1. BYU football is one of only six undefeated teams left in the country after last weekend’s win over Utah and is now ranked No. 11 in AP Poll and No. 10 in the Coaches Poll. What is the true potential of this team and what’s a reasonable expectation for the rest of the season?

DICKSON: BYU’s “We’re just trying to go 1-0 this week” has worked well for them the first seven games. There have been plenty of close ones and some really difficult games coming up. The Cougars play two at home (TCU, UCF) and three on the road (Iowa State, Texas Tech, Cincinnati) to finish the regular season. The three teams on the road are a combined 17-4 overall. If you remember last year, BYU finished tied with three other teams with 7-2 league records and lost out on a berth in the Big 12 championship game because of a tiebreaker. I think if the Cougars can go 4-1 in these final five games, they’ll be in the Big 12 title game and the CFP. If they go 3-2, everything is left to the tiebreakers, which sucks. So the potential of this team is the shot at reaching those goals, and everything is still in front of them.

GURNEY: I’m not ready to say BYU is a national championship contender, but this is absolutely a team that can win the Big 12 Conference championship and find itself in the college football playoff. Could the Cougars win a game or two in the playoffs? I’ll go with one potential win, sure, but I feel the team is still a few years away from being legitimately tabbed as a true national championship contender. But think about what I just said here. I mean, the fact that we can credibly define BYU as a team on a cusp of contending with the top teams in the country is a truly remarkable status obtained by Kalani Sitake and his crew.

2. The team may have moved on from the big win over Utah, but that doesn’t mean we have to. What was one of the more impressive aspects of BYU’s 24-21 win over the Utes that perhaps hasn’t been discussed much by the media and the message boards?

GURNEY: The one huge advantage Utah had over BYU in the 2024 game was its defensive interior all but wrecking BYU’s offensive interior throughout the game. Truth be told, Utah has held this advantage for more than a decade, and at times the advantage has been absolutely overwhelming. That advantage was gone in this year’s game, and even flipped to be an advantage for the Cougars. Indeed the BYU interior offensive line imposed an increasing amount of will on the Ute’s front throughout the course of the game and forged the major advantage in providing what proved to be the winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.

DICKSON: For me, its the four stops on fourth down and the fumble recovery on the muffed punt. That amounts to five turnovers (on top of Tanner Wall’s interception). The defense gave up almost 500 yards of offense to the Utes but its ability to come up big on fourth down was the difference in the game. It allowed the Cougars to stick with a conservative offensive game plan and win the game.

3. BYU has now won three straight games over Utah and haven’t lost since 2019’s 30-12 defeat. Can you comfortably state that BYU is now the premier football program in the state of Utah?

DICKSON: I don’t know how someone can argue against it, to be honest. It’s not just the three straight wins in the rivalry series. It’s the national visibility of starting the past two season 7-0. It’s the way Kalani Sitake runs his program and builds a culture. It’s even how key Utah players are migrating down to Provo. Utah had its nine-game winning streak, which was born of a huge advantage after the Utes joined the Pac-12. Now BYU has the resources to match and even exceed what Utah can do. The Cougars are the premier football program in the state of Utah but now the trick is staying there.

GURNEY: BYU Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick coyly mentioned to the media in the elevator after the game that three straight wins is now a streak BYU enjoys in the rivalry game, and many have recognized it as such. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the answer here is that BYU now stands as the top football program in the state, and it’s pretty clear to those that matter most. Yes, I’m talking about the state’s top in-state recruits, several of whom were reported to have been celebrating BYU’s win as enthusiastically as the Cougar faithful who rushed the field after. So yeah, BYU is now viewed as the state’s top program. Sure, that status could change, but I’m not sure that happens even if Utah manages to end BYU’s current rivalry win streak next season.

4. Although things have gone extremely well for BYU football so far this season, the season could be derailed with some unfortunate injuries to key players. In your opinion, who is the single-most indispensable player on this year’s roster, other than Bear Bachmeier?

GURNEY: think this answer is an easy one, and I want to go first so Darnell can’t steal my answer. BYU’s most indispensable player, and maybe even more so than Bear Bachmeier, is running back LJ Martin. Sure, Martin has become BYU’s workhorse in the backfield, and has rushed for well over 100 yards in his last two outings, but he provides so much more than that. I was struck by just how effective Martin was in providing extra time for Bachmeier in the pocket in laying key blocks to would-be sackers. Sure, converted safety Preston Rex has shown some promise in filling in for Martin on occasion, but he can’t come close to providing the overall production Martin can, both in running the football and providing essential pass protection in the backfield. Subsequently, I feel an injury to Martin could prove extremely debilitating to the Cougar’s overall offensive production.

DICKSON: Gurney made a really good choice with Martin, who is having his best season. I’m not sure anyone else comes close to Bachmeier and Martin in this regard. Building depth has been a key point of emphasis for the coaching staff and even when Jack Kelly went out and Isaiah Glasker was hobbled, guys like Siale Esera, Ace Kaufusi, Ephraim Asiata and Max Alford have all stepped up at linebacker and played really well. I guess I’ll pick tight end Carsen Ryan, who has caught 18 passes for 247 yards (13.7 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. His greatest contribution, however, might be his blocking. Dude is an absolute road grader and that might be the reason why he gets a good shot at playing at the next level.

5. Utah County football teams have been pretty inconsistent this season, although several teams look like legitimate contenders to win state championships. Which team do you feel is most likely to take home a championship this season?

DICKSON: 5A No. 3 seed Springville is 9-1 and its only loss was by a 17-14 count to No. 4 seed Orem early in September. The Red Devils have an old-school approach to the game, with a rugged defense that has allowed just 97 points all season, an offense that can pound you into submission with the run game  — OC Doug Bills has been running this stuff for longer than his seniors have been alive — and plenty of stars that play on both sides of the ball. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Springville-Orem final. As for Class 6A, everybody is looking up at Corner Canyon and in 4A, Ridgeline looks pretty unbeatable. I would say a another Skyline-Corner Canyon final is in the works and watch out for Provo in 4A. The Bulldogs are 6-4 but have scored 60 points or more in three of their past four games with Gehrig Orchard throwing the ball.

GURNEY: Orem Coach Lance Reynolds told me prior to the season that this Tiger team is the most talented, top to bottom, that Orem has ever fielded. It’s a remarkable statement given Orem football’s alumni, which include Puka Nacua, Kingsley Suamataia, Noah Sewell and many, many others. I believe Reynolds’ assertion is debatable, at the very least, but I do think the group of talent the Tigers have gathered this season can certainly contend with the best Orem has ever fielded, talent-wise. What I’m trying to say here is that Orem is my answer here, and it certainly appears that its top talent have come together to enter the playoffs in top form after a somewhat rocky start to the season. West looks very formidable in the 5A ranks, but I believe Orem could definitely get past the Panthers and become the last team standing at Rice-Eccles Stadium.