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    • Match day preview plus score prediction
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    Match day preview plus score prediction

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    PROVO, Utah—For the first time since New Year’s Day 1997, it’s a game day with BYU vs. The State of Kansas.

    BYU hosts No. 13 Kansas State, this time as Big 12 opponents.

    Saturday night will mark the ninth all-time meeting between the two programs. The series is tied at four, with BYU winning the last two meetings in the 1997 Cotton Bowl and the Wildcats’ last visit to Provo in 1977.

    Both teams enter this game with a perfect 3-0 record after sweeping non-conference play. Each team will want to start on the right foot to begin the Big 12 portion of their schedules.

    BYU vs. #13 Kansas State

    Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium

    Start: 8:30 PM (MDT)

    Television: ESPN

    Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

    

    Three thoughts on match day

    1. An opportunity BYU has dreamed of for decades

    BYU has dreamed of this opportunity for decades. A chance to play a high-stakes power conference game in front of a national audience.

    BYU has had a laundry list of big games in its 100 seasons as a program, but this is the first time the big game stage will be in a Power Four conference.

    Last year, BYU played its first Big 12 game away at Kansas, and its first home game was against Cincinnati, also a newcomer.

    With an undefeated record and a nationally ranked opponent that is an original member of the Big 12, this is the lineup BYU has dreamed of since the heyday of the LaVell Edwards era in the 1980s.

    Opportunities like this don’t always come along, so this is a chance to break through and make a name for himself in the revamped Big 12.

    2. Jake Retzlaff can silence the critics with a great performance

    Despite ranking 20th in passing yards (841) and leading BYU to a 3-0 start this season, Jake Retzlaff still has his share of critics.

    His three-turnover performance against SMU two weeks ago and some of the near interceptions in the win over Wyoming are areas where he can improve. However, Retzlaff did not fumble the ball last week.

    He also showed good pocket presence and the ability to run.

    Tonight’s game against Kansas State will require Retzlaff to be at his best. Kansas State has the personnel on defense to make this a long night for the former JUCO star signal-caller.

    If he performs at a high level and BYU comes away with the win or remains competitive until the end, he can put to rest any questions from those who doubt him as QB1.

    3. BYU can’t be one-dimensional offensively

    There are questions for BYU football heading into tonight’s game at running back. LJ Martin and Hinckley Folau Ropati are injured and are in doubt to play against Kansas State.

    If those two can’t go, they’ll need more production from Miles Davis than they got last week against Wyoming. Enoch Nawahine is expected to be available tonight after being sidelined a week ago with shoulder soreness.

    BYU also has freshmen Pokaiaua Haunga and Sione I. Moa to round out the running back group, along with quarterback Jake Retzlaff, another number K-State will have to contend with in the run game.

    BYU needs a ground attack to get on the heels of K-State’s defense. If BYU becomes one-dimensional, it could give people flashbacks to some of the struggles BYU experienced last season against 3-3-5 Big 12 defenses (TCU, Iowa State).

    Two BYU vs Kansas State questions

    1. What tricks does Jay Hill have up his sleeve to slow down K-State QB Avery Johnson?

    Last week at Wyoming, the BYU defense played mostly off base looks. There wasn’t much new on the play call sheet against a Pokes team that has been one of the worst offenses in the FBS this season.

    Tonight is a different story as BYU looks to slow down Kansas State’s star quarterback Avery Johnson.

    It’s a game where BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill will have to unleash the depth of his playbook. BYU made maintaining the roster a top priority. It’s paying off to open the season, as BYU’s defense plays faster thanks to its familiarity with Hill’s scheme.

    Whether they spy Johnson or apply pressure, BYU must find a way to keep Johnson on the ground and force him to pass. If they do that, they can enter the fourth quarter with a chance to pull off the upset.

    Kansas State’s offense has scored at least 28 points in 11 consecutive games, the most in the FBS, five games better than the next-best Texas Longhorns.

    2. What impact will the special teams have on this match?

    BYU and Kansas State enter this game on the heels of touchdown-generating special teams performances a week ago. Last week, K-State’s Dylan Edwards returned a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 31-7 blowout of Arizona. That earned him Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

    A day later, BYU’s Keelan Marion scored a touchdown on a 100-yard kick in the win over Wyoming.

    Kansas State has historically prided itself on being “Special Teams U,” but last year they were disappointing. The addition of Edwards has given their return game a big boost, and the third phase of the game needs to be optimized for either side to walk away with a win.

    One Score Prediction for BYU vs Kansas State

    This is the perfect spot for BYU to play this game against K-State. BYU comes into the game relatively healthy, except for the running back unit.

    The Cougar defense is talented at slowing down K-State’s offensive attack. BYU standouts Tyler Batty, Blake Mangelson, Jack Kelly and Jakob Robinson all shine in a concerted effort to slow Johnson down.

    Retzlaff avoids the disastrous turnovers and produces solidly through the air.

    Additionally, the impact of BYU’s home environment in the evenings cannot be underestimated.

    BYU pulls off a surprise win, handing Kalani Sitake one of the biggest wins of his time as head coach.

    Score Prediction: BYU 27, Kansas State 24

    Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12-3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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