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What we learned about BYU during brutal September schedule

By Tanner Sperry

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Most called for a 1-3 record for BYU’s September schedule in 2015 (which almost happened), however, even without its leading rusher and starting quarterback, what did BYU show us by going 2-2?

The Cougars started off 2-0 heading into the game with a pair of thrilling comeback wins as they entered their third game at No. 10 UCLA. Somehow, without quarterback Taysom Hill, BYU was successfully making its way onto the national stage and inside the Top 25.

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In a close game, BYU fell 24-23 at the Rose Bowl, and then followed that up with a disappointing performance at Michigan. Some fans may say the 31-0 loss in the Big House was just because the team had lost a game and didn’t feel motivated to win.

I disagree, and while it must have been difficult to lose, BYU had plenty of reasons to put up a fight (and even now still does throughout the rest of the season) and was simply outplayed.

We learned that the voters took BYU seriously, starting with its win at Nebraska. BYU dropped just three spots in the AP Poll after a loss to UCLA. The fact BYU kept it close meant something to the voters. Alabama dropped 10 spots following a close loss to Ole Miss the same week. Normally teams drop somewhere between the two numbers. 

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We’ve learned quarterback Tanner Mangum is very talented, but getting shut out against Michigan shows that he needs time to develop and progress to be more consistent from week to week.

The recent trend is that BYU’s defense can and has won big games, but the offense has to come up big for BYU to win back to back big games. BYU has recently had major defensive let downs in big games that have followed good performances.

One example is 2009 against FSU, where 54 points were allowed, just two weeks following a win over No. 3 Oklahoma. Whether it’s been increased pressure or another reason, the defense seems to get out of sync and starts missing tackles, etc. BYU usually has a stout defense when it’s in sync. September showed that the offense can’t take a day off if the team wants to remain competitive in back to back big games.

Has the September schedule shown that coach Bronco Mendenhall has reached his ceiling, based on the big let downs? It’s been an argument for a few seasons among BYU fans that Mendenhall can’t take the program to the next level.

However, he has had lots of adversity to deal with: Last year BYU was 4-0 until Hill got hurt. This year, running back Jamaal Williams decided to take the 2015 season off before the season started, and Mendenhall had to lost Hill to another season-ending injury. Without its two star offensive players, BYU still managed to keep itself in three of four difficult games in a row, and came out 2-2.

Above anything, one of BYU’s chief goals is increasing exposure and playing around the country. Following two Hail Mary wins against Nebraska and Boise State on national TV and widespread attention for the month of September, we learned it’s been a pretty good September for BYU–good, but not great.

What is your take away from BYU? Is four difficult games in a row too much for the program to handle at this point?

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