Loyal Cougars

Opponent Notebook: Week 3 Results

Here’s your weekly roundup of how BYU’s once-and-future opponents fared in Week 3 of the college football season.

VIRGINIA (1-1)
BYE
Next week: vs Virginia Military Academy (1-2)

TEXAS (1-2)
LOST 44-23 vs #25 Ole Miss
It looked like Texas had a little life when they fired off 23 unanswered points after Ole Miss went up 14-0. Then after halftime, the Longhorns fell apart. Hugh Freeze said the Texas defense looked schematically the exact same (except for one goal line situation) that it did during the last week’s game against BYU. Who knows what Greg Robinson will do with the cards that he is dealt. Even better question could be what Mack Brown will do to save his own job. There are a lot of unhappy people in Austin and its looking as if the football program is ripe for regime change.
Next week: vs Kansas State (2-1)

UTAH (2-1)
LOST 51-48 (OT) vs Oregon State
This was a PAC-12 game at its finest. Lots of offense and sporadic moments of what some people could, under very specific circumstances, call defense. Travis Wilson was picked off but in the end accounted for five of Utah’s touchdowns.

The Beavers carved the up the Ute secondary for 443 yards and five TD strikes. Some BYU fans are concerned that the Utah defense held the Beavers to 48 yards rushing but that shouldn’t strike fear in anyone. Oregon State is a passing team. Their running game isn’t prolific by any means so any knee-jerk reaction there should be dismissed. This upcoming game will be very revealing about both BYU and Utah.
Next week: at BYU (1-1)

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (2-1)
WON 17-15 vs Memphis
A Cody Clark 41 yard field goal with 1:49 left in the game proved to be the difference as MTSU took down Memphis. Jordan Parker  (14 carries for 55 yards) was held under 100 yards for the first time this season and the Blue Raiders were only able to muster 284 yards of total offense — but still managed a victory. MTSU starts conference play next week.
Next week: vs. Florida Atlantic (1-2)

UTAH STATE (2-1)
WON 70-6 vs Weber State
At this point I kind of wish BYU was able to play Weber State this year to see if they would score 70 points as well. What’s even more depressing than the Wildcats’ wet paper towel defense is their anemic offense. 34 yards through the air? Yikes. Enough about the Wildcats. The Aggies have a big showdown with USC in Los Angeles this weekend and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if USU comes out with a victory. It’s sad, because when it happens the whole story will be able how USC lost and not how USU won. Sounds kind of familiar right?
Next week: at USC (2-1)

GEORGIA TECH (2-0)
WON 38-14 over Duke
Vad Lee completed eight passes on Saturday against the Blue Devils — four of them touchdowns. That, my friends, is a pretty good ratio. The Yellow Jackets’ defense was just as impressive, holding Duke to 254 total yards. Part of me wants to say this GT team could  compete for a Coastal Division title in the ACC. I guess we’ll find out if GT is for real in the next two weeks as it faces Virginia Tech and Miami.
Next week: vs. Virginia Tech (2-1)

HOUSTON (2-0)
BYE
Next week: vs Rice (1-1)

BOISE STATE (2-1)
WON 42-20 vs. Air Force
The Broncos had another good offensive week as they put up good numbers against Air Force, whose defense must have been deployed on a mission to the Middle East — because it has been non-existent. Joe Southwick only threw two incompletions, going 27/29 (one of them was an interception) and Jay Ajayi ran for 125 yards and four touchdowns.
Next week: vs Fresno State (2-0)

#24 WISCONSIN (2-1)
LOST 32-30 at Arizona State
No need to rehash that debacle of an ending here. While both teams had their fair share of mistakes, I wouldn’t be surprised if either team won their division. ASU would need to beat UCLA (who looked pretty good in their shucking of Nebraska) and Wisconsin would need to beat Ohio State — but stranger things have happened. I don’t think the fighting Gary Andersen’s will dwell on this one too much. They played great at times and have areas to improve. By the time BYU faces them in November, this could be a well-oiled machine.
Next week: vs Purdue (1-2)

IDAHO STATE (2-0)
WON 40-14 over Dixie State
The Bengals are 2-0! If they win again next week I will run naked down the streets of Pocatello and …….
Next week: at #17 Washington (2-0)

#21 NOTRE DAME (2-1)
WON 31-24 at Purdue
Should Brian Kelly be concerned that it took 21 4th quarter points for the Fighting Irish to take down Purdue? Yes, but they will take this ugly win every day of the week and twice on Sunday over losing against their in-state rival.
Next week: at Michigan State (3-0)

NEVADA (1-2)
LOST 62-7 vs #10 Florida State
HEY EVERYONE LOOK! NEVADA IS BEATING…never mind. The Noles were just too much as Jameis Winston threw for 214 yard and the rest of team ran for 377 yards, which somehow seems very unimpressive as of late. I have no idea why.
Next week: at Hawaii (0-2)

This Week: 6-4

Overall: 21-11 (.657)
FBS Only: 11-10 (.524)
W/O BYU game: 20-10 (.667)