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BYU Football Opponent Power Rankings: Utah closing in on top spot

By Darnell Dickson - | Nov 9, 2021

BYU defenders tackle a Utah ball carrier during the 26-17 Cougar win over the Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Marci Harris, Herald correspondent)

Here’s our weekly ranking of BYU football’s opponents with a look at their schedules and matchups.

1. No. 18 Baylor (7-2 overall, 4-2 Big 12)

Results: Chandler Morris threw for 461 yards and a two touchdowns in his first start for TCU, which held off No. 12 Baylor 30-28 in the first game for the Horned Frogs without Gary Patterson at coach since 1997.

Game On: Saturday vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (9-0, 6-0 Big 12), 10 a..m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Oklahoma had a bye week after routing Texas Tech 52-21 on Oct. 30. … The Sooners have dominated the series with Baylor (28-3) and have won seven in a row against the Bears.

2. Utah (6-3 overall, 5-1 Pac-12 South)

Results: Tavion Thomas rushed for four first-half touchdowns and finished with 177 yards as Utah pounded Stanford 52-7.

Game On: Saturday at Arizona (1-8, 1-5 Pac-12 South), noon MT (Pac-12 Network)

What’s Up? The Wildcats ended a 20-game losing streak with a 10-3 victory against Cal. … Utah leads the overall series with Arizona 24-19 and the Utes have won four meetings in a row.

3. Utah State (7-2 overall, 4-1 MWC Mountain)

Results: Logan Bonner passed for 359 yards and four touchdowns, including two to Deven Thompkins, in a 35-13 victory against New Mexico State.

Game On: Saturday at San Jose State (5-5, 3-3 MWC West), 8:30 p.m. MT

What’s Up? Brandon Talton kicked a 45-yard field goal with three seconds left to lead Nevada past San Jose State 27-24. … The Spartans have a 20-18 edge in the series but Utah State has won eight meetings in a row dating back to 2009.

4. Arizona State (6-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-12 South)

Results: Rachaad White rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns to lead Arizona State past USC 31-16.

Game On: Saturday vs. Washington (4-5, 3-3 Pac-12 North), 5 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Washington had zero first downs in the first quarter and went three-and-out six times in a 26-16 loss to Oregon. … Arizona State and the Huskies have split the past two meetings with Washington winning 27-20 at Seattle in 2018 and ASU taking a 13-7 decision at Tempe in 2017.

5. Virginia (6-3 overall, 4-2 ACC Coastal)

Results: Bye

Game On: Saturday vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (8-1), 5:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Virginia is ranked 122nd in the country in total defense, allowed 466.2 yards per game. … Notre Dame has won all three meetings with the Cavaliers, including a 35-20 victory at South Bend in 2019.

6. USC (4-5 overall, 3-4 Pac-12 South)

Plays BYU: Nov. 27 in Los Angeles

Results: USC finished with 312 offensive yards and no scoring in the fourth quarter of a 31-16 loss to Arizona State.

Game On: Saturday at Cal (3-6, 2-4 Pac-12 North), 1:30 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Cal managed just 122 yards of total offense in a 10-3 loss to Arizona. … USC holds a dominating 71-30-5 lead in the overall series with the Bears and have won 15 of the past 16 meetings.

7. Washington State (5-4 overall, 4-2 Pac-12 North)

Results: Bye

Game On: Saturday at No. 5 Oregon (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12 North), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Oregon is coming off a 26-16 victory at Washington. … The Ducks lead the overall series with the Cougars 51-42-7 and have won the past two meetings: 43-29 in Pullman last season and 37-35 at Eugene in 2019.

8. Boise State (5-4 overall, 3-2 MWC Mountain)

Results: The Boise State defense had five sacks and forced three turnovers to knock off No. 25 Fresno State 40-14.

Game On: Friday vs. Wyoming (5-4, 1-4 MWC Mountain), 7 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Titus Swen rushed for 166 yards to lead Wyoming past Colorado State 31-17. … Boise State has dominated the series with the Cowboys 14-1 in the series, with Wyoming’s only win coming in 2016 (30-28 in Laramie).

9. South Florida (2-7 overall, 1-4 AAC)

Results: Timmy McClain accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) but South Florida allowed two 100-yard rushers as No. 20 Houston outscored the Bulls 54-42.

Game On: Friday vs. No. 2 Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0 AAC), 4 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Cincinnati beat Tulsa 28-20 to stay undefeated in 2021. … The Bearcats lead the overall series with South Florida 11-7 and have won three in a row (2018-2020).

10. Arizona (1-8 overall, 1-5 Pac-12 South)

Results: Michael Wiley scored on a 10-yard run with 2:17 left to lead Arizona to a 10-3 victory against Cal to end a 20-game losing streak.

Game On: Saturday vs. Utah (6-3, 5-1 Pac-12 South), noon MT (Pac-12 Networks)

What’s Up? In a 10-3 win against COVID-depleted Cal, Arizona held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time since a 35-0 victory over Northern Arizona in 2013. … The series between Utah and the Wildcats is tied at 6-all with the Utes winning the last meeting 35-0 in 2019.

11. Georgia Southern (2-7 overall, 1-5 Sun Belt East)

Plays BYU: Nov. 20 in Statesboro

Results: Georgia Southern was held to 233 total yards and had four turnovers in a 28-8 loss to No. 21 Coastal Carolina.

Game On: Saturday at Texas State (3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt West), 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? Texas State ran 98 total plays in a 27-19 victory against Louisiana-Monroe. … ULM leads the overall series with the Bobcats 12-6 but Texas State has won the past two meetings.

12. Idaho State (1-8 overall, 1-6 Big Sky)

Results: Idaho State trailed 42-7 at halftime and surrendered 560 yards in a 59-14 loss to No. 15 BYU.

Game On: Saturday at Cal Poly (1-8, 0-6 Big Sky), 6 p.m. MT

What’s Up? Jared Scott and Tyevin Ford scored the touchdowns for Idaho State in the loss to BYU. … Cal Poly has a 3-2 edge in the series with Idaho State, winning the last meeting 37-14 in 2018.

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