DICKSON: Other than everything?

Just kidding. Those of us that cover the team pretty much agreed BYU would be better in 2024 but really weren’t sure if that would translate into more victories. The Big 12 is a difficult league to read (just refer to the preseason predictions) and the schedule did look pretty daunting.

I think at best, most predictions would have had BYU with a 3-3 record at this point in the season (wins vs. Southern Illinois, Wyoming and maybe a road win at Baylor). The victories against SMU, Kansas State and Arizona are pretty big bonuses.

We all know that last year’s team, when hit by injuries, couldn’t maintain the good start. There just wasn’t enough depth. So when the inevitable injuries happened in 2024, guys stepped up: At running back, in the defensive backfield, on the offensive line (we’re looking at you, Bruce Mitchell).

I’m not surprised that BYU is better this year but it has been surprising that they have seemed to not miss a beat due to the injuries.

LLOYD: For me, by far the biggest surprise has been how no one in the Cougar football program acts like this is a surprise at all. They are satisfied to be winning and certainly enjoy the celebrations, but the general attitude is that this is what the players and coaches expected.

Maybe they all knew a lot more than either the preseason prognosticators (like the media that picked the Cougars to finish 13th in the Big 12) or the projective computer and analytic models. Maybe they recognized early on that they were a far better team than the one that was 5-7 in 2023 and was four plays from being 8-4 with a bowl game.

And maybe it’s just that this is how all good teams act. They don’t need to go crazy after wins or blast the doubters. They just need to be confident in themselves, take care of business on the field and be ready for every challenge.

2. What is your biggest question mark about the BYU offense at the midpoint of the 2024 season?

LLOYD: Has this offense really found its identity yet?

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick espouses a balanced approach with good reason. It’s hard to consistently stop a team that both runs and passes the ball well. But he also loves to grind out the clock when in the lead down the stretch, relying heavily on the ground attack to get the key yards.

The problem in 2024 is that against good teams (except maybe Kansas State) the Cougars haven’t been good enough at that to put games away. Baylor stuffed BYU enough to make a big comeback and Arizona forced a late turnover that gave it a chance at a desperate rally.

But I don’t think BYU is a traditional Cougar passing team either that use the throw to set up the run. It’s been good through the air, but the numbers certainly aren’t eye-popping.

I see BYU finding a better rhythm in the run game with the running backs getting healthy, which will allow the Cougars to be more effective on play-action and with their trick plays.

DICKSON: I think the offense has shown moments of brilliance but has been inconsistent.

They’ve been pretty good in the first half but not as good in the second. I’m not sure if that’s an execution thing or a play calling thing, but it seems that the offense struggles in the second half. I think it’s something the coaching staff needs to examine and find a way to get better as the game goes on.

Like Jared wrote, putting teams away is something BYU hasn’t done very well this season. Remember 2021? The Cougars put games away by handing Tyler Allgeier the rock and running out the clock in a bunch of wins.

So far, the team hasn’t figured out a way to get first downs late in games with a lead. So I’d like to see more of that as the season progresses.

3. Now go to the other side of the ball. What’s the biggest question for the Cougar defense?

DICKSON: I detailed some of BYU’s third-and-long problems on defense in my column after the Arizona game, but the gist of it is that the Cougars are giving up way too many third-and-7 or more opportunities.

You can credit some of that to the past two quarterback they’ve faced in Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Arizona’s Noah Fifita. Both of those guys seemed like they would get under pressure and somehow “Houdini” their way out of it to find an open receiver.

BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill said the Cougars made some uncharacteristic errors against the Wildcats last week and I would say that was case against the Bears as well. So I’m getting a bit concerned with the pass defense, which is funny because BYU is No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense this week.

Perception is reality, so while the numbers show the Cougars are great against the pass, I don’t think they have been the past two games. I would like to see them come out against Oklahoma State and really raise some havoc against what will likely be an inexperienced quarterback.

LLOYD: Can it hold opponents down without forcing turnovers?

BYU has feasted on takeaways, snagging 10 interceptions and recovering four fumbles in six games (2.3 turnovers caused per game). That makes life much easier for the entire team, since those plays dishearten opposing offenses and set the Cougar offense up for success.

But at some point a team BYU faces is going to take care of the ball and not provide as many (or any) gifts. If that happens, the Cougars need to prove they can still win by playing sound defense against the run and the pass.

This BYU squad has done well at keeping opponents from putting a lot of points on the board, but at times have been susceptible to long drives. It needs to show it can elevate its game to another level and get off the field on third downs more frequently.

4. What will be the key to victory for BYU on Friday against Oklahoma State?

LLOYD: The Cougar offense needs to take advantage of a mediocre Cowboy defense that has really struggled this season.

It starts at the point of attack, since Oklahoma State has some good players on their defensive front but hasn’t been great at stopping the run. If BYU’s offensive line can open up some holes, that should allow the Cougars to rack up the yards and first downs.

The Cowboys may have had some tough games offensively but they are very capable. That means BYU needs to get points on the board and force OSU to try to keep up when playing in a hostile environment late on a Friday night. That’s not easy to do.

DICKSON: My needs are simple. Get a big lead, keep your foot on the gas and put the game away. Dominate the game from start to finish, if not for the sake of the fans then for the sake of showing the college football world you are who you think you are.

In the end, what you are ranked in the AP poll doesn’t mean much but the perception that BYU is not a top 10 team yet needs to be dispelled. Go out and handle Oklahoma State from the beginning and most of that goes away. Struggle to beat the Cowboys and you stay just outside of the Top 10.

A win in the Big 12 is important, no matter what the margin of victory, but flex your muscles and show that you are a force to be reckoned with.

5. Despite the pre-season hype the BYU men’s basketball team will go into the season unranked and picked ninth in the Big 12. How do you feel about those rankings?

DICKSON: I actually had BYU at No. 22 in the AP poll, for which I’m a voter (please send all your complaints to me and I will give them all the attention they deserve).

I think if the Cougars finish lower than fourth or fifth in the Big 12, I will be disappointed. There is just too much talent on this team, both on the court and on the bench. This is perhaps the best coaching staff I’ve ever seen in Provo and I can’t imagine they will not have excellent game plans for every outing.

Their biggest concern is going to be how to distribute minutes among so many capable contributors. The players will set their own goals and could care less what the outside world expects of them.

LLOYD: I think the rankings are about right, all things considered. This Cougar hoops squad has some intriguing pieces, from the returners to the newcomers to the coaching staff.

But what has it accomplished yet? Absolutely nothing.

Barring a complete collapse, I can’t imagine BYU losing more than a game or two in the preseason so the Cougars will be on the radar when they get to their Big 12 schedule. And that’s when we will really discover whether Kevin Young’s group is worthy of more attention.

At the moment, I think Young has a bunch of capable athletes who will have a pretty good idea of what he wants them to do on the court. I think the athleticism and talent is there to challenge anyone.

Now I want to see it happen in the hardwood and if it does, higher rankings will follow.