We have made it to the first game week of the season! BYU Football is here! Week 1 is only against Portland St, but still, its exciting to know that the season is starting. I am actually quite happy that our first game is against Portland St. We are breaking in a new offensive line, defensive line, and true freshman QB.

Game Preview vs Portland State

Kalani said it best during one his interviews this week, Portland St got to play during Week 0. They lost to Tarleton St, 42-0, but they got to iron out the kinks and wrinkles of everything. But BYU also got to watch that game and scout them a little. The fact that Portland St lost to another FCS team 42-0 has to bode well for BYU.

BYU Offense

In case you didnt hear, BYU is starting true freshman, Bear Bachmeier, in the season opener. It is the first time in BYU history that they are starting a true freshman in the season opener. The only other time it almost happened was when Tanner Mangum was a true freshman and he came in for Taysom Hill who got hurt in game 2 of the season. The players and coaches have been more than complimentary of Bear. The words that most of them have used is smart, calm, leader, and decisive. That is huge for a QB in general, but especially for a true freshman to possess those skills already.

BYU is headlined by Chase Roberts. He is a returning grad senior with a very high ceiling and one of the best receivers. The other starting receivers will be Jojo Phillips and Parker Kingston with Tiger Bachmeier and Cody Hagen mixed in. That is a very solid group. BYU also returns running back LJ Martin who Coach Roderick has described as stronger and faster through fall camp. The backup running back will be Sione Moa who I am sure we will see as well as he offers more of a quick, shifty type player than Martin. BYU also added transfer TE Carson Ryan from Utah. Coach Roderick has said that Ryan is a TE who can do everything, catch and block, a complete TE, who we havent had since Isaac Rex.

The offensive line will welcome 2 new starters this year, both at the tackle position. Bruce Mitchell will shift from RG to C, Austin Leausa will shift from LG to RG, and Weylin Lapuaho will shift from RT to LG. Isaiah Jatta will be the new LT and Andrew Gentry will be the new RT. The smallest guy is 6’4, the tallest guy is 6’8, and all weigh over 300 pounds. This is a really good group but also the group, aside from QB, that has the most questions due to the new starters. I do, however, expect the run game to be much improved this year.

BYU Defense

BYUs defense is looking to build off their successful, first year season under Jay Hill. The biggest question will be on the defensive line. Of the 4 positions, BYU will have 3 new starters. But BYU has brought in some good players to help. Keanu Tanuvasa comes from Utah and will start at the nose position. Justin Kirkland, a transfer from Oklahoma St, will also get reps at the position. At the tackle position, John Taumoepeau will get the start. He got some reps last year but not a ton. On the edges, BYU has to replace Tyler Batty. Villami Pouha and Bodie Schoonover will rotate between one of the end positions with the lone starting returner, Logan Lutui, occupying the other end position. This group will have to prove themselves but I believe they have the guys to do it and play well against the run especially.

The linebacker position will be the strongest position for BYU on defense. Standouts Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker return. The do welcome a new starter in the middle linebacker position in Siale Esera. He got some reps last year and looks to make a big impact this year. I expect this group to get a lot of pressure on the QB.

The secondary is also a strength for this defense. Raider Damuni and Tanner Wall will man the safety positions with Faletau Satuala rotating in at both positions. These are three very skilled guys with a lot of potential. Evan Johnson and Mory Bamba will slot in at the corner positions. Bamba started a couple of games last year and Evan Johnson rotated in last year so this is a good combo. Therrian Alexander should rotate in as well at the corner position. At Nickel, Tommy Prassas will start. He was a safety and got some playing time last year but will move into this hybrid corner, safety position and start.

BYU Special Teams

BYU will return both their kicker and punter this year. Will Ferrin is now regarded as one of the best kickers in college football and on watch lists for awards due to a great season last year and Sam Vander Haar is a good punter who averaged 43 yards a punt last year with a long of 70.

Portland St Offense

The Vikings played 3 QBs in their first game, just trying to find something that worked. Their first QB threw 2 INTs, their second QB threw 1 INT, and their third QB threw no INTs. So I dont know who is going to start, but BYU doesnt look like they will have to worry about QB play. Portland St also had 4 turnovers, 3 INTS and 1 fumble. I Imagine BYU will force a similar amo unt of turnovers with their good defense. My only worry is if Portland St finds way to get the ball quickly to their skilled players.

Those skilled players are Delon Thompson and Branden Alvarez. Thompson is their running back. He had 17 carries for 55 yards. Thats a little over 3 yards a carry. The Vikings didnt get to focus on him because they were down so much but I imagine that Portland St will try to establish him early. Alvarez is their main receiver who had 6 catches for 72 yards. The Vikings will try to get him the ball through screens and quick passes to help the QB.

Defense

The defense gave up 42 points to Tarleton St. Tarleton St also put up 453 total yards, 301 rushing yards and 152 passing yards. I could see a big dose of LJ Martin to start the game for BYU to get Bear comfortable. Tarleton Sts running back had 15 carries for 170 yards and 2 TDs. I see a same line for LJ Martin.

This will also be a huge game for Bear. I could see him running a good chunk as well to get comfortable with a couple of TDs as well, one on the ground and one through the air. BYU should feast on this team.

Prediction

BYUs defense wont have a QB to worry about and the offense should focus on the ground game with a lot of LJ Martin. The line for this game opened at BYU being favored 35 points. Since they saw how bad Portland St was against another FCS foe, the line shout up to 43. I dont expect BYU to run up the score, thats just not how Kalani works, but I imagine they do score in the 40 range. I think BYU wins 45-7.

Big 12 Scoreboard

Two Big 12 opponents played in week 0. #22 Iowa St beat #17 Kansas St, 24-21. This game was in Ireland and it was a big matchup. Conference, ranked game to start the season, thats one way to start! Both of these teams have good odds to win the conference so this was a big win for Iowa St. Its also good for BYU, in a sense, since they play Iowa St and not Kansas St. So it will look better if they can beat Iowa St and move past them in the conference standings.

The other game was Kansas vs Fresno St. Kansas beat Fresno St, 31-7. Kansas showed exactly why they are one of the six or seven teams who could win the conference. Jalon Daniels is back for Kansas and that is a big reason they have a chance to win. He can pass and run and is one of the best QBs in the conference. He had 3 total touchdowns in this game and looked good.

This week, all of the other Big 12 teams play:

• Jax St vs UCF
• UT Martin vs Oklahoma ST
• SF Austin vs Houston
• Nebraska vs Cincinnati
• Wagner vs Kansas
• Auburn vs Baylor
• Georgia Tech vs Colorado
• Robert Morris vs West Virginia
• South Dakota vs # 22 Iowa St
• North Dakota vs #17 Kansas St
• AR Pine Bluff vs #23 Texas Tech
• N Arizona vs #11 Arizona St
• Hawaii vs Arizona
• Utah vs UCLA
• TCU vs North Carolina

The 4 games that I am most looking forward to are in bold. Cincinnati and Baylor get to play a Big 10 and SEC team and anytime you can pull of a win against the Big 10 or SEC, its huge. Utah plays their old conference foe in UCLA on the road. That will be a nice opening test for Utah. TCU plays Bill Belicheck and North Carolina in his first game as a college football coach.

BYU Football Captains and Co-Captains

BYU has announced the team captains as:

• LJ Martin
• Chase Roberts
• Jack Kelly
• Keanu Tanuvasa
• Tanner Wall

BYU also announced co-captains:

• Bear Bachmeier
• Andrew Gentry
• Weylin Lapuaho
• Bruce Mitchell
• Carsen Ryan
• Talan Alfrey
• Mory Bamba
• Raider Damuni
• Isaiah Glasker
• Logan Lutui
• John Taumoepeau
• Will Ferrin