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BYU Football Opponent Power Rankings: Cougars 2-0 vs. Pac-12 with ASU coming to town

By Darnell Dickson - | Sep 16, 2021

Ralph Freso, Associated Press

FILE - This Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, shows the Pac-12 logo during the second half of an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Kent State, in Tempe, Ariz. The Pac-12 has set Sept. 26 as the start of its 10-game conference-only football schedule. The Pac-12 announced three weeks ago it would eliminate nonconference games for its 12 member schools. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)

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

1. No. 19 Arizona State (2-0 overall, 0-0 Pac 12 South)

Results: Jayden Daniels rushed for 125 yards and threw for two scores as No. 23 Arizona State outscored UNLV 23-0 in the second half of a 37-10 victory.

Game On: Saturday at No. 23 BYU (2-0), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Daniels, a quarterback, leads the Sun Devils with 165 yards rushing. … Arizona State leads the series with BYU 20-7, but the Cougars won the past two meetings: 1997 in Tempe (13-10) and 1998 in Provo (26-6).

2. Virginia (2-0 overall, 0-0 ACC Coastal)

Plays BYU: Oct. 30 in Provo

Results: Brennen Armstrong passed for 405 yards and five touchdowns as Virginia beat Illinois 42-14.

Game On: Saturday at No. 21 North Carolina (1-1 overall, 0-1 ACC Coastal), 5:30 p.m. MT (ACC Network)

What’s Up? In two games, Armstrong has thrown for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. … The Tarheels lead the overall series with Virginia 64-58-4 but the Cavaliers have won four straight (2017-2020).

3. Baylor (2-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12)

Plays BYU: Oct. 16 in Waco

Results: Baylor scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions in a 66-7 rout of Texas Southern.

Game On: Saturday at Kansas (1-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (Big 12/ESPN+)

What’s Up? Trestan Ebner (245 yards) and Abram Smith (244) leads the Bears potent ground game which averages 332 yards per game. … Baylor leads the overall series 16-4 and has won 11 straight games in the series.

4. Utah (1-1 overall, 0-0 Pac 12 South)

Results: Micah Bernard rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown for Utah but BYU beat their rivals 26-17, the Cougars first win in the Holy War since 2009.

Game On: Saturday at San Diego State (2-0 overall, 0-0 MWC West), 5 p.m. MT (CBSSN)

What’s Up? The loss to BYU ended a nine-game winning streak in the series. … Utah leads the overall series with San Diego State 17-12 and is on a five-game winning streak against the Aztecs, last winning in 2010 (38-34).

5. USC (1-1 overall, 0-1 Pac 12 South)

Plays BYU: Nov. 27 in Los Angeles

Results: Former BYU recruit Tanner McKee passed for 234 yards and two touchdowns in his first start to engineer a 42-28 upset of No. 14 USC.

Game On: Saturday at Washington State (1-1 overall, 0-0 Pac 12 North), 1:30 p.m. MT(FOX)

What’s Up? The Trojans outgained the Cardinal 408 to 375 but had nine penalties for 111 yards. … USC holds a whopping 60-10-4 advantage in the series with Washington State, which last beat the Trojans in 2017 (30-27 in Pullman.

6. Utah State (2-0 overall, 0-0 MWC Mountain)

Plays BYU: Oct. 1 vs. BYU in Logan

Results: Logan Bonner threw for 390 yards and four touchdowns and Utah State outscored North Dakota 28-3 in the second half of a 48-24 victory in Logan.

Game On: Saturday at Air Force (2-0 overall, 0-0 MWC Mountain), 5:30 p.m. MT (FS2)

What’s Up? Through two games Utah State is 6 of 8 (75 percent) on fourth down conversions. … Air Force leads the overall series with Utah State 5-3 and beat the Aggies 35-7 in Logan (2020.)

7. Boise State (1-1 overall, 0-0 MWC Mountain)

Plays BYU: Oct. 9 in Provo

Results: Hank Bachmeier threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns as Boise State bounced back from an opening game loss to rout UTEP 54-13.

Game On: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State (2-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12), 7 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Stefan Cobb scored a special teams touchdown and on a 61-yard reception against UTEP. … Boise State and Oklahoma State have met once before, a 44-21 Cowboys victory in Stillwater.

8. Washington State (1-1 overall, 0-0 Pac 12 North)

Plays BYU: Oct. 23 in Pullman

Results: Jayden de Laura threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns to lead Washington State to a 44-24 victory against Portland State.

Game On: Saturday vs. USC (1-1 overall, 0-1 Pac 12 South), 9 p.m. MT (Pac 12 Network)

What’s Up? Through two games WSU is averaging 411 yards per game. … USC holds a dominant 60-10-4 lead in the series with the Cougars, winning four times since the year 2000.

9. Georgia Southern (1-1 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt East)

Plays BYU: Nov. 20 in Provo

Results: N’Kosi Perry threw four touchdown passes, including three in the third quarter, as Florida Atlantic blasted Georgia Southern 38-6.

Game On: Saturday at No. 20 Arkansas (2-0 overall, 0-0 SEC West), 2 p.m. MT (SEC Network)

What’s Up? Georgia Southern is getting starting quarterback Justin Tomlin back from academic suspension and the Eagles might have injured tailback J.D. King in the mix against Arkansas on Saturday. … The Razorbacks, coming off a dominating win against Texas, have never played Georgia Southern.

10. Arizona (0-2 overall, 0-0 Pac 12 South)

Results: Arizona trailed 14-0 after just three minutes and 35-7 at halftime, ending up with a 38-14 loss to San Diego State.

Game On: Saturday vs. Northern Arizona (0-2 overall, 0-0 Big Sky), 8 p.m. MT (Pac 12 Network)

What’s Up? The Wildcats managed only 230 total yards against San Diego State. … Arizona is 6-0 all-time against Northern Arizona, last winning 65-41 in 2019.

11. South Florida (0-2 overall, 0-0 AAC)

Plays BYU: Sept. 25 in Provo

Results: No. 13 Florida took a 35-3 halftime lead, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Richardson to Jacob Copeland, and took care of South Florida 42-20.

Game On: Saturday vs. Florida A&M (1-1 overall, 0-1 SWAC East), 5 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? South Florida surrendered 666 yards to Florida 363 passing and 303 rushing. … South Florida is 3-0 all-time against Florida A&M and won 51-3 in 2015.

12. Idaho State (0-2 overall, 0-0 Big Sky)

Plays BYU: Nov. 6 in Provo

Results: Carson Strong passed for 381 yards and four scores to lead Nevada past Idaho State 49-10.

Game On: Sept. 25 vs. Sacramento State (1-1 overall, 0-0 Big Sky), 1 p.m. MT

What’s Up? Quarterbacks Tyler Vander Waal and Hunter Hayes combined to go 15 of 25 for 142 yards against Nevada. … Sacramento State leads the overall series with Idaho State 8-4 and won 41-21 in 2017.

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