I dont know if I ever remember BYU having a bye this early and at this point. But it is a much needed one for the Cougars after their first Big 12 win against Cincinnati and a welcome sight in the Big 12.

BYU vs Cincinnati Game Review

BYU picked up their first win in the Big 12 against, other new member, Cincinnati. The Cougars are now 3-0 all time against Cincinnati, and I hope that never changes as we move forward in the conference. BYU won the game 35-27 and seemed to control most of the game. It was a VERY exciting game though! BYU only trailed once, 10-7, after BYU opened the game, 7-0, on a 42 yard interception TD. BYU then scored a touchdown, a 22 yard pass from Slovis to Lassiter in a hurry up offense, to end the first half in what was a very dormant offense. The Cougars were somehow ahead 14-10 at half.

The second half was a completely different story. BYU scored to start the half on a 29 yard TD run from LJ Martin to make it 21-10. After a field goal from Cincinnati, Slovis miraculously connected with Roberts on a 59 yard TD. Slovis seemed to just throw the ball up in the area of two receivers and Roberts came down with it and then showed off his speed for the touchdown making it 28-13. A touchdown by Cincinnati cut it down to 28-20 going into the fourth quarter.

BYU went four and out to end the third quarter giving Cincinnati the chance to go and tie the game but a muffed punt by Cincinnati who had the ball go over the returners head as he reached up to try and grab it but touched it making it a live ball and BYU recovered giving them the ball back at about the 15 yard line. LJ Martin punched it in again for another TD to increase the lead to 35-20 and that was about the last straw for Cincinnati. Cincinnati scored a touchdown right at the end, with 26 seconds left to make it 35-27 but the game was basically over. A failed onside kick by Cincinnati, that was recovered by BYU, ended the game.

BYU had less penalties and won the turnover battle. Kalani preached how the turnover battle was huge this game because BYU had 3 against Kansas. Sure enough, it was a big reason why BYU won this game.

BYU Upcoming Games

BYU has a bye this week. So no games for them, but there are definitely some good Big 12 games to watch which we will get into later. BYU after the bye week will play TCU in Fort Worth, Texas Tech in Provo, and then Texas in Austin to close out October. Buckle up folks. this could be a wild October. With how well BYU has been playing, I would like to believe that BYU can win 2 of those 3 games, but we will see! Even 1 win I would be happy with.

The Big 12 just announced the time for BYUs next game vs TCU. It will take place on October 14th at 1:30 MT on ESPN. BYU doesn’t play very well during the day, but it is pretty cool to see them get another prime time game slot and main set up on ESPN. I for one cant wait for that game. It’ll be an old rivalry game dating back to the good ole Mountain West Conference days.

BYU Injury Updates

With any football season, there are going to be some injuries. Kalani has said that no one is out for the season, which is good, but there were some key updates this week on some injured starters. Spencer Linton from BYUtv reported that after the offensive and defensive coordinators show and interviews, theres a “good chance” BYU has the following players for the TCU game back and available:

• WR Kody Epps
• RB Aidan Robbins
• OL Weylin Lapuaho
• LB Ben Bywater

Offensive wise, this would be huge. Epps has tried to play in earlier games but has just not been able to give it a full go. Robbins may slot back into the starting position at RB, I hope not with how good Martin has been doing. Lapuaho was our starting left guard and he went out and BYU has since had to shuffle their offensive line. It will be good to get him back. Bywater, Linton said, would be the most questionable of them to play against TCU, but there is a chance that he could play which would be a big boost for the defense. You always want your leading tackler on defense.

BYU Basketball Full Schedule Release

Non Conference

This is not too tough of a non conference schedule and BYU will only play one true road game at Utah. The hardest game of the non conference schedule will definitely be National Champion runner up, San Diego State. But that game is at home and will be the first game that BYU fans can get excited and be loud for. The Vegas Showdown over Thanksgiving will also be fun and have some nice teams in it like Arizona St, Vandy, and NC State. My predictions for non conference are 12-2.

Big 12 Conference

Now the really tough games start. When you play in the best basketball conference in the nation, every game is going to be tough. BYU doesnt start too hard though in their first 5 games with really only Baylor and Texas Tech as tough games. But then it gets pretty tough with games against Houston and Texas. The hardest stretch for BYU will be 3 games from Feb 20 – Feb 27. In that one week, BYU will play Baylor in Provo, at Kansas St, and then at Kansas. Wow. If BYU can go .500 on the season, I will give major props to this coaching staff. My predictions for the conference are 4-14, putting us overall at 16-16.

Big 12 Conference Update

BYU is now currently 6th in the Big 12 standings. I had NO IDEA that BYU would be where they are right now. So crazy! I am going to show this to my kids when they grow up.

Upcoming this week for the Big 12 are some good games. BYU, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Houston are all on byes this week. Kansas St plays Oklahoma St on Friday night in a big game for both teams, Oklahoma visits Texas in the final red river rivalry in the Big 12, UCF travels to Kansas in a matchup of high powered offenses, Texas Tech goes to Waco to take on Baylor to see who will have a winning record in conference, and TCU visits Ames to take on Iowa St in a battle of 1-1 conference teams.

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