Jaren Hall Doesn’t Care What Outsiders Think Of BYU Football

PROVO, Utah – BYU football is off to a 4-0 start for the second year in a row and has shot up the rankings sitting in the top 15. All of that success is great with the accolades rolling in and whispers of a College Football Playoff run if the Cougars go undefeated, or even a New Year’s Six bowl game.

The season is very, very young after just four games and while BYU has not seen a drop off compared to last year – something that many expected – the tones within the program walls are going on as business as usual.

Being confident is one thing but starting to read the praises from fans, media, or family is something that the Cougars are trying to shut out. Each week the team is trying to be 1-0 and that mindset is what BYU quarterback Jaren Hall said on his weekly appearance on the Players Club on KSL Unrivaled.

“When we are in the walls of our facility it is about us and getting better every day and not about what the media says or anybody outside of that building,” Hall said. “All of that outside influence goes out the window and we just go to work.”

Note to self: Jaren Hall does not worry about rankings or what others say about #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/UjfXC6pI3R

— KSL Unrivaled (@KSLunrivaled) September 28, 2021

Saying that now at 4-0 is fairly easy to do but what happens if BYU keeps winning moves into the top 10. Then first College Football Playoff rankings come out and the Cougars are in consideration for a big-time bowl game or being discussed a potential playoff team if a team from a power conference team slips up.

There will be more media requests from outside the market to talk to Hall, head coach Kalani Sitake and other players about being one of a few undefeated teams left in the country. If all of that happens it will be great for the BYU program but it will also be harder to continue to maintain they do not listen to the outsiders.

Perhaps during practice, all of that is shut out and the focus is in between the lines, watching film and preparing. However, going to class and being with friends the inevitable will be discussed how great this season is going.

Sitake can just point to last year on how to keep a team focused. The Cougars were the darling of college football for a good chunk of the season which included the on-the-fly scheduled game to go play at Coastal Carolina. Plus, former BYU quarterback Zack Wilson was flying up NFL Draft boards week after week.

Sitake should have no issue keeping this team focused and ready each and every week. Expect him to have something to lay out to his players to be motivated and focus on being 1-0, and this week it is the rivalry game on the road against Utah State with the Wagon Wheel trophy on the line this Friday night.