Fresh off of losing its first game of the season, BYU is gearing up for its intense matchup this weekend against ASU which has major implications on the line.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Falling 19-13 to Kansas (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) on Saturday, the Big 12-leading Cougars became 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference but have established themselves as the most dominant force in the conference this season. Despite Colorado having the same 6-1 record in conference play as BYU does, the Cougars have looked nearly unstoppable when cruising past each opponent until running into a hot Jayhawks team.
There are many scenarios that open up if either BYU or ASU wins this Saturday’s game. If Arizona State loses, its hope to make both the Big 12 Championship Game and the College Football Playoff becomes razor-thin. But if the Cougars suffer a defeat for a second consecutive week, however, things will get very interesting between them, ASU, Colorado and Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) with all of the tiebreaker possibilities.
Regardless, after analyzing his program’s upcoming foe in Arizona State (8-2, 5-2), BYU head coach Kalani Sitake spoke highly of how the Sun Devils have played this season and the job that their head coach Kenny Dillingham has done.
“Arizona State has done really good things. Look at their team, Kenny Dillingham is a really good coach and I have a lot of respect for him. The way he coaches, he’s got a great connection with his players, and he is a local kid from that area, so he grew up an ASU fan and knows what that program can do,” Sitake said at a press conference on Monday. “I like that he has brought in a staff, a local staff and really good coaches. Looking at the talent that they have, it is a difficult matchup. We want to be ready, we are going on the road and I am looking forward to the matchup.”
For the first time ever, Sun Devils starting quarterback Sam Leavitt will play against the program that his family has a strong connection with. His brother Dallin played the first two seasons (2013-14) of his collegiate career at BYU, and his father Jared played linebacker for the Cougars from 1990-91.
When talking about Leavitt and the threat he poses to his team’s defense, Sitake has seen how good he is already and has a bright future ahead of him.
“Really good player, comes from a good family. He’s super athletic, he can run, he’s got an accurate arm, I think he has a great football IQ,” Sitake said about Leavitt. “He’s dangerous, he’s got a lot of football to play… He’s going to be doing really good things for a long time because I think he is only a (redshirt) freshman right now, the sky is the limit for him.”
One Sun Devil player every opposing coach talks about is running back Cam Skattebo since he has been one of the most dominant forces in the Big 12, and Sitake was no different.
“Oh man, he is a dangerous running back,” Sitake said about Skattebo. “I know a lot of the credit will go to the running back, but you have to give credit to the offensive line, their receivers block well and tight ends block well. Marcus Arroyo is the offensive coordinator, he knows what he is doing and he knows how to set up an offense. Hines Ward is coaching the receivers, it’s an all-star cast when you look at their coaching staff.
“When you combine that with a kid that can just run, I really like the way he plays the game of football. He’s physical but you can tell he is having fun out there, and it’s been a pleasure watching him play, I just don’t want to have fun watching him play this Saturday.”
Before the beginning of the season began, the Big 12 Media Preseason Poll heavily underestimated both BYU and ASU. The Sun Devils were predicted to finish dead last while the Cougars were not much better, landing No. 13. Colorado, who is currently second place in the conference behind BYU, was No. 11 on the list that has been openly ridiculed.
With Arizona State and BYU proving the naysayers wrong, Sitake credited Dillingham’s squad for getting to this point of the season competing in important games in November.
“I think looking at what they do as a team, you can’t be anything but impressed with how they coach their guys, how hard the players play and the results that they are getting,” Sitake said. “They are ranked for a reason, and I feel a connection to them because nobody cared about us before the season. None of you guys (the media) even predicted this happening.”
In front of a sellout crowd, ASU and BYU kick off at Mountain America Stadium on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MST.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
