After defensive masterclass vs. SMU, BYU's next task is making extraordinary ordinary

PROVO — Perhaps the word gets overused in the modern context of college football, but BYU's defensive performance in last Friday's 18-15 win over SMU was rather extraordinary.

That is, to say, "very unusual or remarkable." At the very least, it was anything but ordinary.

The Cougars held the Mustangs out of the end zone for the first time since Sept. 23, 2016, and kept SMU to its fewest yards (261) since Oct. 22, 2022. BYU also had three sacks in the first half against a team that had not allowed a sack in two games against Nevada and FCS Houston Christian.

So while the sample size is still small, the two-game metric shows what the Cougars — who rank 32nd nationally in total defense and tied for 10th in red zone defense — did to improve to 5-0 all-time against the Ponies was an extraordinary effort.

And they did it all while their second-year defensive coordinator Jay Hill recovered from a heart attack and hasn't missed a game or on-field practice (though he has been watching from a tent on the practice field in the past week).

"I'm super proud of the players," Hill said after practice Tuesday, which he watched from a chair and a tent overlooking the practice field while communicating with his assistants via headset. "That was the best executed scheme I think we've had since I've been here, and I'm super proud of the assistant coaches. They have not missed a beat, and deserve a huge shoutout.

"They've had to pivot a little bit, but they've been outstanding, calling things at times in games and stepping up in game planning."

The Cougars head to former Mountain West rival Wyoming (0-2) that is reeling after back-to-back losses to Arizona State and FCS Idaho in the Cowboys' home opener. The Cowboys will likely still be without Harrison Waylee, the lead returning running back who ran for 947 yards and five touchdowns but had knee surgery just a few weeks ago.

But BYU will also likely be without its top two running backs in LJ Martin and Folau Ropati, who are both "doubtful" to play in Laramie after injuries suffered against SMU.

In other words, the Cougars may need another extraordinary defensive effort to improve to 3-0 in 2024, which would match last season's start that ended in a 5-7 record.

Is the defense up to the task?

"I think what it comes down to for us is really trusting and believing in our system and believing in our defense," said BYU safety Tanner Wall, who has seven tackles in two games, both starts. "The way it's designated is that if everyone does their job and executes their assignment, we are always going to be sound, no matter what kind of play we see. Everyone doing their 1/11th goes a long way."

In that way, Friday's game was eye-opening and provides a foundation on which BYU can build its defense.

"I feel like the whole defense is working more together," said BYU nose tackle John Nelson of his backfield. "It creates a lot of trust. … Those guys are freakish athletes, and when you see them get picks and make big plays, you know they're busting their butt as much as they can. All I've got to do is get to the quarterback."

Added Wall: "I think Friday's game was eye-opening for a lot of our guys because they realized that if everyone does their job, we're a dang good defense who can play with anyone. We were put in some tight spots in that game but we didn't fold, and we trusted the calls and executed well. I think it gave us a lot of confidence going into the next few games."

The next task, of course, is to turn the extraordinary into the ordinary, to replicate the performance week after week. That's less of a problem for Harrison Taggart, the former Corner Canyon star who leads BYU with 11 tackles, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble to go along with a shared tackle for loss.

Taggart believes the Cougars haven't played their best game on defense. With Big 12 play looming on the other side of Week 3 in Laramie, that could be a positive.

"We definitely have a lot more we need to prove, but I think our defense is playing great," Taggart said. "I think we're playing fast and physical and I think we're having fun.

"Defensively, it wasn't a surprise for us to come out and play like that," he added. "Honestly I can't wait until the fans notice that that's the defense we are and the defense we strive to be every day in practice."

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