BYU’s “Tank” package has become one of the more unusual wrinkles in the Cougars’ offense, and it may be worth watching again when No. 7 BYU meets No. 3 Utah on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The formation is built around sheer bulk. The Cougars can put as many as nine offensive linemen on the field at once, with two to four of them lined up in the backfield and the rest set on the line of scrimmage. It’s a look designed by offensive line coach TJ Woods, who brought the idea with him when he arrived from Georgia Southern in 2024 and installed it two years ago.
“Yeah, that was kind of the O-line corporation, as we call it,” Woods said, referring to himself and three other assistant coaches who help out coaching the guys in the trenches. “We have some good young players that we like and that we think we can trust. So why not use them?”
The package has already shown up in a scoring spot. BYU used it successfully to punch in a touchdown at UCF the previous week, and now there’s curiosity about whether the Cougars will turn to it again in one of the season’s biggest games.
Center Bruce Mitchell said the setup keeps more players involved and gives Woods a chance to keep mixing things up.
“I am not exactly sure who comes up with certain plays,” Mitchell said. “I think I will credit that one to coach Woods because he’s trying to put as many offensive linemen out there as he can.
Maybe we will sneak a 10th on in here soon. We will see.”
Woods said the idea started with seven offensive linemen, then expanded from there.
“Guys such as Joe Brown and Trevin Ostler (now injured) get to play meaningful snaps,” Woods said. “So to me, that’s a huge advantage for an offensive lineman.”
The formation also comes into focus after the wild sequence that produced BYU’s first touchdown in Saturday’s 27-20 win over Arizona State. Bear Bachmeier’s quarterback sneak on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line was close enough that a review might have changed the whole sequence, but officials did not stop to look at it. On the next snap, Bachmeier fumbled the exchange, the ball sat between his legs at about the 2-yard line for a few seconds, and Sione Moa eventually scooped it up and carried it into the end zone.
After two different reviews, officials erroneously awarded BYU the touchdown, according to a statement issued by the Big 12 several hours after the game ended at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
That controversy is part of the backdrop as BYU heads into the Utah game, where the Tank could be back in the spotlight.
In Other News...
BYU Heads Into Utah Week With One Awkward Tie And Injury Drama
Utah week always carries extra weight for BYU, but Keanu Tanuvasa adds a personal layer to the rivalry. The defensive lineman spent time in Salt Lake City before transferring across the aisle, and he still has enduring connections there, including with Utah head coach Morgan Scalley. Even with that history, Tanuvasa sounded eager for the chance to line up at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the emotion of the matchup will be matched by a very different kind of family milestone as his wife is expecting their first child soon.
On the injury front, BYU is still sorting out two important names before kickoff. Coach Kalani Sitake said running back LJ Martin and cornerback Evan Johnson will continue to be evaluated over the next few days as the Cougars try to determine whether either can go against Utah. For a game that already has plenty of edge, the availability of both players could shape how BYU approaches one of its biggest tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Huge Holy War Test After Its Uneven Stretch
BYU left Tempe with a 27-20 win over Arizona State, but the bigger picture now shifts quickly to the road and to the kind of game that can define a season. Kalani Sitake has made it clear the Cougars still need to sharpen up after an uneven stretch, and the timing could hardly be more demanding with No. 3 Utah waiting on Saturday morning in Salt Lake City.
The Holy War has a way of stripping everything down to urgency, and BYU enters this one trying to keep its momentum while also proving it can play cleaner football against a top-tier opponent. The Cougars will get their shot on November 7, with kickoff set for 10 a.m. MST, and the stakes are obvious: a chance to extend their winning streak against Utah and show that the recent bumps have not knocked them off course. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Betseys Quiet Start Puts BYU Fans In Wait-And-See Mode
Tyler Betseys first few days in a BYU uniform have given Cougar fans a little bit of everything except the scoring burst they were hoping to see. The Syracuse transfer has started both exhibition games, but he has made just 1 of 6 shots, a quiet beginning for a player expected to help on the wing as the season takes shape.
Kevin Young has not sounded concerned, pointing to Betseys defensive work and saying the shooting will come around. The Cougars will get a better read soon enough, with Ohio State up next in a non-conference game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, where the stakes and the pace should offer a clearer picture of how Betsey fits. [Read more 🡒]