No. 10 BYU (5-0) vs. Boise State (2-3)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT
- Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,470 capacity)
- TV: ABC
- Livestream: WatchESPN/ABC
- Radio: KSL 1160 AM
- Series: Boise State leads the all-time series between the two sides 7-4
- Weather: Chance of rain with temperatures in the high 40s at kickoff.
THE TRENDS
For BYU... The Cougars have won the matchup against the Broncos in two consecutive seasons. A victory Saturday would match the three-game win streak Boise State put together in the series from 2016-2018. The Broncos also won three straight meetings that were played in 2003, 2004 and 2012.
For Boise State... At 2-3, the Broncos are off to their worst start in 20 years. In 2001, they started 2-3 before reeling off three straight wins and finishing 8-4. That was the start of a stretch that saw the program win 44 of its next 48 games.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Storyline No. 1 is who will start at quarterback for the Cougars out of Jaren Hall, Baylor Romney and Jacob Conover, but beyond that, there’s still uncertainty about how good this Boise State team is.
Are the Broncos really not very good, or should BYU be on high alert for what would still be considered an upset even though Boise State generally has a higher national profile than the Cougars?
KEY PLAYER
Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
BYU knows all about Shakir after he hauled in 10 catches for 139 yards with two touchdowns in the teams’ matchup a year ago, and this season, he’s been one of the best receivers in the entire country. His 518 receiving yards rank him 10th in the nation, and he’s got four touchdowns.
QUOTABLE
“I really have appreciated the consistency of playing Boise every year, and I appreciate their fan base and their program, just the way they do things. I think it is a first-class organization, from the university to the athletics department to the football team. I respect them a bunch, and we are looking forward to this matchup.” — BYU head coach Kalani Sitake.
“You put them all together, and you prepare to face an offense that has ability to be explosive down the field in the pass game, has the ability to move the line of scrimmage and you face an offense that has the ability to have a quarterback (put up a) run number, and so that’s the way we gotta be prepared so we are squared away for any situations that may pop up.” — Boise State head coach Andy Avalos on BYU’s quarterbacks.
NEXT UP
BYU will play its first true road game outside of Utah next Saturday at Baylor, while Boise State will return home to face Air Force on that same day.
BYU SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 — BYU 24, Arizona 16
Sept. 11 — BYU 26, Utah 17
Sept. 18 — BYU 27, Arizona State 17
Sept. 25 — BYU 35, USF 27
Oct. 1 — BYU 34, Utah State 20
Oct. 9 — vs. Boise State (1:30 p.m., ABC)
Oct. 16 — at Baylor (1:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2)
Oct. 23 — at Washington State
Oct. 30 — vs. Virginia
Nov. 6 — vs. Idaho State (1 p.m., BYUtv)
Nov. 13 — BYE
Nov. 20 — at Georgia Southern (2 p.m., TV TBD)
Nov. 27 — at USC
All times MT