We jump three spots in the polls to lucky #7. Tristin Rhodes is banged up following the Utah game but will likely be back for next week's contest against West Virginia. I earned $7.5MM dollars for beating the Yewts thanks to donors Jett Perry and Jase Chadha. I splash some of that on RB recruit Payton Barr who I'm battling Penn State for. They beat me to the #20 LB in the country this week, Jerry Ritter. I lost on another Payton (Holland), the #23 OL recruit in the country. He signs with Clemson. WR Dominick Pickett picks (get it?) us and suddenly we might have a little wide receiver pipeline going following the signing of touted prospects Nasir Lambert and Kyler Armstrong from last year (they haven't played this year due to redshirts).
Colorado continues undefeated and we and they will not meet in the regular season -- but we may be on a collision course for a championship game showdown. I've got two ranked teams left on my schedule. Podmate Arizona State at #17 and Baylor right behind them at #18. Both games will be at home. But first up ...
Week 8: #7 BYU vs West Virginia
The Mountaineers are weak against the pass, stronger against the run. Perhaps I'm feeling fueled by confidence after dusting the Utes, but I decide this week to change our practice focus to deep passing for the first time this year. Let's see if we can air it out like the Cougars of old.
You know what they say, there are two types of coaches: those who do nothing and those who do damage. Well, maybe I tinkered too much. At halftime it's even at 14 a piece. Neither our running game nor our passing game looks polished, and for the first time this season a team seems to be keyed in on stopping the Wagner scrambles. At halftime he has a season-low 20 rushing yards.
West Virginia has also neutralized Cochran' return prowess by booting it out of the endzone on kickoffs. We are missing that bonus starting position. To start the 3rd quarter we go run, run, run, and face a 4th and 2 on our own 33. I assume our OC will punt, but he dials up a play and we convert! Whoaaaaa! Guts. That conversion may have taken the lid off because Wagner goes 13 yards to Alexis Salazar, 14 yards to Cochran, and 23 yards to Cochran for a touchdown. We lead 21 to 14. WVU punts and we score in 5 plays, catching WVU off guard with some up tempo. 28 to 14 for BYU. We score one more and coast to a 35 to 14 win. Wagner throws for 243, Reilly runs for 94, Cochran catches 126. Clinical.
Week 9: #6 BYU vs Vanderbilt
We gladly welcome to Provo the SEC team that everyone wishes they could play! Vandy in digital life has lived up to their real world record and come into this game 1-6. That piece of good news is spoiled by a recruiting loss when Erik Stephenson, the #3 TE in the country, commits to Notre Dame. Esteban Chambers, the #26 safety in the country, and brother to Cougar alum O'Neil Chambers, picks Texas A&M over me. Drat! Time to take our anger out on the Commodores. We're favored by 38, likely the biggest spread against a P5 team in BYU history.
You know this game is on drugs when it says we only place 43,800 fans in the stadium. I don't care if it's November or a crummy opponent or a blizzard or a tornado. If BYU is ranked 6th in the country that stadium will be brimming.
But on second thought, maybe the game got it backwards and that's how many fans were left after halftime? We gain 340 yards and lead 38 to 7 at the break, well on our way to covering that outlandish spread. The only sore point is yet another(!) Kaleb Foster fumble.
The backup Cougs score 17 in the second half as we demolish Vanderbilt 55 to 10. We gain 531 yards. Young defensive lineman Chance Tolbert notches 2 sacks. Reilly runs for 114 yards on 14 carries and Wagner scores three TDs from the QB rushing attack.
Week 10: #5 BYU vs Arizona State
Ladies and gentlemen, let's get ready to rumble!!!
In the Big 12 the frontrunner for player of the year is Kian Pandya, ASU's starting QB. He's a dual threat a la our very own Rafael Wagner, but with better passing numbers than rushing. In second place is Wagner. They face off in a game that will likely determine the Championship representative who will face Colorado for Big 12 glory. Speaking of Colorado, the Buffs lost to LSU last week and dropped to 10th overall, meaning BYU now carries the banner for the conference as the highest ranked team. The only reason Gameday isn't in Provo is because #9 LSU faces #5 Texas, a showdown even bigger than ours.
Like with the Utah game, I'll be tightening up my rotation for this one. Our best LB, Landon Gardner, is back from injury, but I'm tempted with the idea of redshirting him. He'd likely leap to a 90+ level for his senior season, and my LB room isn't too sturdy. He's gonna hate me, but I think I'll do it.
There are 70,000 in attendance as we kickoff. The switch flipped with the fans eh? On the first drive of the game I call for us to go for it on 4th and 5 at the 50. Wagner passes to Christian Reilly for his first reception of the season to complete the first down. What timing! We march the rest of the way for a game opening TD. Man our offense can hum!
We put up 20 in the first half compared to ASU's 3 and for the first time this season I'm starting to wonder about the playoff. The second half is casual as we slide into a 30 to 19 win. Was our closest game this year the season opener against North Carolina?
Our team has not caused a lot of turnovers this year but we get two picks on Pandya which might be enough to bump him down a spot and Wagner up a spot in the Big 12 player of the year race.
Week 11: #5 BYU vs Kansas State
Week 11: #5 BYU vs Kansas State
And then some crushing news. Star WR and return specialist Noah Cochran has a leg injury. I could continue to play him (at reduced quality, from a 94 to an 86) and with a high chance of increased injury. I'll probably rest him at least until the championship game, given our remaining contests seem easy (please I hope I didn't just jynx myself) starting with this 2-7 KSU squad. We are elite statistically, fielding the #4 offense and #4 defense in terms of points per game.
Adrian Page, out of Shishmaref, Arkansas, was a recruiting gem I discovered. Sadly I wasn't alone in that finding - Florida poached him, as I came second in yet another big 'cruitin battle. I do however secure the services of a potential QB of the future, one Dean Ahmed out of Arizona. 4-stars, 8th QB overall, good get! Plus didn't Max Hall and John Beck come out of Arizona? Malik Cooper out of Grantsville picks us, though that wasn't much of a surprise.
For a 2-7 team, Kansas State's overall talent scores (82 on offense, 80 on defense) don't seem that bad (for context, my talent scores are 87 and 86 in those fields). A closer look at the schedule reveals they lost to Stanford by 3, ASU by 3, UCF by 7. So maybe they've just had bad luck? Maybe not. (They also lost 30 to 17 to Jacksonville State.)
This game ends up being a snoozy 42 to 27 victory. I've lost enough in prior simulations to think I wouldn't take anything for granted, but right now my mind is on autopilot for our trip to Jerry's World for the B12 title game. Five players rush for over 50 yards (Hawthorne, Wagner, Reilly, and two mystery cats). I wonder if that has ever happened before at BYU?
Adrian Page, out of Shishmaref, Arkansas, was a recruiting gem I discovered. Sadly I wasn't alone in that finding - Florida poached him, as I came second in yet another big 'cruitin battle. I do however secure the services of a potential QB of the future, one Dean Ahmed out of Arizona. 4-stars, 8th QB overall, good get! Plus didn't Max Hall and John Beck come out of Arizona? Malik Cooper out of Grantsville picks us, though that wasn't much of a surprise.
For a 2-7 team, Kansas State's overall talent scores (82 on offense, 80 on defense) don't seem that bad (for context, my talent scores are 87 and 86 in those fields). A closer look at the schedule reveals they lost to Stanford by 3, ASU by 3, UCF by 7. So maybe they've just had bad luck? Maybe not. (They also lost 30 to 17 to Jacksonville State.)
This game ends up being a snoozy 42 to 27 victory. I've lost enough in prior simulations to think I wouldn't take anything for granted, but right now my mind is on autopilot for our trip to Jerry's World for the B12 title game. Five players rush for over 50 yards (Hawthorne, Wagner, Reilly, and two mystery cats). I wonder if that has ever happened before at BYU?
Week 12: #5 BYU vs Baylor
Two games left for an undefeated regular season. First opponent is 6-4 Baylor. Their QB Gage Fairley passed the 3,000 yard mark last game. He has 19 TDs and only 3 interceptions, though he has been sacked 22 times. I would love to see us add to that number.
It's been a while since we've a) been shut out in the first quarter and b) trailed in a game. Both transpire this day. We respond to the field goal deficit with a 14 play, 75 yard TD drive. Baylor is moving the ball on us, but luck is on our side. Their first drive goes 9 plays and ends in a missed FG. The second drive goes 10 plays and ends in a made FG. Their third drive goes 9 plays and ends in a ... 75 YARD FUMBLE RETURNED FOR A TOUCHDOWN. GO COUGARS!!!
We finally force a punt and kick a FG to go up 17 to 3. Baylor is in danger of falling into a giant hole. They respond with a 3 play, 80 yard TD drive capped by a 62-yard pass to Kenny Santos, who redeems himself from the fumble TD on the prior drive. We are Tom Brady Patriot's-esque to end the half, going 12 plays and 75 yards for the TD, draining all but 30 seconds off the clock to go up 24 to 10 and finish them in the second half 38 to 16. I'm disappointed we register but one sack.
A curiosity - behind all our domination this year, there is the fact that in the last two games the yardages gained by either team have been eerily similar. In this Baylor game in particular, there were a few plays that could have made things much more uncomfortable. Our rushing game has been less effective the last two weeks as well. Is end of year fatigue wearing in? Or maybe teams are getting accustomed to us? Or maybe we're getting complacent without having been challenged since week 1?
My coaching spider sense is tingling.
Week 13: #4 BYU vs Arizona
With reason apparently. Down goes my second best offensive lineman, Adan Ingram, a 93 rated road grader. I'll play him injured in the B12 title game.
I have no idea why the conference dialed up Arizona for the season finale. Dare I say the commish missed the (Yor)mark?
Remember what I said about my spider sense? At halftime we trail Arizona 13 to 7. In Noah Cochran's absence Kaleb Foster is taking the number one receiver reps and he goes down with a blow to the chest. He's out for the game and we haven't had a lead once. Alexis Salazar? Where art thou? We've turned the ball over twice (a fumble by TE Joseph Vincent and a killer pick by Wagner on the Arizona 7 yard line). We average 6.2 ypc in the first half, and need to run the ball with vigor in the second. I think we're guaranteed a title game no matter the outcome, but I want the second perfect regular season in BYU history. Arizona skidmarked our 2006 season, we won't let them again. Let's go gentlemen!
Was that a halftime speech, you may wonder? It was and it worked! Opening drive touchdown, Kole Hawthorne with the run. BYU 14, AZ 13. Moments later I find myself in decision mode. Ball at midfield, 1 point lead, 4th and 5, 9 minutes left in third. I want this one and call for the offense to stay on the field. Wagner drops back and ... incomplete. Turnover on downs. Ultimately it results in a missed field goal from AZ so no harm no foul I suppose. We go nowhere on our next drive and AZ drives for a FG to go up 2 with a minute left in the third.
A curiosity - behind all our domination this year, there is the fact that in the last two games the yardages gained by either team have been eerily similar. In this Baylor game in particular, there were a few plays that could have made things much more uncomfortable. Our rushing game has been less effective the last two weeks as well. Is end of year fatigue wearing in? Or maybe teams are getting accustomed to us? Or maybe we're getting complacent without having been challenged since week 1?
My coaching spider sense is tingling.
Week 13: #4 BYU vs Arizona
With reason apparently. Down goes my second best offensive lineman, Adan Ingram, a 93 rated road grader. I'll play him injured in the B12 title game.
I have no idea why the conference dialed up Arizona for the season finale. Dare I say the commish missed the (Yor)mark?
Remember what I said about my spider sense? At halftime we trail Arizona 13 to 7. In Noah Cochran's absence Kaleb Foster is taking the number one receiver reps and he goes down with a blow to the chest. He's out for the game and we haven't had a lead once. Alexis Salazar? Where art thou? We've turned the ball over twice (a fumble by TE Joseph Vincent and a killer pick by Wagner on the Arizona 7 yard line). We average 6.2 ypc in the first half, and need to run the ball with vigor in the second. I think we're guaranteed a title game no matter the outcome, but I want the second perfect regular season in BYU history. Arizona skidmarked our 2006 season, we won't let them again. Let's go gentlemen!
Was that a halftime speech, you may wonder? It was and it worked! Opening drive touchdown, Kole Hawthorne with the run. BYU 14, AZ 13. Moments later I find myself in decision mode. Ball at midfield, 1 point lead, 4th and 5, 9 minutes left in third. I want this one and call for the offense to stay on the field. Wagner drops back and ... incomplete. Turnover on downs. Ultimately it results in a missed field goal from AZ so no harm no foul I suppose. We go nowhere on our next drive and AZ drives for a FG to go up 2 with a minute left in the third.
Our next drive starts promising and fizzels at the 33. We attempt a 50 yard field goal and it's ... wide left! Arizona goes 8 plays for the touchdown and we're officially on MAJOR upset watch. We're down 9 with 8 minutes left. Wagner is sacked and things are looking at their most dire as we face a 3rd and 13 when Wagner finds Alexis Salazar for a 22 yard gain. Hope! Reilly and Hawthorne run for back-to-back 10 yard gains and we're in the red zone. Hawthorne runs for 10 again (the running game is alive!) and Wagner finishes the drive with a TD pass to a young WR named London Vu. This thing aint over yet. We've struggled on 3rd downs big time today, it's time to buckle the chin strap.
The crowd is about to cause an earthquake in LaVell Edwards Stadium after a special teamer corrals the AZ returner at the 17. On the very next play Miguel Townsend, an unsung LB clocks Arizona WR Aiden Leblanc on a crossing route. It's a fumble! Townsend picks it up, he dodges a tackler, and he's into the endzone. Touchdown Cougars!!! Pandemonium in the stadium. BYU 28, Arizona 23, with 6 minutes left in the game. Shades of BYU vs Boise State 2015 or BYU vs Kansas State in 2024 as we score twice in a matter of plays. There's no way we lose now!
Arizona faces a 3rd and 7 on their own side of the field ... and they convert again! They're in BYU territory and the next play is a 20 yard pass. They're in the red zone with 3:21 seconds left. Two plays later it's a 15 yard TD toss from QB Hunter Hale to WR Tristan Daniel and Arizona is back in the lead. They convert the two-pointer to go up 31 to 28. Unbelievable!
We take the touchback with 2:18 seconds remaining, all three timeouts. Our first two plays are runs and the crowd doesn't like the calls when they gain a mere 6 yards. It's 3rd and 4 with 1:51 remaining. Wagner finds Foster for 11 yards to move the chains. We run again for a loss of one and the crowd is booing. We run again and it's once again 3rd and 4 with 1:14 remaining. We pass and it falls incomplete. It's 4th and 4 for the game. Wagner drops back, throws to Grayson Davis and ... it's incomplete. Arizona takes possession. One first down ends the game.
The crowd is about to cause an earthquake in LaVell Edwards Stadium after a special teamer corrals the AZ returner at the 17. On the very next play Miguel Townsend, an unsung LB clocks Arizona WR Aiden Leblanc on a crossing route. It's a fumble! Townsend picks it up, he dodges a tackler, and he's into the endzone. Touchdown Cougars!!! Pandemonium in the stadium. BYU 28, Arizona 23, with 6 minutes left in the game. Shades of BYU vs Boise State 2015 or BYU vs Kansas State in 2024 as we score twice in a matter of plays. There's no way we lose now!
Arizona faces a 3rd and 7 on their own side of the field ... and they convert again! They're in BYU territory and the next play is a 20 yard pass. They're in the red zone with 3:21 seconds left. Two plays later it's a 15 yard TD toss from QB Hunter Hale to WR Tristan Daniel and Arizona is back in the lead. They convert the two-pointer to go up 31 to 28. Unbelievable!
We take the touchback with 2:18 seconds remaining, all three timeouts. Our first two plays are runs and the crowd doesn't like the calls when they gain a mere 6 yards. It's 3rd and 4 with 1:51 remaining. Wagner finds Foster for 11 yards to move the chains. We run again for a loss of one and the crowd is booing. We run again and it's once again 3rd and 4 with 1:14 remaining. We pass and it falls incomplete. It's 4th and 4 for the game. Wagner drops back, throws to Grayson Davis and ... it's incomplete. Arizona takes possession. One first down ends the game.
They get it.
Game over. Arizona 31, BYU 28.
I don't know what to say. We failed on two fourth downs, had two turnovers, and missed a long field goal. We allowed Arizona to convert 10 of 18 3rd downs and it felt worse. I'm in a bit of shock during the press conference. The only thing I can think of is complacency killed us -- or we really missed Noah Cochran.
"What happened out there coach?" they ask me.
"I ... I ... don't know."
Postseason - Big 12 Conference Championships
We must press forward and being invited to the Big 12 title game is the first step in moving on. There is news.
The good? More recruits! Brock Sandu is a 4-star, 67 rated LB. Tristen Tracy is a JUCO CB rated a 77 overall with A- potential. I sure hope he's a sophomore and not a senior (you never know when grabbing the JUCOs). Rodrigo Delong is an OL with a funny name, Tristen McCormik has A potential at safety, and Xzavier Dyer, while not has highly rated as the Lambert/Armstrong duo, is a great get at WR.
Game over. Arizona 31, BYU 28.
I don't know what to say. We failed on two fourth downs, had two turnovers, and missed a long field goal. We allowed Arizona to convert 10 of 18 3rd downs and it felt worse. I'm in a bit of shock during the press conference. The only thing I can think of is complacency killed us -- or we really missed Noah Cochran.
"What happened out there coach?" they ask me.
"I ... I ... don't know."
Postseason - Big 12 Conference Championships
We must press forward and being invited to the Big 12 title game is the first step in moving on. There is news.
The good? More recruits! Brock Sandu is a 4-star, 67 rated LB. Tristen Tracy is a JUCO CB rated a 77 overall with A- potential. I sure hope he's a sophomore and not a senior (you never know when grabbing the JUCOs). Rodrigo Delong is an OL with a funny name, Tristen McCormik has A potential at safety, and Xzavier Dyer, while not has highly rated as the Lambert/Armstrong duo, is a great get at WR.
The bad? Kaleb Foster will be out five weeks, starting DL Roberto Stephens three.
The fun? Arizona State spanks #24 Utah 31 to 6 in their season finales.
Here are the full slate of CCGs:
It's a unique end of season scenario in the Big 12. Colorado lost to Oklahoma State in the final week of the season, leaving each team with a 9-3 record. Oklahoma State finishes ranked higher (#14 to Colorado's #20) but Colorado's 7-2 conference record is the tiebreaker so I will face the Deon Buffalo in the title game. They have a menacing defensive lineman, Luis Andrews who is 4th in the prelim votes for Big 12 player of the years. He has 35 pressures, 32 TFL, 13 sacks.
We are in Jerry Jones stadium. It feels right, that having slayed Oklahoma all those years ago we'd be back now to try and win our first power league title. Utah won it last year, it's time for a restoration of order. Colorado is an elite defense against the run, allowing only 76 yards per game. On the opposite end of the spectrum they are trash in the passing game, rated 130th. With a playoff spot on the line I think I'll bring WR Noah Cochran and OL Adan Ingram back into the starting lineup despite lingering injuries.
I'm going to focus on the short passing game. This will be senior Wagner's time.
Colorado's first possession features a lot of running by Johnathan Gore, Frank Gore's son? They drive all the way to my 30 before LB Dallas Cardenas (I haven't heard his name once all year?) gets a huge stop. Maybe it makes sense that Dallas would play well in Dallas' stadium?
On 4th and 3 at the 30 Colorado forgoes the field goal and hands it off to backup RB Julien Stephens. Bad choice Deon! We stuff the carry and take over. We promptly go three and out and punt back to the Buffs. The Buffs return suit and with our offense struggling I call for a 4th down attempt at midfield. Fail. Ball back to Buffalo. Colorado takes over in our territory and promptly DL Chance Tolbert starts the drive with a huge sack. What a future this young buck has in front of him! But on 3rd and 15 Colorado converts. We sack Colorado again (our third of the half?? Whoa) and the Buffs pin us deep with a punt on our own 6 yard line. The first quarter ends 0 to 0.
The second quarter we pick up some momentum with a WR Alexis Salazar 41 yard sweep. Then, disaster. Kole Hawthorne fumbles and Colorado returns it 21 yards and for the third time in the game they're in BYU territory. Two plays later CB Edgar Boyd picks off Colorado's Taylor Rincon and we're back in business. We finally get a good drive going thanks to a timely Wagner scramble. We drive to the CU 35 yard line and ... WR Conner Britton fumbles. Why is our 5th string WR getting reps in our biggest game of the season?
The second quarter we pick up some momentum with a WR Alexis Salazar 41 yard sweep. Then, disaster. Kole Hawthorne fumbles and Colorado returns it 21 yards and for the third time in the game they're in BYU territory. Two plays later CB Edgar Boyd picks off Colorado's Taylor Rincon and we're back in business. We finally get a good drive going thanks to a timely Wagner scramble. We drive to the CU 35 yard line and ... WR Conner Britton fumbles. Why is our 5th string WR getting reps in our biggest game of the season?
We force yet another punt and I call for an up-tempo drive. We manage to hurry up and punt. Colorado goes three and out. What a boring championship game we're experiencing. Facing a 3rd and 10 inside our own 20 Wagner finds Noah Cochran for the first time in the game. A 25 yard pass moves us up to our own 40. Our drive stalls at the Colorado 18 where we face a fourth and four. In a game with no scoring, what do you do here? I choose to kick and it's good. BYU leads 3-0. Colorado again does nothing on their next drive. We get the ball back at our 30 with 1:33 left and all timeouts. Things are looking good.
First play - interception. Shiza.
First play - interception. Shiza.
I've lost track of whether this is the fourth or 5th time CU has been on our side of the field, but they finally notch a field goal, and it's 3-3 at halftime. Snoozy all around. TV execs are pissed.
To start the third we put together our best drive of the day, a 14-play march that ends in only a field goal. We trade punts and gain some nice field position when we drop one kick in at the Colorado 5-yard line. We trade punts again and again pin Colorado deep at their own 3. And then on third and 4, from their own 9 yard line, QB Taylor Rinco drops back, tosses deep down the field ... and it is picked by CB Felix McHugh and he takes it to the house!!!! YEAH BABY! 13 to 3 for BYU.
On the next drive QB Taylor Rincon completes a pass to WR Johnathon Perry and he is smashed by LB Braden Sherman. Sherman picks up the fumble and takes it 44 yards into the endzone. Unbelievable! Back to back defensive scores!
To start the third we put together our best drive of the day, a 14-play march that ends in only a field goal. We trade punts and gain some nice field position when we drop one kick in at the Colorado 5-yard line. We trade punts again and again pin Colorado deep at their own 3. And then on third and 4, from their own 9 yard line, QB Taylor Rinco drops back, tosses deep down the field ... and it is picked by CB Felix McHugh and he takes it to the house!!!! YEAH BABY! 13 to 3 for BYU.
On the next drive QB Taylor Rincon completes a pass to WR Johnathon Perry and he is smashed by LB Braden Sherman. Sherman picks up the fumble and takes it 44 yards into the endzone. Unbelievable! Back to back defensive scores!
Johnathan Perry responds with a 74 yard catch on the next drive and Colorado scores immediately after. Has the lid come off this game? BYU leads 20 to 10 entering the fourth. We punt another beauty, pinning Colorado on their own 6. We've owned field position this game. I think DL Brady Parks has killed Colorado's next drive with a nice sack but the Buffs convert on 3rd and 13. Ouch. With 8 minutes left they are driving... and then our defense stymies them again. Colorado punts. We punt right back. 4 minutes left. BYU up 10. Time is on our side.
Colorado feels the desperation. Their first three plays of the drive are a Johnathan Gore 10 yard run, a 20 yard pass to Liam Ervin, and a 10 yard pass to Gabriel Hendricks. And then safety Alberto Hines puts the game away with an interception. Our sideline is going nuts. It's clock killing time, and kill it we do, leaving only 40 seconds left when we punt back to CU. Rincon heaves up a hail mary with 8 seconds left and Edgar Boyd gets his second pick of the game. Victory.
BYU is the Big 12 champion.
It ends up being our ugliest win of the year, but a defensive master class. We record four sacks, four interceptions, 1 fumble, and score 14 of our 20 points on defense. Those five turnovers bump us to 19 on the season, which unlocks a donor request from Justin Aikens and earns us a sweet $2.6MM in bonus bucks (wild; we accomplish over 25% of the season long goal in this one game). Reilly can't get anything going on the ground - a common theme as our team ends the season. He finishes with 19 carries for 63 yards. Hawthorne was worse at 11 carries for 6 yards. Wagner threw for 138 yards on 28 attempts. I was hoping for big things from him in this game. He's officially going down in history as a game manager. But who cares! We're going to the playoff!
We get commitments from four 4-star players in the aftermath of the win.
In the awards department, I take home Big 12 coach of the year honors. RB Christian Reilly and OL Hudson Wolfe each nab all-American honors. Reilly's numbers aren't all that impressive (1,010 rushing yards, 53 receiving yards, 13 TDs) but Wolfe's are (26 pancakes, zero sacks allowed).
We dominate the All Big 12 team.
1st Team
QB Rafael Wagner (2,251 passing yards, 15 TDs, 3 Ints, 803 rushing yards, 12 TDs)
RB Christian Reilly
OL Hudson Wolfe
OL Adan Ingram
OL Damian Whitehead
K Kevin Byrd (14/18 field goals, 62/62 XP)
LB Dallas Cardenas (53 tkl, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF, 1 int)
Colorado feels the desperation. Their first three plays of the drive are a Johnathan Gore 10 yard run, a 20 yard pass to Liam Ervin, and a 10 yard pass to Gabriel Hendricks. And then safety Alberto Hines puts the game away with an interception. Our sideline is going nuts. It's clock killing time, and kill it we do, leaving only 40 seconds left when we punt back to CU. Rincon heaves up a hail mary with 8 seconds left and Edgar Boyd gets his second pick of the game. Victory.
BYU is the Big 12 champion.
It ends up being our ugliest win of the year, but a defensive master class. We record four sacks, four interceptions, 1 fumble, and score 14 of our 20 points on defense. Those five turnovers bump us to 19 on the season, which unlocks a donor request from Justin Aikens and earns us a sweet $2.6MM in bonus bucks (wild; we accomplish over 25% of the season long goal in this one game). Reilly can't get anything going on the ground - a common theme as our team ends the season. He finishes with 19 carries for 63 yards. Hawthorne was worse at 11 carries for 6 yards. Wagner threw for 138 yards on 28 attempts. I was hoping for big things from him in this game. He's officially going down in history as a game manager. But who cares! We're going to the playoff!
We get commitments from four 4-star players in the aftermath of the win.
In the awards department, I take home Big 12 coach of the year honors. RB Christian Reilly and OL Hudson Wolfe each nab all-American honors. Reilly's numbers aren't all that impressive (1,010 rushing yards, 53 receiving yards, 13 TDs) but Wolfe's are (26 pancakes, zero sacks allowed).
We dominate the All Big 12 team.
1st Team
QB Rafael Wagner (2,251 passing yards, 15 TDs, 3 Ints, 803 rushing yards, 12 TDs)
RB Christian Reilly
OL Hudson Wolfe
OL Adan Ingram
OL Damian Whitehead
K Kevin Byrd (14/18 field goals, 62/62 XP)
LB Dallas Cardenas (53 tkl, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF, 1 int)
2nd Team
WR Noah Cochran (42 catches, 661 yards, 4 TDs)
OL Adrian Potts
OL Patrick Gentry
OL Jonathan Newton
LB Miguel Townsend
CB Edgar Boyd
That's right ... we somehow placed six offensive lineman on the first and second teams. Don't ask me.
QB Bryan Hudson of Alabama wins the Heisman. The DL Luis Andrews of Colorado wins defensive player of the year. The Colorado QB we abused in the title game wins Big 12 freshman of the year, while Wagner in a mild surprise wins Big 12 player of the year!
The first round of the playoffs has some duds and some lesser duds. Alabama, angry no doubt that BYU of all teams got a first round bye instead of them, pastes a 66 to zero killing onto previously undefeated Southern Miss. Texas beats up on the other mid-major invitee, SMU, by a score of 48 to 23. The other two games are better. Oregon squeaks by LSU 23 to 16 and Florida defeats Florida State in a playoff rivalry game 35 to 20. That leaves 8 teams standing.
WR Noah Cochran (42 catches, 661 yards, 4 TDs)
OL Adrian Potts
OL Patrick Gentry
OL Jonathan Newton
LB Miguel Townsend
CB Edgar Boyd
That's right ... we somehow placed six offensive lineman on the first and second teams. Don't ask me.
QB Bryan Hudson of Alabama wins the Heisman. The DL Luis Andrews of Colorado wins defensive player of the year. The Colorado QB we abused in the title game wins Big 12 freshman of the year, while Wagner in a mild surprise wins Big 12 player of the year!
The first round of the playoffs has some duds and some lesser duds. Alabama, angry no doubt that BYU of all teams got a first round bye instead of them, pastes a 66 to zero killing onto previously undefeated Southern Miss. Texas beats up on the other mid-major invitee, SMU, by a score of 48 to 23. The other two games are better. Oregon squeaks by LSU 23 to 16 and Florida defeats Florida State in a playoff rivalry game 35 to 20. That leaves 8 teams standing.
That's right ... the Tide cometh. For the first time this year I'm an underdog. Vegas is giving 13.5 points to Bama. They have the statistical advantage in four of six categories, with pass protection my lone win.
They are #1 in passing yards per game. They are #7 in opponent rushing yards per game. My focus will be on our running game and stopping their downfield passing game.
In Phoenix Arizona BYU kicks off. It's immediately apparent we will have our hands full with Heisman winner Bryan Hudson. He drives Bama 10 plays to our 6 yard line and we are relieved when they choose to kick a field goal rather than go for it on 4th and 4. It's 3-0 for the tide after the first drive. Our next drive goes Christian Reilly for 8 yards, then Christian Reilly for 52 yards! Let's go! Wagner runs for 10, Wagner passes for 3, and Christian Reilly finishes the drive with a 2 yard TD run. 7-3 BYU. WE CAN HANG WITH THESE GUYS.
Heisman Hudson comes back with passes of 2, 12, 25, 29, and 7 for a Tide touchdown. 10-7 for Bama. We run a couple of nice plays to midfield but face a fourth and 2. I didn't come this far to puss out now. The call is a triple option ... and the result is a 2 yard loss. Bama ball in BYU territory. Gulp. We hold Bama to two third downs and both times Hudson completes long passes to WR Justice Thompson. Touchdown Alabama. Brutal. It's 17 to 7 starting the 2nd.
Christian Reilly and Rafael Wagner runs are our only offense. It's kind of working? We drive to the Bama 33 behind the legs of these two. Finally we get some passing momentum with Wagner finding Noah Cochran on a key 3rd and 10 for 13 yards. We're in the blue zone. Wagner finds Cochran again on a 3rd and 10 and we're at first and goal on the 8. We have to get a TD on this drive. We do! Courtesy a Wagner scramble. He is going to die on this field. 17 to 14, Alabama.
That drive took 5 minutes off the clock and our defense needed that. We get a great special teams play, tackling the Bama return man at his own 15. Then Hudson promptly tosses a 25 yard strike to his tight end Camden Najar. The man is a menace. We finally get our second stop of the day, but not until Hudson has driven the tide to our 21 yard line. The Alabama field goal is good. 20-14, 4 minutes left in the half.
Wagner is sacked on our ensuing drive, a rarity this season, and Bama is going to get the ball back with strong field position. And yet we force a punt! Our first of the day. It feels like we've been dominated but we're only down six. There are two minutes left, we have the ball, and we'll get the ball coming out of half. There's a chance here for something.
That chance evaporates as we go three and out and Hudson erases our punt with a 29 yard pass on first down. His tight end Camden Najar is punishing us this game. It takes Alabama three more plays to convert a TD to go up 27 to 14. We string a few passes together in the final seconds, but a desperate 50-yard field goal falls short at the halftime buzzer. What a momentum swing in the final minutes of the quarter.
The stats for Hudson at halftime are murderous. 17/22 for 236 yards and 3 TDs. TE Najar has 5 catches for 108 yards. Reilly and Wagner are doing their best to keep us in it; Reilly 5 carries for 77 yards, Wagner 9 for 79. Gonna need more of that in half number two. I'd rather not talk about Wagner's passing numbers.
We drive to the Alabama 35 to start the third, but go for it on 4th and 8 rather than attempt another long field goal. We come up short. Alabama ball. Hudson moves with ease into the redzone before stalling out. The field goal is good. Bama 30, BYU 14. We punt and Alabama misses a 48 yard field goal. We're still not out of this game ... it's a two possession score ...
But our offense just can't getting anything going after that magical first drive. We punt. We force a Bama punt. At the start of the 4th quarter we remain down 30 to 14. Our offense finds some juice in the form of a WR sweep, just like in the Big 12 title game. It's Alexis Salazar who does it again with a 54 yard run to put us in Bama territory. Salazar aint done yet! He catches two passes, one for a TD, and we're in the end zone. I call for two and ... it's good. Christian Reilly barrels in. Alabama 30, BYU 22. 12 minutes left.
We force a 4th and 8 at our own 39. What will Bama do? They go conservative and pin us with a punt at our own ten yard line. On first down Kole Hawthorne picks up 10. Wagner finds Cochran for 11 on the next play. Just like that we're out of the shadow of our own end zone and on the move. Wagner rushes for five. Wagner misses a throw to London Vu. It's 3rd and 5. Wagner finds Conner Britton for 7! Hawthorne rushes for a meager pair of gains and it's 3rd and 5. Wagner finds Cochran for 11 yards. We're up to the Bama 46. Hawthorne gets stonewalled on first down. Where is Christian Reilly?? Wagner finds TE Jarrett Easley (WHO?) for 9 yards to bring up a 3rd and 1. There's Reilly! He rushes for 5 and another, "Cougar First Down" (insert roaring noise here). 7 minutes left.
Wagner hits Cochran for 12 yards. Wagner hits London Vu for 5 yards. We're at the Alabama 15 now. 6:43 minutes left. A screen pass goes for a one yard loss. 3rd and 6. Wagner drops back, passes to Cochran ... caught for the touchdown!! Our two point conversion attempt to TE Joseph Vincent is ... good! What is happening! It's 30 to 30 with 6:17 remaining. That last drive was 15 plays of magic.
Bad news comes quick. Bama returns the kickoff all the way to their own 49. And then for the first time all game Hudson misses on three straight passes. Bama punts. I am in shock on the sideline. Our offense has been in up-tempo since the middle of the third quarter and it's clearly worked. Do I slow them down now? I say nay.
We face a 4th and 3 at our 35 and despite being tempted to go for it, I punt away with 4:46 on the clock. Hudson murdered us in the first half, but we have been awesome on defense in the second, only allowing one score. On the first play of this most crucial drive safety Dominick Yin surprises Hudson with a blitz and picks up the sack. On second down Tristin Rhodes breaks through the pressure for a sack. Our section of the Phoenix faithful are delirious as Bama faces a 3rd and 20 at their own 11. The third down pass is broken up by CB Felix Mchugh and we're going to get the ball back with 3:27 and a chance to win this thing.
Thanks to those two sacks and a decent Grayson Davis return we'll start this drive at our own 47. Our first pass is incomplete. Our second down is a two yard loss on a run. Freak. Our 3rd and 12 pass is deflected. With incredible field position we do absolutely nothing. I can't go for it on 4th and 12 can I?
Our punt is perfect, pinning Alabama at their own 6. Can our defense stop Hudson one more time? The first three plays of Bama's drive gain 28 yards so ... not looking great. The clock is ticking as Hudson scrambles across midfield. 1:43 left and Hudson makes a huge pass to WR Noah Pino to get the ball to our 33. It'd be a 50 yard game winning field goal from here. Then Bama gives us a taste of our own medicine. A WR run goes for 15. We're officially in danger.
After two runs I assume that Bama is settling in for a field goal, but they surprise me with a Hudson 18-yard TD pass on third down. And just like that, with 58 seconds left, Bama leads 37 to 30. If Wagner ever wanted to be immortalized ... well, here's the script.
He completes a pass of 8 yards to TE Josepeh Vincent, then 13 yards to Noah Cochran. Good start. 40 seconds left. Ball already in Bama territory. Then a 15 yarder to Cochran. 20 seconds left. One timeout in our pocket. Ball on the Bama 26. Pass knocked down. 12 seconds left. Pass incomplete. 8 seconds left.
Gotta send everything we got now. Wagner's hail mary into the end zone is .... incomplete. Clock expired. BYU loses. Heartbreak in Phoenix.
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