BYU Football 2024 Season Preview Special

time for BYU season two in the Big 12 he throws in the end zone to the right side it's a touchdown this is a 1hour special BYU season preview brought to you by JCW's here our Mitch Harper and Matt Bayamon on Utah's Legacy home of the Cougars KSL News radio what is good BYU fans and college football fans across the state of Utah glad to have you on board for this one hour special we're live at JCW's here in Herman 5251 Anthem Park Boulevard come say hello we've seen some boou fans or some Utah fans Mitch and we're we're glad to kind of kick off this college football season with you tonight it's going to be a huge year for college football in this state but BYU there's so many intriguing storylines for the Cougars this season and it takes place in a new Big 12 Conference a new look big 12 it's the second year for the Cougars but this league is reshaped once again as it jumps up to 16 members and you bring in the four corner programs with Arizona Arizona State Colorado and of course rival Utah and that just adds a layer of intensity that has not been in this state for quite some time so it's a huge year and there's so many questions when it comes to BYU and we're going to start to get answers this weekend and you'll hear all the action right here on KSL News radio throughout the season their first game is Saturday night 6 PM you can hear it here on KSL News radio we'll get you started with some early pregame cougar Sports Saturday edition noon to 3 prior to boou in Southern Illinois it's going to be such an interesting game because there are so many unanswered questions the foremost being the quarterback position we'll get to that a little bit later here in this one hour special expectations are low Mitch and and Kanani satake and this boou team they've embraced here's what the head ball coach colani satake said about low expectations heading into this season I'm not concerned I just want to I want I just want to play I want I want to show everybody what we got so I mean we we've been through this before I've been through been coaching a long time I've been around the game of football a long time we all know what's being said we all know what's being predicted out there we just want to get out there and play do you think that BYU kind of embracing this mentality of hey we don't care that we're picked 13th in the preseason poll we just want to play we want to get out there you buying that I always love an underdog BYU team compared to a heavy favorite you know BYU as an underdog is one that typically creates headlines and for good and but I think that this is a an interesting year for the Cougars coming off a 5- seven season a year ago two- seven in big 12 Play you know there were stretches last year Matt where it did not look good where BYU was struggling and you felt did were they ready for power conference life did they drop the ball and but at the same time they have turned the corner as far as roster retention they have focused on maintaining the Personnel they already had in the building and I think they're feeling like that retention that continuity is going to be the key to their success and that Player Development this coaching staff has a background in developing players and getting the most out of them they've really got to prove that this year because there many of the faces the names you know cougar fans from last year they are back this season and you know it's going to be important for this team to have success and it's a it's a difficult Big 12 Conference though to navigate this is being dubbed by commissioner Brett ymark the deepest conference in America we'll see how that plays out but you know preseason pick number 13 and not much further to go as far as uh at the bottom of the league only really the direction they can go is up so let's see them you know prove some media folks wrong and and see if they can be a spoiler in this league I think I buy that commentary too Mitch just because there are so many teams that I could see winning this conference Utah of course is is a part of that list as painful as that might be for BYU fans to admit they're getting ready for kickoff here coming up tonight preseason favorite is Utah I'm really curious to see how they handle that they were often times the underdog in the Pack 12 where it was Oregon it was USC as as The Darlings of the league and even in the wack and Mountain West it was BYU yep I mean they were Utah has never operated in a space where they are the hunted the team that everyone's circling back in the day was BYU cougar fans know that and and so now this is a new role for the youths and it's going to be fascinating to see what what they do uh as the the team that is predicted to win the last time they were predicted to win was in 2019 that was a really good Utah team but they did not get across the finish line and they lost to or again the really the one year you could point to where they were a favorite and delivered was' 04 outside of that outside of that they've always been the pesky Underdog this is a totally different role for Utah whereas BYU comes into this season as that Underdog with a lot to prove and looking to T knock off the top dogs and that's why I think I'm not ready to pick Utah to win this year coming back to your point about how deep this league is and we'll see how Buu factors in as we get in the Big 12 play but just off the top of my head Kansas state is good yeah a lot of a lot of people like Kansas has a team that could win the league Utah's in that mix and then there's Oklahoma State Oklahoma state is they were in the championship game last Ariz Arizona is is on the West Virginia won nine games this is a really interesting League UCF they're playing right now but that's a a hot bed of recruiting can they put it together they've got an experienced quarterback KJ Jefferson so half the league really can make a claim to making it to the championship game game I don't know if BYU is is in that mix I I I want to believe it I just I need to see it and that's why I'm so curious about what happens this Saturday is there's a lot of questions that we we have to answer not just by position but by group can the defensive line pressure to the quarterback can the the offensive line generate enough holes for a run game to appear because we don't have those answers and we don't feel confident about assuming what is going to happen that's why I just I can't put them in that group of teams that can compete for a big 12 Championship this year and I think all cougar fans listening to this would completely agree with you you can't put BYU in the Upper Crust of this new Big 12 but you know I I come out of fall Camp Matt and I feel like BYU has taken a step forward in some respects where I feel like there's better chemistry in the locker room I mean last oh yeah back back in July at Big 12 media day Connor pay was pretty candid and you can listen to that on our Cougar Sports Saturday podcast feed on on the KSL Sports app and wherever you get your podcast he he was pretty candid about how nil was was a talking point in the locker room and at times you know guys were almost more focused on that and they've kind of pushed that to the side because they got humbled last year you know there were games where they were not competitive and you're not being praised as the top dog even on campus like on campus right now the top dog in the sports department is probably men's basketball so you're kind of not in the the spotlight at all which is so foreign to BYU football they absorb the oxygen of everything in for BYU fans but this year it's been different there's been a more guarded approach and I I think the mindset of this team is good I think that the personnel and the depth the second and third units I think is better compared to previous colani teams but there's some questions about who are the Star players of this team only one preseason all Big 12 player on this BYU team that's time baddy defensive end who had five and a half sacks a season ago but uh you just don't know confidently week after week the guys you can rely on and that creates this uncertainty about this BYU team with that being said Mitch who who do you got win in the Big 12 this year I've got Kansas State and I really like Kansas State I like their schedule similar to Utah very favorable the Big 12 basically they want two in they want Utah and Kansas State to reach the playoff it feels like based on the schedules but I going to go Kansas State I do think Utah probably gets in the Big 12 title game it's either them or Kansas to me I'm not sold on Oklahoma State but uh Kansas State's my pick and I'm telling you Matt that game in September I think it's September 21st in Provo 1996 Throwbacks BYU Kansas state is going to be an epic game I'm curious to see if that's going to be a night game or not we'll find out here in a couple weeks but that is going to be an electric atmosphere feere in Provo uh having K State they're one of the programs that I I really am looking forward to seeing be why you have uh you know some relationships with and matchups against because obviously that cotton ball was iconic in BYU lore and to kind of rekindle that matchup will be a lot of fun in a lot of ways that's the program that look you can't exactly emulate Kansas State but if Kansas State can have the success that they've had yeah of recent years you can aspire to be that BYU has much better history much better more resources than a program like can State they absolutely have everything they can they can in front of them they just got to produce now we're live here at the JCW's in heram in 5251 West Anthem Park Boulevard swing on by and we're talking BYU football here over the next hour we're taking a break on the other side we'll break down that quarterback battle who's it going to be on Saturday for the cougs this the BYU football season preview here on KSL News radio BYU season preview on KSL News radio the cougar wasn't meant to be caged cougar football is Unleashed this weekend Saturday night 600 p.m. kick BYU Southern Illinois cougars are kicking off their 100th season as a program pretty exciting stuff and it's in the heart of the Big 12 Conference and you'll hear all the action right here on your legacy home of the Cougars we we've been broadcasting BYU Athletics since 1951 so KSL News radio and BYU it just goes together you you know football season here when we're talking BYU football we of course my Mitch Harper Matt bayamonte were live at JCW's in Herman we hold it down on Cougar Sports Saturday every weekend noon to 3 we'll be doing so this Saturday and a hot topic for us Matt everyone in the street when we interact with folks who's going to be that starting quarterback how how are you feeling a couple days before BYU kicks it off against the Salukis I'm feeling like based off what we saw that last week of fall camp I really liked what I saw from Jake rat's laugh he's the guy that I've been pulling for for the the majority of camp for a few reasons number one I have a deep rooted belief that BYU football is meant to have prolific passing and I believe that Jake redl is a slightly better passer than Gary Bohanan the wide receiver room is deep it is talented they're going to play a lot of guys and the fact that you're seeing T Naka and Cody Hagen even in that mix speaks to the talent that in that room that those freshmen who were so highly recruited could see time on the field you got to get them the ball and I just think that Jake rett's laugh he throws a nice football put in the right situation I like the possibilities of Jake rett's laugh what about you I'm if it was my pick if it was my pick I would go Gary Bohanan why I'd go Gary Bohanan because why did you bring him in if if he's not going to play because you he's aior but just just to be a just a body why did he bother then he's got only one year left why bring him in and also Matt I will say that playmaking ability on the ground we hear all the time from Aaron rodri the number one task is to run the football this year and establish a ground attack I just think Gary Bohanan could is is a little bit better athlete Than Jake R he's a little more Dynamic but I I I'm with you in the sense that I do believe Jake red is going to be that first feels that's where it's trending uh and he got better as a passer in Fall Camp he did the final three you know observation periods his accuracy was impressive I mean the he had a pass to Cody EPS for a touchdown it was against Jacob Robinson and and just again that matchup EPS versus Robinson this is not some third string scrub that by he's completing passes against like red slap's got to be on point and he was and I also think too what what's been underrated in Camp I think red slaps has has a really good command of the offense they were lined up everyone knew where to be think about last year how many times there were mistakes they didn't know where to line up even redl himself was kind of his head was spinning at times because he was thrown into the fire in November better Pace he didn't seem like he was being flustered and you know if there's a game to get him in a comfort zone you got to think it's the FCS opponent I I'm not worried about the outcome for BYU as far as the score I think they're going to win but I'm just kind of wondering you know will they look good doing it because we've seen BYU against FCS teams and they just don't look good even last year the the game was never in doubt against Sam Houston but they just didn't look good you kind of came away from that game feeling like well what to expect for this well the fans here at JCW's and Herman they're with you they want Gary bannan I also think this is a hard skill to quantify but Jake rettl to me is sign ific anly Better Off Script I really like his ability to make things happen now at times last year he tried to make things happen and he tried a little too hard to make things happen and bad things happen I'm thinking about that 99 yard pick six where it just hand the ball off you don't need to do anything crazy here that'll live in infamy I always just say that that will forever if he doesn't make that play Gary may not be here and he might be the starting quarterback at the end of spring yeah I mean we're we're probably talking about a quarterback room that has redl Ryder Burton Noah Lugo and probably trayon Borg and that's it like that's probably what it is maybe Kate finan yeah I mean that's probably what the quarterback unit would look like had he just handed the ball off to Aiden Robbins that that 20 years from now when we talk BYU Oklahoma and Provo that play is instantly then brought up I mean it's it's unfortunate because you got to also give him credit for getting BYU in that position but that wasn't the only bad play in that game he had costly fumbles in that game too but I do believe and Aaron Rodrick has noted that the turnovers Jake did a good job of taking care of the ball we did not see in media observation periods him turn the ball over once in spring or fall camp and you know I thought that was noteworthy whereas there was a ball for ban and where a handoff exchange hits the turf now Boe recovered or the offense recovered uh but uh you know rettl didn't have that and those little things you know give I think a little bit of an edge to Jake rettle but I think there's also a case of fans just want to see something new bannan's intriguing I mean he looks the part I don't love that 63 225 he looks the part man he looks good we can't say last year that these struggles offensively were on the quarterback I don't think Keaton slovis was play a part man of course it did but they had no Run game they had a poor offensive line a really disappointing offensive line there's no quarterback in the world that could have made that work when your line is that bad and you have a horrible run game and redoff is not good enough to overcome that you have to be better in those categories but to assume oh he played four games in remember he got very little reps in Fall camp and he got very little reps up until the week that he started against West Virginia and then to hold that against him like oh there just wasn't enough there now we had a full spring a full let's let's see what it is it's we can't just say oh you made some costy mistakes at Oklahoma in Oklahoma State and so you're no good I think he's going to be better this year I just don't know how much better if he struggles against Southern Illinois though man that's a tough spot do you just just go to the next guy I've I've been of the opinion all offseason that you do I'm not I don't hate that you just go to the next guy but I'm fine with that you do Wonder with Aaron rodri's history he's never shown a willingness to do that and very few offensive coordinators have shown a willingness to do that to be that has always felt like the position where we can't Tinker with it they're mental you you don't want mess with the flow and I feel like if you haven't earned it by previous play then so be it yeah I I think it's going to be BYU's quarterback play will be better this year but it's just the Big 12 quarterbacks they're deep that it's a really good group of QBs in this league and and that's where you get where you then feel again what to expect this offense it has to be proven on the field and I love the messaging that rodri has said this whole fall camp we got to prove it on the field and he was he was hesitant to really give any sort of Praise because remember last year he said boldly we upgraded everywhere kind of backfired because that was a kind of backf that was a clip that was played on Loop on social media uh after they lost to Oklahoma State we upgraded every position yeah no you didn't so yeah he was cautious and I like that I like the approach let's let's prove it on the field we're live here at JCW's in uh Herman 5251 Anthem Park Bev come say hello we got some college football fans here there's college football on the TV we're eating fantastic food Mitch it's locally owned and operated the quality of the food is unmatched I absolutely devoured my pastrami burger and the the fries great Diet Coke too a big Diet Coke D I got the I got the Coke Zero it's it's perfect it's crisp turkey avocado and swiss on the bun delicious I I love that and is that what you always get here no I I change it up I I always if I'm going sandwich though I'm always going with a bun I like I like that bun I just think that's that's the way to go but the food's awesome I I feel like you got to go with the and they have so many great burger options a bacon burger you can never go wrong with the pastrami Burger I'm telling you if you've never had it you should get here a sap and try that thing it is excellent they've had this location out here in Herman for about five six years and great spot we got TVs everywhere you can watch the game we're watching great seating too Arkansas game we got the Colorado game we got all these football games playing around us so it's a great environment come come down here to Herman talk some college football some BYU football with us we'll be here till 7 o'clock and always come here to to JCW's uh the burger boys because they got awesome food here at JCW other locations as well you can check out in in Provo Lehi South Jord American Fork but tonight is the night if you want to come talk some beu football with Mitch and myself we're here for another 30 minutes for this uh season preview Bo football taking the break new traffic weather coming your way and back with more BYU talk on the other side time for BYU season 2 in the Big 12 he throws in the end zone to the right side it's a touchdown this is a 1hour special BYU season preview brought to you by JCW's here are Mitch Harper and Matt Bayamon on Utah's Legacy home of the Cougars KSL News radio college football is back in our lives games being played currently Utah kicks off here in less than 30 minutes and then BYU Saturday night the home opener against Southern Illinois we'll get you started at noon noon to 3 cougar Sports Saturday a little extra pregame for you this is the time of year where you can just never get enough you're watching the pregame shows then you're listening to us then there's the game and then afterwards you're listening to us again so uh we got you covered all things be you all weekend long and it's just this is just such a great time of year Mitch it's so much fun and it's even better being here at JCW's here in Herman seeing all the games on the TV we're watching Colorado and North Dakota State the bisen Colorado barely up 14 to1 but competitive back and forth it's just a great time of the year and what makes it so fun this year is everyone believes they can play maybe for a national title because there's a 12 team playoff and the chase for the playoff is going to be so much fun BYU of course can dream big too and I think that's what's awesome about this 12 team playoff era is is that nothing is holding anyone back particularly in the power conferences but being in a power conference like the big 12 you're going to play a tough schedule and BYU schedule is a bear once again I don't know what it is about the Big 12 and how they view BYU when it comes to scheduling but they give BYU tough schedules this is the this is another tough slate do you think it's tougher than last year's schedule wow I mean gosh tough to say because you just don't know what you know these teams are going to be but here's the thing last year's schedule you had to go on the road to Texas that team was so good they were they put so many guys into the league road trip to West Virginia tough Iowa State ended up being harder than we thought it was going to be I mean you would look at this year's schedule Mitch and say this year's schedule is harder however there's the element of your road games are not that bad all things considered Arizona state was picked 16th in the league you go to Arizona State you play at Utah of course that's going to be hard that's that's going to be difficult but you have some time before that to prepare a long trip to Central Florida that's tough but you look at the home schedule Oklahoma State comes here that was a coin flip game Arizona comes here great quarterback Great Wide Receiver but they do have a new coach is there a a transition there with Jed fish going to Washington Brett brandan coming in from San Jose State do they become susceptible be use played well against Arizon Arizona in the last 10 or 15 years so I Bo probably has the upper hand in that game on the road of Baylor I don't think Baylor's that good so that's a that's a winnable game Kansas State that's hard get him at home and it's also part of the Year too this is what I love about the Kansas State game so you have Southern Illinois this week quick turn around to SMU then you have Wyoming cross your fingers knock on W you're going to be healthy for that Kansas State game and it has been talked about daily down at BYU the difference in the strength and conditioning yeah let's put it to the test but I like that you get Kansas State at home Mitch early in the year so hopefully you're playing your top 22 and and because we've seen B's top 22 has done well in the independent era and I thought they did pretty good last year is that Kansas game where it really kind of started unravel injuries Parker Kingson gets hurt so I don't know I it's it probably is a a tinge harder but you like the uh the favorability with the home schedule I think it's harder I just definitively I do I just don't think there's why because the non-conference I think the non-conference is harder the Wyoming the Wyoming at Wyoming at SMU and then you schedule an FCS team that's got a pulse really like if you're going to play FCS just play it's not roast beef Tech yeah play Savannah State when BYU fans in 2014 were cheering for Savannah State to score because they felt bad for them you know if you're going to schedule an FCS schedule a bad FCS don't schedule one that's got you know an actual heartbeat and it can actually maybe do something but so so for that reason that's why I say this schedule's tougher but I I do think you lay out a great point that the toughest games outside of Utah are in Provo and BYU has made great strides in the home environment I think that's an underrated storyline that honestly us and the media and others probably don't cover enough like the game day atmosphere has got so much better at BYU now we were joking yesterday down at Lees where we were doing a standup after practice that it kind of falls short when you're down 30 to Iowa State and Cosmos Singing in the Rain you're like ah this doesn't hit the same with the fire knives but you know think back 20 years ago when you know you we wouldn't have everyone in blue like couger fans are are wearing the royal blue they they are buying the gear passion they got their cougar Tails like it is a rocking crowd at Lees and BYU hasn't had a losing record at home since 2017 wow if they you say if they go four- two at home I think I feel confident that they can get two more wins on the road with that road schedule so yeah what did you just say four and two at home if they could if they go four and two four and two at home would be celebrating in the streets yeah that's what I'm saying like that that's what they've been doing though the past few years and if they could do that again you're in position two at home you're obviously beating Southern Illinois yeah but then that means you're getting one of the Kansas teams you're getting Arizona and Oklahoma State be it'd be impressive unev it'd be outstanding and you're definitely going to the postseason if you do that so that that's the challenge in front of BYU to protect level's house colani makes that a big talking point you know he even has Patty Edwards come and talk to the team about that so um you know that that's going to be important to protect home field and that's something that's a big storyline in the Big 12 is that the home field environments are rocking this is not the Pack 12 of old where it was you know empty empty stadiums now the Big 12 they they bring it they got capacity crowds and BYU is a great piece of that I'm curious this is maybe deep in the weeds but there have been some uh Stadium Renovations since the last time Bo played in there corporate seating changes I I'll be curious what the final number is good point and as of today it's not a sellout I think there's still a few a few tickets left but it's a good point because the atmosphere has gotten a lot better what they've done with the rock yes whoever came up with that idea tip of the cap because when it was just a little bit here a little bit there it's nice that they're in one place CU they have made such a difference bu is going to need cougar Nation this year maybe more than ever because last year there were times where it might have been the Iowa Stak game where I'm like where's the rock I know I know that know the weather's bad but and the the team's falling on hard times but where you at like BYU needs a decisive HomeField advantage to combat this difficult home schedule because there's a very decent chance the Big 12 Champion is playing in Provo at some point this year can you upset one of those teams that's that's the big question it's it's hard to say yes I I just look at it as of right now I I don't see it happening but it really just depends on two the thing that's so great about college football Mitch from year to year there's so much change whether it be the coaching staff or the roster in this case a little less which is a good thing does continuity result in better chemistry better efficiency better production hard to say but I think that's what you're rooting for if you're BYU fan that all this continuity like a lot of guys that were new last year stayed that that can Propel you to exceed those expectations 14 returning starters this season for BYU and you you could ask is that a good thing to have that many guys from last year it's always a good thing to have experience it is and I agree and you know what I'll be honest Matt and I've and I this is to me it's noteworthy because you know my stance I've always been Pro portal yes go into the portal get a guy this year they were selective they were in the bottom three of players gained in the portal they focused from within and that has got to Bear fruits and and give you wins where it's tight late in the fourth quarter and you're you know 24 all against K State does that continuity bring you together to make that final drive happen and go score and get a massive win over a team like K State or at Utah where you haven't won since 2006 that has got to be kind of The X Factor for BYU and it sounds crazy but those little things the margins are so thin and something like that could be tangible for BYU this season taking a break here it's the the season preview of boou football one more segment to go we're live here in Herman at JCW's come say hello grab a burger get some good food we'll be back right after the break BYU season preview on KSL News radio and it's brought to you by JCW's the Burger Boys we're located here in Herman 5251 Anthem Park Boulevard Mitch Harper Matt Bayamon with you we hold it down on Cougar Sports Saturday Saturday afternoons noon to 3 also cougar Nation Monday nights 6:00 to 7:00 we'll be taking your phone calls each Monday to react to BYU football games but here at JCW's and the food here is just awesome I had a turkey bacon avocado Swiss sandwich uh shakes the cheese fries were outstanding nothing better than JCW big fat juicy fries so good great fry sauce locally owned too I think that's what makes it awesome knowing that it's a Utah based company hey I also love this the beauty of JCW's Mitch there's all this incredible food great Sports environment great seating and this flies under the radar but I appreciate it as someone who likes to eat out you're never going to be asked or shown one of those obnoxious tip screens yes the tip uh epidemic in this country I mean you want to go to the bathroom with some places you're asked to give a tip for using that place not here at JCW's your business is the only tip this place needs I appreciate that I do too and I also appreciate a great foam cup yes it's very underated plastic straw as well plastic straw that those are that's a noteworthy thing these days when you get the plastic straw you get the foam cup it's great times here at JCW's swing on by and watch all the football action tonight and throughout the weekend too the opening weekend of college football here in Herman 5251 Anthem Park Boulevard but they got other locations too uh Provo Lehi South Jordan American Force fork and of course here where we're at here in Herman all right Mitch let's give the fans a season prediction is this team G to be playing in December what say you yes really they're going to they're going to find a way Matt six and six and I don't want that to be running the streets and celebrate like oh BYU got to six wins no don't don't lower the standard I I want year three you know in the Big 12 to be you level up even further but six wins after what took place last season second year in a power four conference that would be progress and I think anything less than six would be viewed is is no progress I I can't pick your five wins being progress to me right now what if you upset Utah and that's what keeps them of the championship game that that okay you know that might be the one caveat where you go you know I'll take that we have a fan here that say that he doesn't care about anything else he just wants to beat Utah doesn't give a rip about the record keep the Utes out of the Big 12 title game and that is a great piece to this season because what if you do go 4- eight but you get a win and spoil Utah season that probably keeps Kanani right I think so honestly I don't like the sound of 4 and eight NE if you were to get back to back wins against Utah they're coming into the conference yeah thinking hey the Pack 12 was better than this we're going to come in here and we're gonna March our way to Dallas to Jerry Jones to Jerry world and we're gonna hoist that chip and we're going to have a buy in the 12 team playoff you were to spoil that and now that I'm speaking it out that's juicy that's a successful season that that's really all you need so it comes comes down to November 9th it comes down to November 9th win or lose against Utah what do you think the record is going to be for B you just five and seven is what I have it at uh you just look at the schedule man Southern Illinois they're going to win that game yeah they're winning we're not watching that game for a win we're watching that game to see can you win decisively can you show more explosive plays can you pressure the there's all these little story lines in the game that are critical to check off the box if you like this team is going to be better and that's what makes that game fun SMU I think they win I think that's a I think that's a winnable game SMU did not impress in Reno and look I drove through Reno in the summer that that also wasn't impressive so so the fact that they stumbled in Reno it makes me feel like that's a winnable game I agree there smu's got really good talent but you don't beat SMU you're not going bowling they're not disciplined though SMU and BYU think is going to be disciplined this year they better be cuz last year it it was borderline embarrassing at times they they were not disciplined in many respects last year I mean late hits oh yeah not getting the play call even the coaching staff yeah exactly the coaching staff too falls under that umbrella so I do think BYU is a more disciplined football team this year but you know I understand where you can come where you're coming from on a five seven pick uh but look at the conference games which ones of these can you pick Kansas State you cannot pick that as a win on the road I am actually I picked it in my game by game predictions look here's the thing with BYU and Kanani teams they are very good in the first month of the season they always come out strong it's that October early November where there's the lull last two years they've had at least you know four game losing streaks in each of these Seasons September they're always they always start strong and there's always an upset you're not expecting with colani teams that they're going to pull out that just you're not you don't see coming and then also too they're always good in Revenge spots there's two Revenge spots opportunities Oklahoma State and Kansas so I'm drawing up six I'm saying upset win listen to this five game stretch you get the conference by that's following a trip to wo which is tough dcoin Finn the quarterback for Baylor will be really good if you can't beat Baylor was in the dumps they fired Jeff Grimes they got a good OC though Jake spel he's former head coach I do like him I do like him good point after that you get some time off you rest up but then listen to this Gauntlet for the next five games home against Arizona tough oh yeah short week Oklahoma State and Olie Gordon coming to town Mike Gundy you won't be favored y after that long road trip to Disney World and to play at the bounce house that game's already sold out I'm sure cougar fans played a role in that then you you get some time off you probably need it but on the other side of that time off is the Rivalry game yeah and colan's teams have not been as good as I'd like them to be after buys that's true that TCU game was was a prime example of that I'm thinking oh they're going to have a new revamped offensive line they're going to come out strongd and after the Rivalry game it's like hey that was fun we highlighted that game we probably put you on national TV how about Jeff Grimes return and Lance Li holds JW bring Jeff Grimes back do what they did in 2022 against Baylor that was typical Jeff Grimes by the way just stubborn at the end of that game would not do anything different and lost the game but I'm not one of those people that think Jeff Grimes is going to go into Kansas and just rewrite the record books I don't know if I love that higher but that is a really hard game a five game stretch just don't know how you pick any of those as wins right now that that that's that's the hard part I'm not saying they can't yeah I'm just saying if I'm making a prediction today can I look at any of those five games and say you know what they are going to beat Kansas I don't think you can right now yeah it takes a bold prediction and you're stepping out on a limb and in forecasting something that's hard to see on paper and in front of you so that's fair and but I will say mad so Kansas State's your big upset you're big it is not Utah and I do think Oklahoma State too because both you got I'm not as sold on Oklahoma State on as many people are I I I mean their recruiting has taken a big step back it's the lowest levels that's been in the Mike Gundy era that's a concerning Trend to me I know they bring everyone back and everyone looks at that on the surface and says that's enough but I'm also not a fan of Alan Bowman too I think he's near the bottom of the Big 12 quarterbacks personally that that's just my my view so I I think BYU can get to six and and that would be a great accomplishment for this year and then Build It Up in the future but I'm excited Matt I I can't wait to see they to get the six and win a low bowl game cuz you'd be in a low B but it'd be against Power four Team all the Big 12 bowl games are against p4s but then you're also playing a lower power four team there great P4 I'll take that seven and six I feel like I'll take that over UAB fair I witness streetport man I'll take a low in P4 any day of the week you'll take a Vandy a Vanderbilt sign me up Boston College game for this year absolutely sign me up I can get hyped for Christmas with by vers Minnesota roll the boat please let's go it'll probably be SMU again though a rematch 26 and six my dream covering BYU is BYU and the Pop Tarts Bowl all right Matt it's been a lot of fun today we're gonna have a lot we're gonna have a busy weekend cougar Sports Saturday coming up at noon this weekend and then game day six o'clock BYU Southern Illinois we will be inside level Edward Stadium we'll have coverage on KSL sports.com so follow along this football season folks Matt it's it's here we've been waiting all all year and football is back and don't forget cougar Nation Monday night 6 to 7 breaking down that opening boou game we'll talk to you on Saturday thanks for listening