BYU is still clinging to an outside shot of a playoff bid, but it will need to run through the rest of its schedule to do it. Next up? In-state rivals Utah State in Provo, now without starting quarterback Chuckie Keeton for probably the rest of the season.
How to watch Utah State vs. BYU: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Can the Cougars keep their hot start to the season going against an in-state rival?
The Cougars started the season with blowout victories over UConn and Texas, and have since won home games against Houston and Virginia by eight points each. Taysom Hill has continued his run at the Heisman with strong performances in the air and on the ground, but the key for BYU may be the strong play of its secondary.
The Aggies lost their opener to Tennessee, 38-7, and have now lost Keeton to a season-ending injury for the second straight year, leaving them with some serious questions. Utah State’s two wins came over Idaho State and Wake Forest -- not exactly a murderer’s row of non-conference opponents -- and the Aggies are coming off an overtime loss at Arkansas State.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 10:15 p.m. ET.
TV: ESPN.
Online streaming: WatchESPN.
The numbers
Rankings and records: BYU is No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Poll. Utah State is not ranked in either poll. The Cougars are 4-0 this season, while the Aggies are 2-2. BYU holds the 46-34-3 lead in the all-time series, and have won the last three games between the two schools.
Vegas: BYU is a 21-point favorite, and the over/under is 51 points.
Weather forecast: 45 degrees and clear.
Two things at stake
The Cougars don’t just have to win the rest of their games -- they have to win them impressively.
Utah State has had a difficult time in this rivalry as of late, and could make some big noise with a win over a ranked BYU team.
One big matchup
Taysom Hill vs. Utah State front seven. Hill has been a notably better passer this season, raising his completion percentage by more than a dozen points and averaging 0.5 yards more per attempt, but his strength will always come on the ground. The junior has run the ball 79 times for 428 yards this season, scoring seven touchdowns on the ground.
The Aggies, meanwhile, have done quite well against the run this season, limiting opponents to just 2.2 yards per carry. That’s aided significantly by their effort against Wake Forest, who ran for a staggering -25 yards on 24 carries against Utah State, but the only opponent to eclipse even 3.0 yards per carry was FCS Idaho State (3.3).
Further reading
For more on BYU, head to Vanquish the Foe. For coverage of Utah State and the rest of the conference, check out Mountain West Connection.
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