Chopped Sooie: Cougars vs. Razorbacks

[Joe Public]

BYU makes the return trip to Arkansas this week in their home-and-home series with the Razorbacks. Arkansas won handily in Provo in 2022, as the Cougars allowed eight straight scoring drives at one point, including seven touchdowns, on the way to a 35-52 loss. The Cougars stopped only 3 of 15 thrid-down conversion attempts in that game.

The 2023 Cougars look quite different from last year’s squad. Gone is the defensive scheme of the Tuiaki era. BYU’s starting QB and RB from last season are on NFL rosters, and the 2023 offense seeks to mesh as a group after welcoming seven new starters at the beginning of the season.

Both teams enter this game with a 2-0 record on the season. BYU is currently about a ten-point underdog. A win would likely garner some poll votes for the Cougars and provide good momentum going into conference play.

There’s a Y in Fayetteville this weekend! Let’s go, Cougars!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Keeping my expectations low.

[YOhio]

This is the game in the season where will overperform and win as an underdog. Then they'll have their 2 or 3 game sting of underperforming and losing as the favorite.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Arkansas is tough to call. They have a long history of alternating between great and terrible - during the same season.

[Clark Addison]

This is the game in the season where will overperform and win as an underdog. Then they'll have their 2 or 3 game sting of underperforming and losing as the favorite.

I'll be pretty happy if we have 2 to 3 games where we will be favored!

[bluegoose]

As long as Jefferson is on their roster, we're in trouble.

[USUC]

Bring it on. The quicker any personnel or coaches weaknesses or liabilities get exposed the better. And who knows, maybe BYU competes. The way in feeling right now is that only Iowa St is a gimme.

[Bo Diddley]

As Napper says, hope springs eternal!

[MartyFunkhouser]

I'd like BYU to lose this game. I haven't enjoyed BYU winning the past 2 weeks.

[BigPiney]

Going backpacking instead this weekend. Going to enjoy the high Sierra and hope I see a win when in coverage next Wednesday.

[byufan4ever]

Word is that Arkansas' star RB, who has yet to play this season, will most likely miss this game too. He torched us last season.

[Pelado]

Word is that Arkansas' star RB, who has yet to play this season, will most likely miss this game too. He torched us last season.

If he's unable to play, I'm guessing his backup has a breakout game this week.

[byufan4ever]

LJ Martin has been named RB1 for the Arkansas game!

Also, watching Jake Hatch and his interview with Connor Pay, supposedly, at least part of the reason for our poor run game was because SUU stacked the box all game long and continued to dare us to throw. So, we just took what their defense gave us.

[Bo Diddley]

LJ Martin has been named RB1 for the Arkansas game!

Also, watching Jake Hatch and his interview with Connor Pay, supposedly, at least part of the reason for our poor run game was because SUU stacked the box all game long and continued to dare us to throw. So, we just took what their defense gave us.

Glad they gave him the start. But seems like post game KSL talked about the health of some players they were keeping an eye on after the game: Kingsley, Rex, and LJ Martin was it? Looking at the injury report on KSL today, Kingsley is the only one talked about from those three. Eps had a setback in practice, so maybe not ready this week.

[Omaha 680]

Sanders (their RB who torched us last year) is officially out. I'm sure his backups are capable; the leading rusher had 82 yards last week with Sanders out. However, they are currently 82nd in rushing despite playing the second to last rush defense (#132) last week and an FCS team the first week. Only 2 weeks down so trends aren't real yet but apparently they did lose 3 OL starters including two who are in the NFL so it's giving me hope that catching them early gives us a shot.