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PROVO — Big Noon Kickoff is coming to Provo this week, and No. 14 BYU is doing things not many thought they could.
Their preseason win total was 4.5 games and have already eclipsed it at 5-0. But every game presents a new challenge in the Big 12 with Arizona.
The Cougars were on a bye last week and will return key players in the running back room such as LJ Martin, Sione I. Moa, and Hinckley Ropati. It was also announced by head coach Kalani Sitake that Harrison Taggart and Isaiah Glasker will play despite suffering injuries against Baylor.
How can the Cougars stay hot against the Wildcats?
Use your finally healthy running backs
Arizona is currently No. 70 in the country in run defense, giving up 144 yards per game, with an average of 4.28 yards per rush. While the Cougars offense does not scream an amazing rushing attack, BYU has had issues keeping their running backs healthy. Martin played six quarters before going out with an ankle injury, and Moa torched Kansas State before suffering one of his own, which forced the Cougars to turn to their fifth-string back Enoch Nawahine.
Though five of the six running backs are averaging over 4.2 yards per carry, they have seven ball carriers with over 12 attempts or more, with quarterback Jake Retzlaff leading the team in rushing with 156 yards on 34 attempts.
Establishing a run game that has gone for a respectable 138 yards per game this year will set up play-action opportunities for Retzlaff.
Don't take the foot off the gas
BYU jumped out to a commanding 31-14 lead over Baylor in Waco. But the Bears quickly clawed back into the game, while BYU scored just 3 points in the second half and nearly lost the game.
It was similar to the Oklahoma State game in Stillwater last season, where BYU had a 24-3 lead in the first quarter over the No. 20 Cowboys and lost in double overtime after scoring just 3 points in the second half.
The key plays in the Baylor game that featured BYU seemingly taking their foot off the gas was running the ball on third-and-long on Baylor's 33-yard line, which resulted in a missed field goal. The other was on third-and-2 at midfield with four minutes left where BYU elected to pass the ball, which resulted in an interception.
Sitake addressed the concept of "not being aggressive in the second half" in a presser this week that he said is "not true" and they "should have maybe been more conservative" in their efforts.
Salty Kalani returns! pic.twitter.com/983NNjB2UF
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) October 1, 2024
Limit the Fifita to McMillan connection
Similar to the keys to the game for the Utes against Arizona, limiting Tetairoa McMillan's impact is a big key to winning the game. The Cougars did well in pass defense up to the Baylor game, not allowing a single receiving touchdown until Sawyer Robertson threw two.
McMillan is a different story.
He caught eight passes for 161 yards in the loss to Texas Tech, and caught six passes for 50 yards in the win ant Utah; however, McMillan hasn't scored since his impressive 304-yard game where he scored four touchdowns on New Mexico. Arizona has lost two games since then.
Nearly half of Noah Fifita's passing yards are to McMillan, which means stopping his presence could shut down the passing game for Arizona.
Big Noon Kickoff comes to Provo as the Cougars look to become bowl eligible through six games against the Wildcats on Saturday at 2 p.m. MDT on Fox.
