Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- BYU, ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, will face Oklahoma State, seeking to maintain their undefeated record and avenge last year's loss.
- The Cougars are especially strong in night games, boasting a 21-0 record since 2020 under such conditions.
- This game, scheduled for an 8:15 p.m. MDT kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium, plays to their advantage.
PROVO — After its 41-19 win over Arizona last week, BYU found itself ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll.
The Cougars held Noah Fifita to 50% passing and picked him off three different times — one returned for a touchdown by Chuck Bednarik National Player of the Week Isaiah Glasker.
The Cougars will welcome in Oklahoma State after a loss at Boone Pickens Stadium last year despite a 24-3 lead.
How do the Cougars keep their undefeated record and get revenge on the Cowboys?
Embrace the night
Though a conspiracy, the consensus amongst fans and media is that BYU plays better at LaVell Edwards Stadium when playing at night.
While that was possibly disproven last week as the Cougars and Wildcats kicked off at 2 p.m., there is a noticeably different energy when playing after dark at LaVell Edwards Stadium. According to Reddit user Kruger-Dunning, since the 2020 season, BYU is 21-0 in games without sunlight and 12-10 in games with sunlight.
BYU is 3-0 this season in night games (two at LaVell Edwards Stadium and one on the road) and have outscored its opponents 113-36. In day games, BYU is also 3-0 (one at LaVell Edwards Stadium and two on the road) and outscoring its opponents 93-62.
A previous article on these stats can be found here.
Whether you believe in conspiracies or not, the Cougars have historically played better at night. Embracing the evolved fourth quarter antics, fireworks at the national anthem, and the overall rowdy environment will give BYU an edge over Oklahoma State that kicks off at 8:15 p.m. MDT.
Take advantage of a struggling defense
Oklahoma State's defense ranks fifth to last in FBS in yardage allowed at 493.5 yards per game — only Utah State, New Mexico, Ball State, and Kent State are worse.
Oklahoma State gives up 235 rushing yards per contest and 258 through the air. The lack of a defensive presence will help a BYU offense that is very up-and-down — see Baylor game.
The Cowboys don't get to the quarterback often either, recording just 11 sacks this season.
Oklahoma State is also the fifth worst defense in first downs per game, giving up 25.2 on average. This helps the Cougars who average 20 first downs per contest.
Trust in the pass defense
As of this writing, BYU ranks No. 1 in pass efficiency defense per NCAA.com. They've given up just four passing touchdowns this year, and all of them have come in the last two games.
BYU has collected 10 interceptions as a team, which is fifth in FBS. BYU held Fifita to 26-of-52 passing for 275 yards and rewarded him with a 51.6 PFF grade, the second worst of his career, and a 48.2 QBR, the worst of his career.
Backup quarterback Garret Rangel is expected to get the start for the Cowboys; he is 11-of-24 passing this year for 141 yards and a touchdown. In his career, Rangel completes 50% of his passes, with seven touchdowns to six picks. An inexperienced quarterback at the helm could have the Cougars secondary ready to pounce.
BYU and Oklahoma State will kick off at 8:15 p.m. MDT at Lavell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars will look to go 7-0 for the first time since 2020 and second time since 2001 when BYU started 12-0 before losing its final two games.
