The second year of defensive coordinator Jay Hill has been a revelation as the Cougars have posted a 4-0 record and moved into the Top 25 at No. 22 heading into Saturday’s Big 12 opener at Baylor.

The numbers posted by the BYU defense in the first four games calls to mind great Cougar defenses of the past, including the fabled 2012 group.

Let’s take a look at some comparative numbers, shall we?

Scoring

The 2012 BYU defense allowed 40 points to its first four opponents (Washington State, Weber State, Utah and Boise State) in posting a 2-2 mark. Utah, then in its second year of Pac-12 play. scored 24 of those points.

The 2024 BYU defense has held its first four opponents to 15 points or less in a 4-0 start. The Cougars haven’t done that since the 1984 season.

No touchdowns

2024 is BYU’s first season to hold multiple opponents (Kansas State, SMU) out of the end zone since 2012 (Washington State, Hawaii, Utah State).

Yardage

The 2012 BYU defense held its first four opponents to an average of 246 yards per game (177.3 passing, 68.7 rushing).

The 2024 BYU defense has held its first four opponents to an average of 269 yards per game (132.8 passing, 136.1 rushing).

Turnovers

In 2012 the Cougars were -1 in turnovers (6 caused, 7 lost) through four games, including coughing the ball up five times in a 7-6 loss to Boise State. While BYU would score three defensive touchdowns that season, none of those scores came in the first four games.

2024 BYU is +4 in turnovers (8 caused, 4 lost) so far, with one defensive touchdown on the scoop-and-score by Tommy Prassas against Kansas State.

Red Zone

The 2012 team finished allowing just 14 points and 266.1 yards per game. It’s red zone defense was 11th in the country, allowing 12 rushing touchdowns, four passing touchdowns and 10 field goals on 36 red zone opportunities.

Through four games, the 2024 Cougars are tied for 32nd in red zone defense. On 11 trips inside the red zone, opponents have scored eight times (three rushing scores, zero through the air and five field goals).

Schedule

The 2012 BYU team was 2-3 against power conference teams Washington State (W), Utah (L), No. 10 Oregon State (L), No. 5 Notre Dame (L) and Georgia Tech (W). The Cougars also lost a one-point decision on the road to No. 24 Boise State.

In 2024, BYU is 4-0 including wins against an ACC team (SMU) and Big 12 foe Kansas State. The Cougars have eight league games remaining after playing 10 straight games against power conference teams last season.

Personnel

From the 2012 team, LB Kyle Van Noy (2014-present), DL Ziggy Ansah (2013-2020), DB Daniel Sorensen (2014-2023). DE Bronson Kaufusi (2016-2021), LB Alani Fua (2015-2017) and LB Uani Unga (2014-2016) all played in the NFL.

In 2024, DB Jakob Robinson, LB Jack Kelly, DE Tyler Batty, LB Isaiah Glasker and LB Harrison Taggart could be future NFL players. There are also a number of younger players (DB Trey Alexander, DB Jonathan Kabeya, DE Ephraim Asiata, LB Siale Esera and DB Faletau Satuala) who are intriguing prospects for the future.

The offense

The BYU offense struggled at times in 2012, going through three quarterbacks including Riley Nelson, James Lark and freshman Taysom Hill. The Cougars lost to Boise State 7-6 on September 20, failing on a two-point conversion late in the game. There was also a 6-3 win against Utah State on October 5. BYU topped San Diego State 23-6 in the Poinsettia Bowl thanks to two defensive touchdowns from Van Noy.

The 2024 BYU offense has done enough to stay unbeaten but hasn’t been able to run the ball consistently, with multiple injuries to front-line running backs. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff had three turnovers against SMU but was efficient in the other three games, including the win against Kansas State.

The 2024 team has also posted some impressive firsts, spearheaded by the defense:

• 2024 marks the first season in program history BYU has not allowed a passing touchdown through its first four games (per statistical records available).
• The 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State is BYU’s largest ever margin of victory over a top-15 ranked team (previous 20 pts vs. No. 14 Arizona State, 1998).
• BYU scored TDs on offense, defense and special teams against Kansas State. It was the first time the Cougars have done that since 1996 at Utah State when Shay Muirbrook had a 45-yard fumble return for a TD, James Dye had a 79-yard punt return TD and the offense scored 3 TD’s in a 45-17  win.

Hill gets a lot of credit for the 2024 defense, which has a number of playmakers and better depth than in 2023.

“I think a lot of times when things come out of the blue or they look like they were overnight successes, people don’t understand that this started a year and a half ago, when Jay Hill got here,” junior safety Crew Wakley said. “It’s the foundation he was building this whole time. It’s all built on top of itself, where last year we showed some signs of improvement. We had a lot of games where we played really well last year. The whole focus of the off season was, ‘How can we complete this to where we’re not playing good for a half or three quarters of the game, but to where we’re playing good for four quarters of the game?’

“It’s been on our mind the whole time, and it’s not a surprise to anybody in the building, offense or defense, just because it’s been a mentality and a focus of ours.”

Wakley said one of the biggest skills that Hill possesses is being able to keep things simple.

“If you’re trying to teach someone something, they say, ‘if you can’t teach it like you’re teaching a fifth grader, you probably shouldn’t be teaching it'” Wakley said. “Jay Hill’s done a good job of that, where he teaches the principles over and over again, and then he leaves it up to us to make plays. He’s like, ‘Look, I’m not telling you that you have to do this, but here’s what you have the ability to do if you’re comfortable with it.’ There’s been some things that we’ve been able to build upon last year. We’re understanding the defense more to where now, safeties, linebackers, even some of the d-line and the corners are all on the same page.”

Hill, who suffered a heart attack earlier this month but hasn’t missed a game, has been working out of the press box. He said whether he continues that practice will be evaluated during the bye week. Right now, he’s focused on Baylor.