This is a season where unknowns will make the difference for BYU and Utah in the Big 12.
Quarterbacks Devon Dampier and Bear Bachmeier will fast become household names in Utah in the coming weeks and their play will go a long way in determining how BYU and Utah fare in the conference race.
BYU won seven Big 12 games last year; Utah just two, with injuries playing a huge role.
Heading into this week, BYU should easily defeat FCS Portland State and it will benefit Bachmeier in his first start that he won’t need to carry the team on his back when the Cougars are bigger and deeper than their opponent and favored by 43 points.
On the other hand, UCLA may have film on Dampier and Jason Beck’s offense from New Mexico, but they have no clue how Utah will deploy him behind what many say is the league’s top offensive line with Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu.
Utah has a real mystery to throw at the Bruins in how they’ll deploy Washington State transfer Wayshawn Parker and Lobo transfer NaQuari Rogers behind that O-Line.
UCLA has a similar mystery because of new Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava working with new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri from Indiana, a team that led the Big Ten in scoring last season.
Both Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and UCLA’s DeShaun Foster are in stealth mode, cloaking their practices and information. It’s all about secrecy, trying to gain some kind of an edge.
It’s like they’re hiding the patent for a cancer cure.
The Bruins are starting from scratch on offense and the defense lost nine starters including everyone considered a star.
Utah, on the other end, has questions on the defensive line, but are expected to field a tough, aggressive physical version of themselves that will be too much for UCLA.
Utah should win this game on the road in the opener despite not getting a cupcake with an actual P4 opponent from the Big Ten. Foster has far too many questions to answer for this first game and the Utes should get out of Westwood in good shape.
In Provo, the mystery is all about the freshman Bachmeier and how he’ll do. Oh, he’ll experience a win, but how will he look? Will he be in control, look like a leader, make good decisions and avoid turnovers in what will be a packed stadium for his debut?
Aside from the Bachmeier storyline, the mystery about BYU against Portland State is how long BYU coaches will leave some of their first-team players on the field to risk injury. Coaching science calls for BYU’s staff to get work out of key players, demand execution, post their performances on film, and then let second- and third-team players get some needed experience.
Another question is whether BYU’s defense can shut out Portland State, just as FCS power Tarleton State did last Saturday when reserves are on the field in the second half.
With Bachmeier, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick told reporters this week his remarkable absorption of the playbook may have been enhanced because of moves made in the offseason.
BYU’s offensive coaches changed terminology and simplified play calls for expected returning starter Jake Retzlaff, now at Tulane. “It was to simplify some play calls and streamline it for Jake to play quicker. He played better when we went faster. We trimmed down some of our verbiage,” said Roderick.
The new format made it easier for Bachmeier to learn — at least intellectually — BYU’s offense in the months since transferring from Stanford last spring.
The key unknowns with the Utes and Cougars are the defenses. The league is about to find out just how good these units are.
Here are this season’s predictions
- Utah: 9-3 overall, 6-3 (tie) in league play. Ute offense finally complements defense.
- BYU: 9-3 overall, 6-3 (tie) in league play. Easier schedule helps ease in freshman QB.
Here are this week’s game predictions
- Ohio State 21, Texas 17
- Alabama 24, Florida State 21
- Virginia 17, Coastal Carolina 14
- James Madison 24, Weber State 21
- Utah State 17, UTEP 14
- Washington 31, Colorado State 17
- Arizona 24, Hawaii 14
- California 28, Oregon State 20
- Clemson 28, LSU 24
- Texas A&M 34, UTSA 17
- Utah 24, UCLA 17
- BYU 44, Portland State 0