BYU Football vs. Southern Illinois Preview | 2024 Season

BYU Southern Illinois now it's time to play the game the talking's over for BYU Mitch Harper Matt Bayamon inside lavel Edwards Stadium the paint is being applied to the field uh not the blue yet it's just white but we're seeing game day uh get ready for BYU 2024 season Matt no quarterback announcement again from Aaron rodri he did say when asked does he want a clear-cut starter going into the SMU game he then answered we have a clear-cut starter to you buy that I buy that they know who's going to take the first snaps but I ultimately think based off my own observation from from what we saw that the media was allowed Mitch I don't feel like there was much separation maybe there was enough to feel confident to say you're getting the first crack but I still believe at the end of the day whoever it's going to be they got to produce like if they do 140 and let's say whoever started game one throws two picks and the offense struggles you think he's just going to be given the job against SMU I don't think so and I don't think it should be that way like neither of these guys have won enough historically speaking to have a long Runway and and that's not to say short leash or anything Mitch but look aod has been clear they got to do it right behind us on game days that goes for the quarterback that goes for the Run game all those questions you guys have at home it's got to be done here on Saturday before it's we can say that's the guy so there's a long way to go just just because whoever takes the first snap by no means does that mean he's going to start the whole season I asked rodri if he factored in the eligibility piece into this quarterback decision and he said no because they have to win now I thought that was a pretty candid response because there is a sense of urgency around this BYU football program you can debate whether or not Kanani sataki is on the hot seat or not because I think colani is a great fit for the job but still no one wants to go through another losing season Matt and Saturday is is a tone Setter because we have seen BYU in the past play these FCS teams or last year Sam Houston and it's an underwhelming performance and it carries over throughout the entire year this offense this defense too which cannot be understated they got to come out strong on Saturday against a solid but team that be should beat in the southern Illinois Saluki it was nice to hear that from players today uh we caught up with keano Hill he's interviews you'll hear on our early pregame coverage 12 to3 cougar Sports Saturday getting ready for the game I caught up with fop poty he referenced how offensively he feels like they're going to get back to what they were a couple years ago explosive chunk plays we just see a lot of those if that comes to pass that's music to our ears right and for keano to say yes like we need to we need to we got to get out to a fast start we got to put more points up that's a good sign he even referenced like after last year's win against Sam Houston it wasn't a great locker room and so the team understands that they got to get off to a good start we just got to see it BYU there's a lot of questions too I think about the defense uh you know second year under Jay Hill I do believe though Matt that this group is going to be better I've said in the past that they could be on the highend top four in the Big 12 I like the Personnel some questions in the interior John Nelson Blake mangelson they're going to be solid but I I have some questions about the depth secondary I think it's a good group but still not proven on a week toe basis it just feels like they've made a lot of leaps there's a better Personnel but uh we got to believe when we see it yeah especially when it comes to sacks I know that's not the end all be all but look Tyler bades said he's want double digit sacks the coordinator Jay Hill is referenced we need more sacks they need more sacks there's no there's no other way to put it but the other part that is going to be really fascinating to watch this year Mitch is there's so much focus on the sacks because the numbers were so low and their rank was so bad they got to have more turnovers too like sacks sacks are nice turnovers are nicer I want to see more interceptions more fumble recoveries they got to give the offense more opportunities and I think if they can do that then they will be a top four defense BYU is an interesting team this year and and I think that fans they don't have this unrealistic expectations this notion that BYU fans have these lofty expectations no I don't buy it I mean really I think BYU fans are feeling like should we be worried about southern Illinois I don't think you should but I think that simulation had me worried last night on EA college football the key though on Saturday is that BYU just gives a proof to this fan base hey you know they've turned a corner and because I think southern Illinois is good enough to where you feel like if you do win by 30 you win by 28 or 21 whatever it is and you have a good offense that's got a good Pace they're not making these costly mistakes false starts administrative penalties explosive plays you can say okay this is game one this was a nice start that's what you got to see from this team because last year how they started was underwhelming they got to get off to a strong start I think they can and it's just a matter of now seeing it I like the messaging though from coaches and players that we have got to go prove it because in years past BYU has had some hype and they don't live up to it there's been no hype with this team they just got to go prove it on the field yeah and I think that is what is sort of fun about this year is in a perfect situation you're running back a bunch of guys you know and there's high expectations and you want to achieve that what's going to be fun this year is who's going to emerge uh is it a quarterback is there a running back is there a new tight end that that makes plays there's a lot of unknowns and that's scary in some respects Mitch but it's also going to be fun to see which players emerge who becomes a household name and for me I really want to see that pass game take another level which quarterback can get The Playmakers the ball whether it's Chase Darius Cody I want to see this pass game flourish again and you know we're a few days away from seeing if that can happen and the ground Tag 2 has been a big Focus for Aaron rodri LJ Martin colani said he's good to go cleared to go so we shall see what workload LJ get six o'clock kick BYU Southern Illinois again listen to us on Saturday on KSL News radio beginning at noon also on Thursday night we'll be at JCW's in Herman talking BYU football and the college football season at large it's here Matt the the anticipation we wait for this we talk every Saturday breaking down all the minutia all the little tidbits about this football program it's finally time to play some games I can't wait cannot wait it's going to be a blast definitely keep your your radio tuned in we'll get you ready for this uh season open in 2024 so for Mitch Harper I'm at by Aman we'll have you covered all week on KSL sports.com