Nr. 19 BYU and Baylor Both 5-1 for Big 12 Preview With Reunions-NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

There will be a Big 12 preview for BYU and personal reunions among several coaches when the 19th-ranked Cougars play at Baylor two years before they officially attend the conference.

Baylor coach Dave Aranda appreciates the long-term notion of becoming league enemies and even seeing some old friends, but his more immediate concern for Saturday’s 5-1 squad faces a veteran opponent who had high expectations and is now coming out his first loss.

“Just those who are attending the conference and their participation here is coming up, I think is really good for the conference and it will be a welcome addition,” Aranda said. “But I think in our short-term view right here, it’s probably an angry team showing up at McLane (Stadium).”

The Cougars opened the season with three consecutive wins over Pac-12 teams, came in the top 10 and were discussed as a potential playoff team before slipping up in the middle of their normal season. They had four turnovers in a 26-17 loss last weekend to Boise State after just two overall turnovers in their first five games.

“We have played really good football and I think if we use this game as a kind of wake up and bring everything back into perspective and start doing what we know we can, we can end a good season,” said recipient Gunner Romney.

“It’s humiliating and it’s a good opportunity for us to focus a little more,” added BYU coach Kalani Sitake. “It will be the key, learn from the mistakes and make sure things don’t happen again.”

Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is in his first year at Baylor after running his attacking, multiple-formation scheme the last three seasons at BYU. The Bears average more than 38 points and 461 total yards per game. Match (227 rushing, 234 passes), with a big 12-best 7.31 yards per. Game. Fourth-year junior and first-year starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon has 1,337 yards and 11 TDs passing without an interception.

“Many similarities,” Sitake said. “We are aware of what they are doing offensively, their identity offensively. It will be a good match for us.”

The Cougars, who after last season had quarterback Zach Wilson taken as No. 2 overall NFL draft, averaging 404 yards in total and 27 points a game. Jaren Hall, who won the starting QB job at the camp, returned last week after missing two games due to broken ribs. Baylor Romney, the backup that started the games Hall missed, could be back from the concussion protocol.

FAMILY FACES

Sitake, the former BYU who ran back in his sixth year as head coach, said he and Aranda have long shared ideas and philosophies about coaching. Aranda worked briefly in 2008 in southern Utah for Ed Lamb, now BYU’s assistant head coach. Aranda was Utah State’s defensive coordinator ten years ago on a staff that also included BYU linebackers coach Kevin Clune and Cougar’s defensive coordinator DC Ilaisa Tuiaki. First-year Baylor offensive line coach Eric Mateos has been at BYU for the past two years.

BEFORE BYUS TITLE

BYU’s only previous trip to Waco was a 40-36 loss at the season opener in 1983. The Cougars then won their next 25 games through their unbeaten national championship 1984 season, which included a 47-13 home win over Baylor. The two teams are scheduled to play again next year in Provo, Utah, before becoming conference enemies in 2023. BYU, a football independent, last month accepted an invitation to participate in the Big 12.

SETUP IN AFTER SCORES

Baylor only allow 16.3 points in a game, but have given up a TD with opening drives in each of its last three games. Aranda said the defenders with basic calls more focused on them than the opponent, have done a good job of getting over the early scores.

“See the ball, grab it,” Aranda said. “I think after the first drive, and after the anxiety has come and gone, I think that’s how we play.”

EXTRA POINTS

The winner gets the bowl entitled to six wins. Once the bowl is eligible, BYU gets a spot in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, unless the Cougars get into a New Year’s Six bowl game. … It is the first time since 1999 that Baylor has played a non-conference match after September in a regular season.

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