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BYU kicks off this Saturday at 8 pm EST on ESPN+, and it has been reported that the Cougars could be headed for a sellout. The Cougars are coming off a great season last year, and a new face at quarterback this year makes for an exciting home opener, even against an FCS opponent.
Know the Foe
The Portland State Vikings call Portland, Oregon, home. They suit up in the FCS every week for the Big Sky conference. They are coming off a 3-8 season and looking for some great football again in Provo, Utah. Portland State returns to Provo once again, last visiting in 2017. For BYU, we won’t talk about that season because it was disastrous. For the Vikings, this will be a good start for them, but it will lead to a loss.
Gameday Headlines
BYU has many headlines ahead of the season opener, and many of those hopefully will stay big throughout the season. For the first time in Cougar history, they will start a true freshman quarterback. I think this is the way to go, as Bear Bachmeier could build this team for four years and carry the Cougars to many successful seasons. With that being said, this game will be a true test of whether he can handle to pressure in LES, but the true test at the college level will come next week.
The next headline is some number changes, so check out the roster before the game. BYU already has some injuries to start the season. For the Cougars, so far, the only one that I have seen is Weylin Lapuaho, so look for a new name on the offensive line.
The final big headline is that BYU will play its 500th home game. That is a huge stat and also a great way to start year three in the Big 12. BYU has 343 wins at home, and 265 of those have come after the stadium was named Lavell Edwards Stadium in 2001
Keys to Success
These keys are what I believe to be successful for the Cougars to win this game and set the tone for the whole season.
Set up Bear Bachmeier for success
This first key is set for Bear Bachmeier for easy completions, easy check-downs, and easy scores. There is no need to complicate this offense early on. For Bachmeier to get comfortable, he needs those easy and early completions. This includes nothing too crazy, no trip plays, and no last-second switch-ups. With that in mind, he also needs to have full support from the line to get him those looks.
Set the tone early
This key is done by coming out strong and finishing strong. There is no need for this to be an interesting game come the fourth quarter. We have seen many season openers turn exciting, and this does not need to be one of them. BYU needs to come in, put up points, and then bring in the backups for reps late in the game.
Get out Healthy
This is always a struggle for BYU, as something happens, but this needs to be essential in this first game. No big-name starter needs to get hurt because they were left in way past the time they should have stayed. BYU is known to leave starters in too long, and then we lose a key piece too early in the season.
