No. 15 BYU (3-0) vs. USF (1-2)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 8:15 p.m. MDT
- Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,470 capacity)
- TV: ESPN2
- Livestream: WatchESPN
- Radio: KSL 1160 AM
- Series: USF leads the all-time series between the two sides 1-0.
- Weather: Clear skies with temperatures in the low 70s at kickoff.
THE TRENDS
For BYU ... The Cougars have now started 3-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1951 and 1952 campaigns and are looking to go 4-0 for the second time since 2014.
For USF ... The Bulls have started the past two seasons at 1-3 and would have that same record with a loss to BYU on Saturday.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The term “trap game” probably gets thrown around too liberally, but the Cougars are now done with the oft-talked about three-game start against strictly Pac-12 teams, and next up after this week are rivalry contests against Utah State and Boise State. In comparison to those five games, this one doesn’t have nearly the emotion or hype surrounding it.
Can BYU still rev up for it emotionally, especially as it seems the Cougars will have a clear advantage over the Bulls?
KEY PLAYER
Timmy McClain, QB, USF: Even a quarter of the way into the season, there is still a quarterback battle going on at USF, with McClain and Cade Fortin having essentially split snaps to this point.
USF’s plan is to start McClain against BYU, but Fortin and perhaps others could get a chance to play, Bulls head coach Jeff Scott said this week. That surely will be at least in part dependent upon McClain’s performance against a Cougars defense that has been very stout so far this season.
QUOTABLE
“We have a very athletic, passionate team that is coming into our home this weekend.” — BYU head coach Kalani Sitake
“When you think about BYU, you always think about big, physical, mature guys, and obviously I haven’t studied them before this year because I haven’t played them, but what I was really surprised to see was how fast they are. In my mind, I thought they were just big, strong guys, but they’re very fast. Offense and defense, they’ve really improved their team speed. Lot of athleticism and really impressed by them with what I’ve seen.” — USF head coach Jeff Scott
NEXT UP
After three straight home games, BYU will finally play a road contest next week, although it will be just a short ride north to face Utah State next Friday. USF will also be on the road, as it has a date next Saturday against SMU.
BYU SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 — BYU 24, Arizona 16
Sept. 11 — BYU 26, Utah 17
Sept. 18 — BYU 27, Arizona State 17
Sept. 25 — vs. USF
Oct. 1 — at Utah State (7 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
Oct. 9 — vs. Boise State
Oct. 16 — at Baylor
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