ORLANDO, Fla. — The football game itself often becomes sort of an afterthought at bowls, especially now that the College Football Playoff games have taken over the hearts and minds of most fans, coaches of the teams involved are continually asked about other openings, and players have to weigh whether or not playing in what amounts to exhibitions are good for their futures.
That doesn’t appear to be the case leading up to Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl here at Camping World Stadium in Orlando (1:30 p.m. MST, ABC) as BYU coach Kalani Sitake and Georgia Tech coach Brent Key met with reporters one last time Friday morning and spoke at length about how much a win would mean to their programs.
Also on the line is conference pride, as No. 12 BYU (11-2) of the Big 12 faces off against No. 22 Georgia Tech (9-3) of the ACC hoping to show the country that the Big 12 deserves more respect than it is currently getting from the CFP committee. The Yellow Jackets want to prove that one of the top tier teams in their conference is just as good, if not better, than the runner-up in the Big 12.
“It is not going to be easy, but I know that I really care and want to go out and have fun and enjoy the game and play tough and take advantage of the opportunities that we have,” Sitake said.
One of those opportunities, for BYU, is to get to 12 wins for the first time since 2001, when Gary Crowton was head coach.
“To be able to (get a 12th win) as a senior, and with this team, and with my brothers, that will be something super special, and will go down in the history books,” said BYU receiver Chase Roberts on Wednesday. “It has been such a great momentum builder (in the past). To have it happen with this team, this coaching staff, will be something special that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Georgia Tech’s Key said the matchup is just as important to his squad, which was 8-0 and ranked in the top 10 at one point before dropping three of its last four.
“We are really excited to play BYU, a team that I’ve said now numerous times is a team that really should have been in the playoffs this year, with their body of work and what they’ve done,” Key said. “It is a great opportunity for Georgia Tech to go compete. That’s what we want.”
Both teams have questions on offense, as Georgia Tech lost offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Florida and new Gators coach Jon Sumrall in early December. Key reiterated Friday that 2000 Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, the former Florida State standout, will call plays on Saturday.
Can BYU win without leading rusher LJ Martin?
As has been thoroughly reported the past week, BYU will be without its top two running backs, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, and RB2 Sione Moa. Martin elected to have shoulder surgery last week to increase his healing time for either next season, or NFL draft workouts if he chooses to go in that direction. Moa played briefly against Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game after missing the previous nine games, but is no longer on the depth chart.
As offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick did on Wednesday, Sitake on Friday expressed confidence in the backups — Enoch Nawahine, Jovesa Damuni and Preston Rex. Nawahine, whose best moment as a Cougar came last year against SMU, has 15 carries for 50 yards this season. Damuni has 12 carries for 63 yards and Rex has 13 carries for 30 yards. All three reserves have three receptions in 2025.
Martin’s absence “is going to offer an opportunity for somebody else to come through,” Sitake said. “A Rod is really excited about Jovesa having an opportunity, and Preston and Enoch have been playing. I mean, Enoch helped us beat SMU last year (with an 11-yard touchdown run).”
Sitake said Martin flew home to El Paso after the surgery, but was scheduled to join the team in Orlando on Friday and will provide mental support on Saturday. He said he hopes Martin returns to BYU, but would understand it if the junior leaves for the NFL.
“The decision to have surgery was actually smart,” Sitake said. “We needed him to (make the decision). It is for his future. So it made sense for him to do that, but it is going to open an opportunity for someone else to come through. … All the guys that we have there are all very capable running backs.”
Roderick is one of those coordinators who likes to utilize a workhorse running back, and based previous game plans on giving Martin 20-plus carries a game. He said Wednesday that won’t be possible against Georgia Tech, which held No. 3 Georgia to 16 points a month ago.
“So with the other (running backs), it is going to be by committee,” Roderick said. “We are going to spread the ball around and see if one of them gets hot. Then maybe they will (get) more carries. Right now, we have a plan to use all three of those guys. I do have confidence in them. … I’m excited to see Jovesa play, who he is, and what he can do for us in the future. He has speed and makes some plays in practice sometimes.”
More uncertain is whether or not 13-game starter Bear Bachmeier, who sustained a left ankle injury in the 34-7 loss to Texas Tech on Dec. 7, is back to full health.
Sitake didn’t specifically address Bachmeier’s status on Friday, but the expectation around the program is that the 19-year-old true freshman will play and is reasonably healthy considering his left foot was in a protective boot the week after the Big 12 championship game.
“Bear is a special player,” Roderick said. “The thing that stands out most about him is his poise. It is rare to see a freshman who is so unbothered by any circumstances, good or bad, in a game.”
Bachmeier might not be the only Cougar playing hurt. Sitake hinted that a few other players are ailing. He said no players have opted out on their own free will and accord. That said, there are rumors that senior linebacker Jack Kelly might not play the entire game.
Sitake acknowledged that a few backups will enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2, but reiterated that all of those guys are leaving in search of more playing time.
“LJ is out, but for the rest of the team, we have a bunch of guys that are still banged up and will be game-time decisions,” Sitake said. “The question will be how they feel tomorrow as we get ready. The majority of the team has been practicing.”
Another theme for BYU from the news conferences Wednesday and Friday — there was no media availability on Christmas Day — was that the Cougars are drawing upon their preparation leading up to last year’s Alamo Bowl win over Colorado as blueprint for Saturday.
“We want to end with a positive feeling and roll over into next season,” Roberts said. “We saw what it did last year when we beat Colorado. It jump-started us into the next season, we want to do that for the young guys and we want to end the right way and just play BYU football.”
Shorthanded, or not.