BYU Opens Big 12 Play With Upset Over No. 13 Kansas State

Sep 21, 2024, 11:50 PM | Updated: Sep 24, 2024, 9:03 am

LaVell Edwards Stadium and the Wasatch Mountains prior to the Cougars 2024 Big 12 opener against the Kansas State Wildcats.

BY MITCH HARPER & BRIAN PREECE

KSL Sports

PROVO, Utah – BYU’s offense started slowly, but a physically dominant defensive performance kept the Cougars close until turnovers turned the tide in a 38-9 BYU win.

The Cougars’ defense and special teams scored two touchdowns, and all three units looked effective against No. 13 Kansas State.

BYU vs Kansas State.
TONIGHT.

WEAR WHITE. pic.twitter.com/tBspvV1b7m

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 21, 2024

The quarterback matchup will be one to watch as BYU is led by Jake Retzlaff, who is 20th nationally in passing yards this season.

Avery Johnson leads the Kansas State offense and is one of the top dual-threat signal-callers in the country.

BYU has questions at the running back position as their top ball carriers, LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati, are reportedly out with ankle and knee injuries respectively.

#BYU vs. Kansas State QB comp on College Gameday.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/ApUulZiHpN

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 21, 2024

Kansas State’s ground attack is one of the top in the country, led by Johnson and running backs DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards.

BYU is looking for their first win over a nationally-ranked team since they defeated Baylor in 2022.

Kansas State is getting set to make its first appearance in Provo since 1977.

GAMEDAY

🆚 BYU
📍 LaVell Edwards Stadium | 9:30PM CT
📺 https://t.co/y6aGrPbu3x | ESPN
📊 https://t.co/S3eDJBAME9
🎙️ https://t.co/KKJDgr7ojE pic.twitter.com/xsNBrrdgIr

— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 21, 2024

Kickoff is tonight at 8:30 p.m. (MDT) on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

KSL Sports is located inside LaVell Edwards Stadium and will provide updates and analysis throughout the night on this story.

Pregame

#BYU vs. No. 13 Kansas State#BYUFootball #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/K4W5Tpud7K

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU commits LaMason Waller, Blake Bryce, Cole Cogshell, Kendal Wall, and Kingston Keanaaina are here for BYU vs. K-State.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/F9cRu3WhQZ

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU CB Mory Bamba going through warmups tonight.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/J0xcAwpL7X

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU is looking to slow down K-State QB Avery Johnson tonight.#BYUFootball #GoCougs #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/MT2lr6BN2X

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

Big opportunity tonight for #BYU QB Jake Retzlaff.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/ZwS085gZmD

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

These 1996 uniforms are ELITE! #BYU #BYUFootball #Big12 @kslsports pic.twitter.com/YNo7TbYKHI

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) September 22, 2024

Sonny Makasini and Austin Leausa are both out due to injuries tonight.

Bruce Mitchell gets the start at right guard for #BYU. Trevin Ostler is the backup.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/w8VeyxuC4Y

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU’s starting lineups tonight had a 1990s vibe.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/iudtFem2w9

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

First Quarter

#BYU offense can't have dropped passes. K-State won't beat themselves.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Very conservative play call from Kansas State on 3rd & 9 inside the red zone.

K-State settles for a field goal. #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Jake Retzlaff started 1-5 and has since completed four consecutive passes.

He's making Sione I. Moa, who got his first career start, a top target in the receiving game.

BYU has to continue making it work through the air. Not going to have much success on the ground without…

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

The speed from K-State QB Avery Johnson, whoa.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Go Cougs 🤙 pic.twitter.com/HMGRlOiTJt

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

Second Quarter

Kansas State's first two drives of the game:

12 plays / 53 yards – FG (5:36)
16 / 87 yards – FG (8:05)#BYU #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU digs into the "specials" playbook. Sione Moa with the flip back to Jake Retzlaff.

Retzlaff sat in the pocket, took a hit, but was able to complete a deep ball to Chase Roberts.

Momentum for BYU's offense.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Feed Ryner Swanson the rock. Full steam ahead when the #BYU freshman gets running. #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Scoop-n-score for #BYU's defense!

Jack Kelly lays the hit on DJ Giddens, freshman Tommy Prassas picks it up and takes it to the house.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

SCOOP AND SCORE @PRASSAS22!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LJEegbqUfa

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 22, 2024

Tyler Batty Interception!#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Halftime: #BYU 17, Kansas State 6.

Two turnovers by K-State in the final two minutes led to 14 points.#BYUFootball #Big12

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYU takes advantage of 2⃣ K-State turnovers to grab the halftime lead#GoCougs #BYUFootball https://t.co/bEgbtNUPQc

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

That last minute … wow! 🫨 #GoCougs #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/jluZ0LrhZY

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

Third Quarter

#BYU's defense almost forced another fumble. Then one play later, Harrison Taggart picks off Avery Johnson!

BYU is rolling.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Sione I. Moa runs hard. #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

TOUCHDOWN BYU!

Jake Retzlaff connects with Darius Lassiter for the score.#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/BqKwsOGOtg

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

93-YARD PUNT RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

Parker Kingston!

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

#BYUfootball bringing the 🔥 as the Cougars pull away from Kansas State#GoCougs #BYU https://t.co/d05x9vQz55

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

Sold out crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium tonight.#BYU vs. Kansas State attendance: 64,201#BYUFootball #Big12

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

An Enoch Nawahine sighting.#BYUFootball #BYU

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

What a shoestring tackle by Isaiah Glasker. These #BYU linebackers keep getting better each week.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Fourth Quarter

Touchdown Sione I. Moa! Man, what a night for the true freshman running back.

Strong showing. He was a stud in fall camp. But who would have thought he would emerge this soon in his #BYU career?#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Sione I Moa's first career TD pads the #BYUfootball lead #GoCougs #BYU https://t.co/WVKLb2y5Nf

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

SACK! Jack Kelly with another one.#BYU's defense is up to seven sacks on the season.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Cosmo 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sAMNwX29dk

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

#BYU's first penalty occurred at the 5:46 mark of the fourth quarter, and it was a delay of the game that they took themselves.

Clean football tonight.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

nights in Utah >>>>> pic.twitter.com/scZGNkVhAI

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 22, 2024

#BYU starting safety Crew Wakley limped off the field.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

BYU/Kansas State Game Day Reading

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.