NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
BYU players huddle on the sideline prior to their last nonconference game against Wyoming Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Laramie. BYU’s schedule gets decidedly tougher, beginning with its Big 12 opener vs. No. 13 Kansas State Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium. | Jaren Wilkey/BYU PHOTO
It has been suggested by some that BYU’s Big 12 opener Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium against No. 13 Kansas State represents a litmus test for the Cougars, a chance to prove whether they have really improved in the trenches after getting pushed around so much in league play last season.
BYU players and coaches aren’t running from that assessment — they’ve heard the naysayers and critics, too — but the pitch head coach Kalani Sitake and his coordinators have made this week is more focused on the opportunity that stands before them.
A victory over the also 3-0 Wildcats (8:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN) would rank among the best victories of the past five years, likely propel BYU into the national rankings, and serve notice that Sitake’s insistence that the program is on an upward trajectory is well founded.
“I want to see us make a huge step in improvement from Wyoming to this Saturday against Kansas State,” Sitake said Monday. “It is a tough task, a difficult team. But man, it is going to be a lot of fun, and I want our guys to enjoy it. It is going to be a great opportunity for us.”
Offensive lineman Connor Pay, who has been beating the drum about BYU’s need to get bigger, beefier and more physical up front on both sides of the ball to better compete in the Big 12 for nearly a year now, said each game is more like a quiz than a final exam. But he acknowledges this matchup is a huge step up from what Cougars faced in Week 1 and Week 3.
“You have to make a statement that you have improved every single week. I…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cougars-upset-no-13-wildcats-220000225.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-09-20 22:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
