BYU’s Upset Over Boise State Gets Season Back On Track

BOISE – You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone calling the 2022 BYU football a resounding success. With how high the expectations were coming into the year for BYU, this season has been underperforming.

#BYU takes down Boise State on the Blue, 31-28 pic.twitter.com/uS400vHugg

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2022

But on Saturday night, after going through a four-game losing streak in October, you cannot help but respect what BYU accomplished against a streaking Boise State team on the road.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake said earlier in the week that Boise State “always brings out the best” in his team. They sure delivered their best on Saturday night on the Blue by pulling off an upset 31-28 win.

The emotion from Kalani Sitake and Tom Holmoe.#BYU #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/DvobHQ9j2c

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 6, 2022

BYU football is one step closer to clinching a bowl bid

It’s not a win that will be viewed in the history books as one of the great wins in BYU football history. It is, however, a victory over a rival in the final scheduled chapter of the rivalry. And maybe, more importantly, it’s a win that nearly locks up a bowl game bid for this season.

“We’re one step closer to extending the season and getting those valuable [bowl] practices,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. “And that’s important for us to develop our young men. Our players, when they’re going through that slump, I think we just reminded them that winning is hard and not to ever take it for granted. So remember this feeling. Stay humble and let’s just get ready for the next one.”

Love and learn

BYU players have had tough postgame conversations the past month. So they enjoyed the feeling of victory once again. While the media waited outside BYU’s locker room for the postgame press conference, BYU players could be heard singing ‘Rise & Shout’ as they celebrated the big win.

#BYU WR Puka Nacua: “Love and learn for sure is a lot better when we’re winning.” 😂 #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/D9virItePN

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2022

“Love and learn for sure is a lot better when we’re winning,” Puka Nacua said laughingly. “…But to see Clark [Barrington], Blake [Freeland], a lot of the guys out there just having a blast. It’s nice to see smiles on everybody’s faces and not a forced a smile. When you win, everything feels a lot better. Whether you’re beat up or you feel fine, it’s always good when you win.”

Stay the course

BYU gets a much-needed bye week after going ten consecutive weeks without a break. Then they return to action on November 19 for Senior Day against Utah Tech. Before closing out the regular season against Stanford in Palo Alto on November 26.

“Not a change to approach to anything,” said BYU quarterback Jaren Hall. “You know, for weeks, we didn’t hear anything but negative talk. So now there’s going to be a lot of positive talk. We can’t pay attention to that either and we’ve got to keep the same mindset that got us here this win tonight. Just focus on ourselves –the guys in this locker room, our families– that’s all that matters. So just staying humble and understand that we’ve got a couple of more games in the schedule to take care of.”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

Follow @Mitch_Harper