BYU Football: 3 takeaways from neutral-turf win over Arizona

3. Defense will prove critical for BYU’s hopes of success in 2021

Since LaVell Edwards patrolled the sidelines in Provo, BYU has been known primarily for dynamic offenses that feature plenty of passing. In the modern game, though, offense alone does not cut it for contenders who hope to make noise on a national level.

Last year’s 11-1 run by BYU featured one of the 10 best defenses in the country. Despite losing so much talent in their defensive unit from last year’s roster, the Cougars look just as stout when they don’t have the ball as they did in 2020 even though they allowed plenty of yards to the Wildcats on Saturday.

Taking over at quarterback for Arizona, Gunner Cruz went 35-of-46 for 336 yards. In the process, though, Cruz managed to connect only once on a scoring strike, and he threw an interception in an uneven performance that depended largely on volume to impress people.

The Arizona ground game struggled even more, as BYU held their hosts to 81 rushing yards on 35 carries. Michael Wiley’s 12-yard run proved the longest play by Arizona on the ground over the entire course of the contest.

BYU’s success through the rest of the season is largely dependent on whether the defense can continue to hold opponents in check. While Arizona is hardly the most formidable opponent, the Cougars showed that they have the potential to dominate Power Five opponents.