In the first game between top-10 teams at LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU eked out a 28-24 win over No. 8 Notre Dame thanks to a Bear Bachmeier 6-yard touchdown pass to Walker Lyons with 1:47 left.
asserted
BYU → eke → 1:47
The Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) climbed to No. 2 in the AP Poll, their first top-5 ranking since the final poll in 1996 and their highest ranking since finishing the 1984 season at No. 1.
asserted
Cougars → climb → .
Suddenly the Cougars have a lot of buzz surrounding them, but coach Kalani Sitake is trying not to pay any attention to that.
asserted
Sitake → have → that
“Never cared about it before, so why would I start now,” Sitake said.
asserted
Sitake → care → it
“We’re talking about humble and hungry, talking about rankings is not going to get us there.”
asserted
talking → talk → us
But there is no denying the buzz of the No. 2 team in the country, which will visit UCF (3-3, 1-2) on Saturday.
asserted
which → be → Saturday
The Cougars will be the highest-ranked team to travel to the Acrisure Bounce House in the stadium’s 20-year history.
asserted
Cougars → rank → history
And BYU will have to get used to a new position now: Being the hunted.
asserted
BYU → have → position
“It’s the Big 12.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
I think BYU is the best of the bunch,” UCF coach Scott Frost said.
asserted
Frost → think → bunch
“It’s an awesome opportunity for us on homecoming to shoot our shot.
asserted
us → ’ → shot
I think our kids will be excited.”
asserted
kids → think → ?
Even amid their new status as potential conference favorites, BYU is not looking past UCF.
asserted
BYU → look → UCF
“We’re expecting their best,” Sitake said.
asserted
Sitake → expect → best
“We have to make sure our best shows up.
asserted
best → have → ?
Health concerns
UCF is coming off its bye week, hoping that the time off will bring players back from injury.
asserted
time → come → injury
Quarterback Alonza Barnett III is expected to return to practice this week after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury.
asserted
III → expect → injury
But he is not expected to be available this week, according to ESPN.
uncertain
he → expect → ESPN
“I think he’s making really good progress,” Frost said.
asserted
Frost → think → progress
“He looks good.
asserted
He → look → ?
He is doing a lot of things.
asserted
He → do → things
I want to make sure he is ready to go before we put him out there.”
asserted
we → want → him
Keyone Jenkins is expected to make his fifth straight start at quarterback.
asserted
Jenkins → expect → quarterback
He is fifth on the team in tackles despite missing the last three games.
asserted
He → miss → games
Returning leading receiver Duane Thomas Jr. has yet to play.
asserted
Jr. → return → ?
And the Knights were missing center Jacob Maiava during their loss to Oklahoma State on Oct. 10.
asserted
Knights → miss → Oct.
Settling in on offense
Despite BYU’s undefeated record, the team does not have the strongest offense.
asserted
team → settle → offense
The Cougars rank 11th in the Big 12 in total offense with 421.2 yards per game and ninth in scoring with 33.5 points per game.
asserted
Cougars → rank → game
They have leaned on their defense, giving up just 15.2 points per game and 274.7 yards per game.
asserted
They → lean → game
Much of BYU’s struggles stem from losing star running back L.J. Martin after he suffered a lower body injury against TCU on Oct. 3.
asserted
he → stem → Oct.
Since then, the Cougars have relied more on Bachmeier.
asserted
Cougars → rely → Bachmeier
It has taken them some time to find their footing again.
asserted
It → take → footing
“I think now we’re more settled in,” Lyons said.
asserted
Lyons → think → ?
“We’re playing in games where we can get more of a flow.
asserted
we → play → flow
I don’t think we necessarily started slow, it was just kind of what happened in the first couple of weeks of the season.
asserted
what → think → season
I feel like the last couple of weeks are more realistic of what it will be going forward.”
asserted
it → feel → weeks
Bachmeier accounted for 224 yards passing and 45 yards rushing last week.
asserted
Bachmeier → account → passing
He also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass in the victory.
asserted
He → catch → victory
Win for the Big 12
BYU is ready to move on from last week’s game against Notre Dame.
asserted
BYU → move → Dame
But its conference rivals are basking in the victory and what it means for the Big 12.
asserted
it → bask → 12
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
