Exhale. What a weekend in Provo. From College Gameday to storming the field as the final pass fell incomplete to beat No. 2 Notre Dame, that was perhaps the single most perfect day in the history of BYU sports. The task at hand? Shake off the cobwebs. Get the celebratory Swig out of your system and get to work on UCF. The Notre Dame game, remarkably, only marked the halfway point of the season. There are still six regular season games to go and BYU and their fans hope there are several more games beyond the regular season finale against Cincinnati on November 28. There is plenty of work to do.
We see it all the time. A team has a highly emotional, hyped win, especially at home, and the team and its fans celebrate together. Then, the next week, especially if it’s on the road or against a team not as hyped or exciting, they have a letdown. Sometimes, they even lose as a heavy favorite. It just happened this past week to Oklahoma. They upset No. 1 Texas. The next week, they lost to Kentucky at home.
UCF welcomes BYU, now No. 2 in the nation, to Orlando. The Cougars come to the “Bounce House” as the highest ranked opponent UCF has ever hosted. Needless to say, BYU has a large target squarely on their backs. The Knights would love nothing more than to knock BYU off their high perch just as they get onto it.
Let’s dive into five ways BYU can avoid the dreaded letdown game after a big emotional win.
Don’t fake a punt in your own territory
This one is self-explanatory. Please never do that again, Kalani.
Clean up mistakes made in Notre Dame game
Mind-melting fake punt aside, BYU made plenty of mistakes against the Irish. Which is quite a statement as many thought BYU needed to play a near-perfect game to beat mighty Notre Dame. Special teams is an issue. The Cougars have a combined three muffed punts in their last two games, between two different returners. That’s a problem. Cannon DeVries muffed a punt near midfield in the third quarter. It shifted momentum and nearly led to BYU coughing up a 21-10 halftime lead. BYU either needs to buckle down and figure it out or just stop putting a punt returner back there altogether.
The offense went into a lull around the same time as the muffed punt. The Cougars had just 39 total yards and zero points in the third quarter. In fact, after their touchdown to go up 21-10 in the second quarter, they racked up just 71 total yards over their next four drives, going until under six minutes left in the game before scoring again. The Cougars offense needs to find more consistency in the middle of the game.
Respect UCF’s rushing attack
UCF averages 162 rushing yards per game. They average 5.0 yards per carry, which ranks inside the top 40 in the FBS. Duke Watson is seventh in the Big 12 with 483 rushing yards and sixth in yards per carry at 6.9. With their top quarterback Alonza Barnett III likely not to play due to injury, the Knights have struggled through the air. They rank 106th in passing yards per game, mostly with Keyone Jenkins behind center. They will rely heavily on a diverse run game to keep the game close.
BYU’s run defense held strong against a very tough Notre Dame rushing attack. Defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa had perhaps his best game as a Cougar. Linebacker Cade Uluave was all over the field as well. While UCF’s attack won’t be the same level of challenge, the Cougars can’t get complacent.
Establish physicality against UCF’s solid rush defense
BYU ran for over 100 yards against perhaps the best run defense in college football with the Irish. That was also without LJ Martin and Sione Moa. Moa looks to return against the Knights after being out since the Utah Tech game. Preston Rex impressed against the Irish as well, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. UCF’s run defense isn’t Notre Dame’s, but they still rank 26th in rushing yards allowed per attempt. BYU can’t just expect UCF to be movable cones on the defense to set up big running lanes. They need to be sharp. UCF linebacker Tackett Curtis is strong against the run. Defensive tackle Jeffson Lafontant has 5.5 tackles for loss.
Stretch UCF’s pass defense downfield with explosive pass plays
While the Knights can hold their own defending the run, BYU should be able to make life miserable for UCF through the air. UCF ranks 105th in passing yards allowed per game. They have done a decent job of limiting explosive plays but BYU has the athletes necessary to do it anyway. Legend Glasker has caught four passes this season when being targeted 20 or more yards down the field. He can stretch the defense while 6-foot-6 Kyler Kasper makes contested catches against UCF’s corners who are at a height disadvantage.
Prediction: BYU 30, UCF 16
