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The BYU Cougars have had a couple close calls in their past two games, but they are one of the very few underdogs in college football with a chance to make a serious run at the College Football Playoff — especially with a solid 4-0 record.
Coming off a tough overtime loss in week four to Arkansas State, the Utah State Aggies have to prove themselves in the Sun Belt and a win against No. 18 BYU could be a solid start. The Aggies could be playing the remainder of the year without their starting QB, however.
Relying heavily on Taysom Hill has guided the Cougars to a 4-0 record. Hill has been as dynamic as quarterbacks come, passing for just 876 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 428 yards and seven scores. Jordan Leslie leads all receivers with 19 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown while Mitch Mathews leads the team in touchdowns with two on 16 catches for 134 yards. The run game has been a bit more impressive, however, as it ranks 27th in the nation as opposed to the 80th-ranked passing attack. While Hill leads all rushers in yards and touchdowns, junior Jamaal Williams is the team’s second-leading rusher and top running back with 296 yards and three touchdowns.
Utah State might have to move forward for the rest of the season without stud quarterback Chuckie Keeton as he was ‘banged up’ after a knee injury on Sept. 13. Rumors have been swirling that Keeton will be applying for a medical redshirt but the Aggies have shot that rumor down. No one outside the program knows who the starting quarterback will be, but if it’s not Keeton, it will be sophomore Darrell Garretson who has 389 yards and three touchdowns. Keeton has begun the year with 436 yards and two passing scores. Hunter Sharp leads all receivers with 305 yards and two touchdowns on 23 catches. JoJo Natson is second on the team in receptions, 20, to go along with 172 yards and a score. Natson also leads the team in rushing with 158 yards on 17 carreies.
Defensively, Utah State has been solid when it comes to slowing teams down, ranking 33rd in the nation in total yards allowed per game while also ranking 70th in points allowed per game. On the other side of things, BYU ranks 48th in total yards allowed with 364.3 per game to go along with 25th in points allowed per game. The home crowd at BYU will be rocking for this big contest.
Utah State will travel to BYU to take on the Cougars at 10:15 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 3. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
PREDICTION: Utah State 13, BYU 37
Want to see the Cougars host the Aggies in week six? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
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