseason hopes, but the message inside the program this week is simple: move on, lock in on Baylor, and treat the rest of the season like it starts over now. That’s easier said than done with only three games left, especially with a Baylor team coming to Provo that has won two straight since firing head coach Dave Aranda and has been playing some of the better defense in the Big 12.
“We’re getting to the last quarter of the season and we got a matchup with Baylor, and (they’re a) really good team,” Sitake said. “They’ve got a win streak going, and I think they’re doing some really good things.”
The Cougars, meanwhile, are trying to steady themselves after a stretch that has included two losses in their last three games, with an uninspiring win over Arizona State in between. On Monday, players made it clear they’re approaching this week with one-game focus and no room for lingering frustration.
“It’s kind of what it’s been all season,” said BYU offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell. ” … We got to have all focus on Baylor.
We got to put the loss behind us like we would put the win behind us, and just focus on beating Baylor and focus on being our best selves, having a great week of preparation, understanding the game plan, the call sheet, and then just going out there and executing on Saturday. It’s going to be great.
We’re going to be back in Provo where we’re going to have the best fans in the nation behind us. So (I’m) certainly looking forward to it.”
One of the biggest questions this week centers on LJ Martin. His return against Utah didn’t produce much on the stat sheet - seven carries, 19 yards - but Sitake said the senior running back should have a bigger role against the Bears.
“He’ll be available, and it’ll more than he was this last week,” Sitake said. ” … He wasn’t 100%, and I’m looking forward to seeing him work this week.
He’s only been off crutches in a scooter for a couple weeks now. So he’s a tough kid, and I love that LJ wants to just sacrifice for the team.”
BYU’s ground game needs that boost. The Cougars want more push up front and more consistency from the run game after the last three weeks, both to ease the burden on Bear Bachmeier and to make the offense flow better overall.
“We’ve got to move the line of scrimmage better,” Mitchell said. “We had moments where we did it last Saturday, and in other games, and then we had moments where we did not … Obviously we want to run the ball better, and that’s going to make our offense more efficient, and it’s going to make Bear’s job easier. But we certainly got to get it figured out and get a better run game going.”
Bachmeier’s four interceptions against Utah loomed large in the loss, and the sophomore quarterback took it hard. Still, the expectation inside the locker room is that he’ll respond the way good quarterbacks do - by putting the game behind him and showing up ready to play.
“I know Bear, and I know the character he has, and I know he’s going to bounce back,” Mitchell said. “And it’s not just his fault.
He’s taking a lot of heat in the media, and he’s taking it personally. But man, it’s not just his fault on on the performance.
If we were able to run the ball better, I’m sure he’s able to pass the ball more efficiently. So I have no doubt in Bear, and the utmost confidence in him.
He’s going to bounce back. He’s going to have a great game this Saturday.”
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Utah Is Forcing A No. 1 Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Week 10 left the Top 25 picture with a few familiar powers still sorting themselves out, but it also kept the unbeaten conversation alive in a way that is hard to ignore. UCLA and Utah both stayed perfect, and in a ballot built on recent results and overall performance, that kind of record naturally puts pressure on the rest of the field to justify staying ahead of them.
For BYU fans, the bigger takeaway is how the broader ranking debate keeps circling back to teams like Utah, Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama, Indiana, Miami, Texas and Wake Forest as the season tightens. These ballots are subjective by design, but when undefeated teams keep winning and the margin between contenders stays thin, every weekly adjustment becomes part of a larger argument about who really belongs near the top. [Read more 🡒]
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BYUs 28-20 loss to Utah left plenty to sort through afterward, and Brandon Gurneys position-by-position grades captured the split personality of the night. The quarterback room, led by Bear Bachmeier, landed near the bottom after four interceptions helped sink drives and tilt the game away from the Cougars, while several other groups drew mixed reviews depending on how much they could overcome the mistakes around them.
One of the brighter spots came up front, where the defensive line earned one of the better marks for its ability to generate sacks and keep Utah from getting much going on the ground. Even in a loss, that kind of effort stood out, but the broader takeaway from the grading was hard to miss: BYU had enough defensive resistance to stay in the game for stretches, yet too many offensive breakdowns to fully capitalize on it. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacua Just Gave BYU Fans A New Reason To Worry
Puka Nacuas latest injury scare landed late Sunday, on the Rams final offensive snap against the Commanders, and it immediately sent a familiar ripple through BYU circles. The former Cougar has become one of the NFLs most closely watched alumni, so any issue involving his knee carries weight well beyond Los Angeles, especially when it comes after a productive day in which he had already piled up 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams do not believe Nacua tore his ACL, but the real answer still waits on an MRI, and that uncertainty is enough to keep BYU fans on edge. For a program that takes pride in its NFL pipeline, Nacuas health matters not just for the Rams offense but for the growing list of Cougars following his every step, hoping this one turns out to be only a brief scare. [Read more 🡒]