BYU Win Over No. 14 Boise State Was Biggest Of Kalani Sitake Era

PROVO, Utah – Did Kalani Sitake just pull off the biggest win of his head coaching tenure at BYU?  Simply put – an emphatic, YES, and it’s not even close.

BYU’s win at Camp Randall Stadium against then No. 6 ranked Wisconsin in 2018 was enormous, which is why most BYU fans default to answering my Twitter poll with the win over the Badgers as the clear response.

However, let’s review EVERYTHING that went into BYU’s most recent conquest against No. 14 Boise State. More was on the line, and this victory will rank much higher at the end of the season.

MONDAY POLL:

What's the BEST @BYUFootball win in the @kalanifsitake era?

– 2018: at no. 6 Wisconsin
– 2019: vs. no. 24 USC
– 2019: vs. no. 14 Boise State
– Other?#BYU #BYUSN

— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) October 21, 2019

Here are five reasons why BYU’s win over Boise State is, by far, the biggest win in the Kalani Sitake era.

1. Second rivalry win in 11 tries

Sitake’s record against understood rivals (Utah, Utah State, and Boise State) was a combined 1-9 before Saturday.

The stat BYU fans (and Utah fans) are most accustomed to hearing is the 9-game losing streak to the Utes. The last four losses came with Sitake at the helm.

BYU was 0-3 against Boise State during that time.

The one previous rivalry win came against a Utah State team that finished 3-9 in 2016. Yikes.

BYU and Coach Sitake needed a rivalry win in the worst way. So to do it against an undefeated, Top 15 rival that had beaten the Cougars three straight years, 2-9 has never looked so good in a rivalry record.

BYU UPSETS #14 BOISE STATE 28-25.#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/iwfuidQUeQ

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 20, 2019

2. BYU may have just salvaged the 2019 season

Following deflating, head-scratching losses at Toledo and in Tampa vs. South Florida, the Cougars had seemingly hit rock bottom.

To bounce back against a nationally-ranked team and simultaneously avoid a winless October is almost as unbelievable as it is memorable.

For BYU fans, could you imagine going to Logan with a 2-5 record, riding a four game losing streak and staring down an Aggies team that’s beaten the Cougars head-to-head twice in a row?

No thanks.

Still with a losing record at 3-4, belief within this team is seemingly restored in Provo, and a bowl game berth seems imminent once again.

This is a crazy stat. #BYU’s win over Boise marked first time the Broncos had lost to a team with losing record in 20 years. https://t.co/7zCBzpFwOs

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 22, 2019

3. Jobs are “on the line”

The coaches know it. The players know it. It’s the players who stated during press conferences that Kalani’s job was on the line, and something had to change.

Winning is the key to job security for any staff in the cutthroat business of Division 1 college football.

BYU sophomore linebacker Chaz Ah You confirmed as much when he stated the Cougars were “playing for (Kalani’s])job” BEFORE Saturday’s win.

The Cougars needed a coaching masterpiece – with a third-string quarterback in play, no less – to reestablish some collective faith in the fanbase that this staff is the RIGHT staff.

More specifically, they needed proof that Kalani Sitake is still the right man to lead this program.

Advantage Kalani after his biggest win.

It’s no secret, Sitake was noticeably more hands-on in defensive play calling against the Broncos. You can expect to see that trend continue.

BYU has been outscored 42-0 in the 4th quarter in their last 3 games. Fortunately against Boise State they did just enough in the first 3 quarters to hold on. Big win for Kalani. Impressive first start for Baylor Romney. Aggies next in Logan November 2.

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 20, 2019

4. Ranked now, and ranked later

The Cougars have enjoyed their fair share of quality wins since going independent. Since 2011, BYU went 4-14 against ranked teams before the Boise State game.

Of the three wins over ranked teams (No. 15 Texas in 2013; No. 20 Boise State in 2015; No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 24 USC this year), none of those teams finished the season ranked.

That ranked Badgers team BYU beat in the third game of the 2018 season finished the year 8-5. They had two losses to ranked teams, but were also beaten by Northwestern, and blown out by a six loss Minnesota team in the last game of the season.

They beat No. 24 USC earlier this year, but the Trojans have already fallen to 4-3, and are not likely finish the season ranked.

BYU did beat one team that wasn’t ranked when they played, but finished the season No. 16. It was the 2012 Utah State Aggies, who went 11-2.

With that in mind, upsetting Boise State could potentially become the most quality win, not just in the Sitake era, but within all nine seasons of independence, based strictly on postseason rankings.

Before the loss in Provo, the Broncos were in the conversation for a New Year’s bowl game. They remain the favorite to win the Mountain West Conference and look poised to finish as a ranked team at season’s end.

#️⃣1️⃣3️⃣#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/TsRNJq3EGc

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 22, 2019

5. They protected LaVell’s House

Winning at LaVell Edwards Stadium has been a major point of emphasis for Kalani Sitake in 2019. It’s written on a plaque near his office.

“Protect Lavell’s House.”

Leading up to Saturday’s game, BYU was 1-2 at home this season.

In 2018, they were 3-3 in Provo, with losses to Cal, Utah State and Northern Illinois. The wins in front of the home crowd were to McNeese State of the FCS, Hawai’i, and New Mexico State.

The miserable 4-9 team in 2017 lost four games at home. They only beat Portland State, again of the FCS, and San Jose State.

BYU has a 10-10 record in the last four years in front of the home crowd.

Winning home games is a big deal, and following Saturday’s monumental upset victory over Boise State, BYU is in position to post their first winning record at LES since Sitake’s inaugural season as head coach in 2016 (5-1 that season).

Not just that, but BYU has now defeated TWO ranked teams at home this season. That equals two signature home wins for Sitake. Marked improvement, and maybe just a sign of even bigger wins to come.

Wow! I spy @BYUFootball at no. 4.#BYU #BYUSN https://t.co/4j3Qqrmqrf

— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) October 21, 2019

So now let me ask the question again. Did Kalani Sitake just pull off the biggest win of his head coaching tenure at BYU? Well, if your “big win” checklist includes a rivalry victory over a team likely to finish ranked, potentially salvaging the season, and saving a coach’s job in front of his home fans and a national audience, then I’d say that’s a pretty firm “yes.”