1. In general, what should BYU fans be most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

GURNEY: No, it’s not fair and yes, the College Football Committee isn’t weighing BYU football’s resume seriously at the moment, but the fact remains that the Cougars absolutely have a shot at validating themselves in late in the season. Win on Saturday versus UCF and then versus Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. It’s very direct, and BYU fans should be thankful for that opportunity.

DICKSON: Despite the slights by the CFP committee, BYU fans need to be grateful that the Board of Trustees in Salt Lake City decided in 2021 it was fine for the school to join the Big 12 and fully invest in becoming competitive in all sports. I’ve heard many Cougars fans say it’s a great time to be alive as a fan, and it really is. A couple of top ten programs in football and men’s basketball and a freshman class that is stunningly talented (football’s Bear Bachmeier, basketball’s AJ Dybantsa, women’s volleyball star Suli Davis and cross country’s Jane Hedengren) should make BYU fans happy for a long time to come.

2. Which BYU offensive player should fans be most thankful for this year?

DICKSON: BYU fans should pass along a thank-you note to the Utes for tight end Carsen Ryan. The tight end spot has been kind of silent for a few years but Ryan, a Utah transfer, has brought it back with a vengeance. His stats (30 catches, 387 yards, three touchdowns) are modest but his real value is in the running game, where he’s a terrific blocker. Perhaps he’ll get a chance to play at the next level.

GURNEY: Bear Bachmeier is the easy answer, but I’m going with running back LJ Martin. The fact is that Bear Bachmeier wouldn’t have been able to develop like he has without Martin being the centerpiece of BYU’s entire offensive system for most of the season. The junior running back has been outstanding and is seemingly getting better with every game played this season.

3. Which BYU defensive player should fans be most thankful for this year?

GURNEY: There’s a lot of good options here, but I’m going with defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa. No, he hasn’t racked up the stats a lot of fans were anticipating, but without his presence in the middle of the defense the entire system takes a massive hit. Tanuvasa is coming on strong toward the end of the season and fans shouldn’t underrate his overall impact.

DICKSON: Gurney stole my answer (another Ute transfer) so I’ll say senior safety Tanner Wall. I feel like no other player on the defense understands the system and the intentions of defensive coordinator Jay Hill better than Wall. He continues to make big plays and he’s obviously well respected by his teammates. Plus, his wife, Corinne, was a hoot during the Mic’d Up segment a few weeks ago. It cracked me up when she commented on Tanner’s hair when he takes his helmet off: “He looks like a Who from Whoville.”

4. Which player stood out most to you during the high school football playoffs?

DICKSON: The Utes are getting a terrifically talented and versatile player in Aisa Galea’i. At Orem, he split time between offense and defense so his stats are good but not eye-popping. But anyone who saw him in the state championship game knows how good Galea’i really is. He had a 60-yard run, a 78-yard interception return and a 96-yard kickoff return, all for touchdowns. His speed and explosiveness are elite. He’s a special athlete.

GURNEY: To me, it was BYU commit and Orem defensive lineman Lopeti Moala. I’ll just off this anecdote: I sat with 247 Chief Recruiting Analyst Brandon Huffman during Orem’s semifinal game, and Huffman gushed about the kid, stating that the then 3-star prospect should be bumped up to 4 stars, based on what he was seeing. Sure enough, Moala is now a legitimate 4-star prospect and one of the best defensive tackle prospects the Cougars have committed in recent years.

5. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food item besides turkey?

GURNEY: When sweet potatoes are done right there’s few things better. Hopefully everyone enjoyed a great Thanksgiving Holiday and gorged themselves with an appropriate amount of turkey, gravy, AND sweet potatoes done right.

DICKSON: I’ll always have the vision of my Uncle Dick eating half-a-dozen freshly baked rolls at Thanksgiving dinner, boring out a little hole in the roll so he could stuff butter and jam inside. But you’ve not tasted anything until you’ve sampled my no-bake peanut butter pie. It’s also great with Butterfingers. Hope you all enjoyed your turkey and mashed potatoes. Always hits the spot.