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BYU sophomore running back LJ Martin runs the ball up the field during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU junior wide receiver Chase Roberts catches a pass to convert on fourth down during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff runs the ball up the field during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior wide receiver Chase Roberts didn’t see Friday’s heart-stopping victory over Oklahoma State as a wakeup call but more of an affirmation of how the Cougar offense can step up when it needs to.

“It showed we can trust both sides of the ball on this team,” Roberts said after practice on Tuesday. “It was awesome for the offense to come down on that last drive and show that we can be reliable. The defense has done such a great job and that’s been the talk of the first seven games. Now the offense is showing it can step up as well.”

In his opinion, this was another step forward for his unit and he likes the possibilities if the BYU offense keeps improving.

“It’s scary because we haven’t played our best football yet,” Roberts said. “We can play a lot better and we are going to.”

One of the best developments for Cougar offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick was seeing the run game get on track as BYU gained 255 yards on the ground.

“That felt like the days when we were running this offense the way it is supposed to be run,” Roderick said. “The offensive line was physical, (sophomore running back LJ Martin) was running and we were in rhythm. The run game sets up our play-action pass and vice versa. We need to keep taking strides. We are getting better but are nowhere near where we want to be in the run game.”

It helped to have Martin back after he missed significant playing time early in the season due to injury.

“LJ is 100% and that’s the guy we know and love,” Roderick said. “We’ve been missing that and I thought he played very well. I expect more of that.”

But Martin wasn’t the only Cougar running back to shine against the Cowboys, according to Roderick.

“(Senior running back Hinckley Ropati) played well in the game as well,” Roderick said. “He’s a really good blocker and had an explosive play on that option play. He’s really reliable as well.”

He added that in addition to Martin and Ropati, BYU is expecting Sione I. Moa to play as well this week.

Another element that was a big positive for the Cougars was the ability to make plays under pressure will little time on the clock. No team wants to be in that position (and BYU really hadn’t been there much this season) but there is also value in seeing that they can do it.

Leading the way was junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who made all the key plays.

“He has got a good feel for the game,” Roderick said. “He’s a really gutsy guy who doesn’t shy away from that moment. He thrives in it. He had a great two-minute drill drive last year at Oklahoma State to get us to overtime. This year we were able to finish the deal. He has a good knack for it.”

Roderick said he isn’t surprised, since he knew what Retzlaff was capable of doing.

“I’ve believed in him all along but I also knew we were going to go through a process of development, just like we did with Zach Wilson and Jaren Hall,” Roderick said. “We are still in that process. He made a few mistakes in the game the other night that were sort of youthful, things he is going to learn from. But he is a very good thrower. He can make plays and I think we will see him just keep getting a little better each week.”

While the run game and the two-minute offense were positives from the victory, the glaring negative was the fact that the Cougars had three first-half turnovers.

Roderick was quick to point out that in his view he could’ve made better decisions on the calls that resulted in a couple of the interceptions.

“On two of them, I can do better for the team,” Roderick said. “We were probably too far away to try a Hail Mary (at the end of the first half). If it is to win the game, it is probably worth it but right before the half there is probably more bad than good that can happen. I probably should’ve just ran the ball and gone into halftime.

“I also put Folau (Ropati) in a difficult spot on another of those turnovers. They played a different defense than what we expected. We probably should’ve had a way to check out of that play. We did a lot of good things, but taking better care of the football this week is going to be very important.”