BYU’s next test is a lot more revealing than last week’s stroll past Utah Tech.
Arizona brings Noah Fifita to Provo on Saturday, and the Cougars will get a real read on two things at once: how sturdy the defensive front is and how much depth the secondary has while safety Raider Damuni is out with a leg injury for a few weeks. That’s the kind of game that exposes whether a defense can do more than just survive - whether it can cover, collapse pockets and keep a smart quarterback from settling in.
Kalani Sitake said he knows Arizona well, from the personnel to the coaching staff, and he made clear he respects what the Wildcats bring.
“They have a disruptive defense,” said Sitake. “I mean, you look at how they played Northern Arizona and held them to nine yards rushing and under 200 yards total offense, a defensive effort that actually had a shutout. NAU had a late touchdown off an interception with three minutes left.”
Sitake also pointed to Fifita’s poise and arm strength, stressing that BYU can’t get caught trying to outfox a quarterback who handles pressure and coverage well.
Sitake said Fifita is smart and hard to confuse so BYU will have to do a great job in coverages and putting pressure on him. “He has a very strong arm.”
Arizona, in Sitake’s view, is not coming in to make things easy.
Sitake said Arizona will bring their best, “So, we’ve got to play our best.”
A big part of the buzz around BYU right now is freshman receiver Legend Glasker, whose debut against Utah Tech turned heads fast. The Lehi product went from relative unknown to one of the most talked-about players on the roster after a memorable first outing.
Jay Drew said Glasker is no longer an unknown commodity after that performance, and noted that the receiver’s showing was one of the most memorable debuts in recent memory in the win over Utah Tech. Drew expects Arizona to pay close attention to him this week, while also pointing out that BYU’s receiver group has size advantages that could create problems for defenses if Kyler Kasper or Jojo Phillips draws extra attention.
Drew said he has bounced between several record projections for BYU this season, from 10-2 down to 7-5, but settled on 8-4. He pointed to the challenge of Notre Dame at home and road games at Utah, TCU and either UCF or Kansas as the likely trouble spots.
His score prediction: BYU 34, Arizona 33.
Dick Harmon also came away impressed by Glasker, saying he had heard in spring that offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and pass-game coordinator Fesi Sitake were almost hiding the talent to keep him from getting poached in the transfer portal. Harmon said fall camp made Glasker look like an immediate weapon, and Utah Tech only confirmed it when he scored three touchdowns on his first four touches.
Harmon called Glasker fun to cover and said the freshman’s quick burst makes him dangerous as a big-play threat. He also said he hopes Glasker stays healthy.
On the season, Harmon had BYU at 10-2. After seeing Notre Dame, he thinks the Cougars will have trouble moving the ball consistently against that defense in Provo.
He believes Utah will be able to move the ball on BYU, though not stop the Cougars’ offense consistently, and said the Utah game could turn into a shootout. He also said TCU looks less threatening after what he saw there, but UCF and Kansas both loom as difficult road games.
His view is that BYU will drop one of those three.
His prediction: BYU 34, Arizona 24.
The Utah Tech game left BYU with one major negative beyond the scoreline: Damuni’s injury. Still, the blowout also offered a look at different pieces of the roster, along with a game recap and analysis that followed on Monday from players and coaches.
Elsewhere, BYU sophomore Kihei Akina went 1-1-1 in his first Walker Cup appearance for the USA in Ireland over the weekend, and women’s soccer drew with Oklahoma to stay unbeaten.
In Other News...
BYUs Frontcourt Addition Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
BYU has quietly added another layer to its frontcourt with the arrival of Serbian center Petar Ostojic, a 19-year-old seven-footer who already brings professional experience from Serbian leagues. For a roster still taking shape, the move gives the Cougars a bigger body in the paint and a player who can develop behind Jaxon Kohler, a spot that could matter even more if the season starts with questions at center.
Kohlers eligibility for the upcoming season remains unresolved, with a hearing set for Sept. 29, and that uncertainty is what gives Ostojics addition extra weight. If BYU ends up needing immediate size and depth, the Cougars may find that this understated pickup ends up carrying more significance than it first appeared to have. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Secondary Is Still Waiting On One Crucial Return
BYUs defense came out of its season opener with a lopsided win over Utah Tech, but the secondary was left sorting through the fallout after safety Raider Damuni went down with a severe leg injury. The Cougars have already had to reshuffle some things behind the scenes, and defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga has been clear that Damunis absence has forced others into bigger roles sooner than planned.
There is at least a timeline now, and it gives BYU some reason for patience. Poppinga indicated Damuni is aiming to get back after the bye week, with the possibility of returning for either TCU or Notre Dame, while Tommy Prassas has moved into a starting safety spot in the meantime. For a defense trying to stay steady with quarterback Noah Fifita on deck, the next stretch will say plenty about how well the Cougars can hold the line until one of their most important pieces is ready again. [Read more 🡒]
Treyson Bourguet Just Shared Why BYU Means More Than Football
Treyson Bourguet arrived at BYU last year after transferring from Western Michigan, and his role as a backup quarterback has given him a different kind of spotlight than the one most fans usually track. On BYUtvs Sports Nation, he talked about how his time in Provo has shaped more than his game, describing the experience as one that has influenced his life and faith in ways he did not expect.
Bourguet, who said he is spiritual even though he is not a member of the sponsoring faith, spoke openly about football and BYU bringing him closer to Christ. He also pointed to the people around him, thanking teammates and coaches for creating an environment built around a shared desire to be disciples of Christ through football. For BYU, it is the kind of reminder that the programs pull often reaches well beyond the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]