DICKSON: Sure, I have no problem with a No. 7 ranking. In fact, I think it’s spectacular. But in reality, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. That number could fluctuate quite a bit depending on what the Cougars do over the next four games. The most impressive thing to me is this is the second year in row BYU has gotten a single-digit mark. Kalani Sitake and his staff have done a great job of putting the Cougars in position to reach their ultimate goals. When BYU was in the MWC or playing an independent schedule, this kind of ranking was just a pipe dream. Now it’s attainable and all the Cougars have to do is grab their opportunity. Are you ready for Saturday?

GURNEY: It’s really hard to make an argument for BYU to be ranked higher or lower than its current No. 7 ranking. I mean, I read the message boards and scour twitter regularly, and it’s been notable that there hasn’t really been any persecution complex adopted by Cougar fans. I think BYU fans are great, for the most part, but it’s typically a fan base that will run to complain about lack of national recognition at a moment’s notice. So yeah, everyone seems to be fine with the ranking, and why shouldn’t they? Being ranked No. 7 at this stage of the season even the most optimistic Cougar fan didn’t foresee at the start of the season.

2 Agree or disagree that Saturday’s game at Texas Tech is the biggest in BYU football history?

GURNEY: This is truly the beauty of opportunity exemplified with Big 12 Conference affiliation, and I hope no Cougar fan is taking it for granted. The opportunity to play this high-profile of a game with the nation’s eyes peeled toward it while receiving ESPN’s top broadcasting crew to call it is tremendous. That said, I definitely believe this is the biggest regular season game BYU has played in its history, and even slightly over last year’s game at Arizona State. Sure, a win all but ensures the Cougars a spot in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, but could also go a long way in obtaining an at-large bid to the CFP. So yeah, buy all the hype heading into this one. This game is huge and probably the biggest regular season game BYU football has ever been involved in.

DICKSON: It’s probably the highest profile game and we know BYU has never been ranked in the top 10 PLAYING a top 10 team. So that’s cool. ESPN’s College GameDay is going to be there and a national audience (except those like me that have YouTubeTV) will be tuning in. But the biggest ever? I’m not sure we can judge that until the end of the season. The truth is BYU could lose this game and STILL go to the Big 12 Championship Game and the playoffs. If the Cougars have a very special season we may all look back at the game and decide it was the biggest. I honestly give BYU only a 40% chance of winning this game. It’s on the road in a very hostile environment and Texas Tech is really, really good.

3 What do you think BYU’s record will be in its final four football games?

DICKSON: Based off my last answer, I could go with a 3-1 mark with a loss to Tech and wins against Cincinnati, TCU and UCF. The Bearcats and Horned Frogs will be super tough games, no doubt, but I like the Cougars’ chances. A 3-1 record would definitely get BYU into the Big 12 Championship Game and the playoffs. Add another loss and things get really crazy. Remember last year when the Cougars tied with three other teams at the top of the league with two losses and lost out in a tiebreaker? That is a miserable way to run college football but that’s what we’ve got right now.

GURNEY: This is from a guy who predicted BYU to finish with a 7-5 record this season, so take the following for what it’s worth. Of course almost no one could have predicted just how good Bear Bachmeier would prove, so I’ll forgive myself for missing so wildly with my prediction given that factor. But we know a lot more about this BYU team now, and was it’s been able to do is phenomenal to the point that four straight wins to finish out the season shouldn’t surprise anyone. With that being said, I think BYU loses either to Texas Tech this weekend or on the road at Cincinnati, but not both. The Cougars will finish with a spectacular 11-1 record to end the season and play in the Big 12 Conference Championship game.

4 There are several BYU players who have been banged up who will be (hopefully) full strength on Saturday. Which one will make the most impact?

GURNEY: I think it’s Isaiah Glasker. Not much has been said regarding his ankle injury, and he hasn’t missed any games because of his ailment, but the truth is he’s been a shell of his spectacular self over the last two wins versus Utah and Iowa State. Props to Glasker for gutting it out, and I believe a week off could really benefit him in regaining the level of burst and movement we’ve grown so accustomed to. Yes, LJ Martin is the easy answer, and almost too easy, so I’m not pick the low-hanging fruit here, for once.

DICKSON: The easy pick would be running back LJ Martin, but I’m going to say linebacker Jack Kelly. When he’s healthy he is an absolute menace on the field and a great pass rusher. The Texas Tech offense is really explosive and a healthy Martin would be huge. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty much all-hands-on-deck for the BYU defense on Saturday. If you can put on a uniform, you’d better be ready to play.

5 What impressed you the most about BYU men’s basketball in the win against Villanova and what is your biggest concern?

DICKSON: Every game is its own little ecosystem and I won’t compare Monday’s effort to either of the exhibition games or any games from last season. BYU got out to a 12-point lead in the first half and a 14-point advantage in the second, only to see Villanova reel the Cougars back in. AJ Dybantsa was dynamic, Richie Saunders had his flu game and Keba Keita was a stone-cold assassin. On the other hand, there were some questionable decisions by sophomore point guard Rob Wright, who missed a boatload of layups (pass the ball more, good buddy) and the Wildcats commitment to the half-court offense produced some wide-0pen 3-pointers in the second half.

The most impressive part of the game was that the Cougars executed down the stretch and got the win. They held Villanova without a field goal for more than five minutes and turned a two-point deficit into an eight-point lead. That’s some good work.

I’ll be harping on BYU’s defense all season, so get used to it. The starting five of Keita, Dybantsa, Saunders, Wright and Kennard Davis is pretty good defensively. The holes start showing up when subs come in, and that’s going to be a key point for Kevin Young and his coaching staff to address as the season goes on.

GURNEY: The overall athleticism of this BYU team, and the depth of that athleticism, is truly amazing and unlike anything I ever thought I’d see at BYU. The ability to overwhelm at every position 1-5 with shear athletic ability should coalesce into a very good product by year’s end. AJ Dybantsa looked exactly like the No. 1 recruit in the country is supposed to look like, both Kennard Davis and Khadim Mboup look to have great potential, and although Robert Wright had a subpar outing, who can easily see the potential he brings to the point guard position. As Wright becomes more and more familiar with the cast around him you’ll likely see much more production from Wright, who brings unique abilities to the position with his ability to penetrate an opposing defense effectively.

I honestly don’t have many concerns about this team. Sure, there were notable defensive lapses by the second unit, which Darnell pointed out, but I think those will largely be addressed as the season goes on.