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BYU football: 3 overreactions to Cougars’ overtime win over Baylor

By John Scimeca

PROVO, UT- SEPTEMBER 10: John Nelson #94 of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates sacking Blake Shapen of the Baylor Bears during the second half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT- SEPTEMBER 10: John Nelson #94 of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates sacking Blake Shapen of the Baylor Bears during the second half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /
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PROVO, UT- SEPTEMBER 10: Members of the Brigham Young Cougars student section take a photo with the team’s mascot Cosmo during the first half of their game against the Baylor Bears September 10, 2022 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT- SEPTEMBER 10: Members of the Brigham Young Cougars student section take a photo with the team’s mascot Cosmo during the first half of their game against the Baylor Bears September 10, 2022 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

2. Chase Roberts is the new breakout star

BYU fans had plenty of reasons for concern entering the Week 2 Saturday night bout with Baylor without their top two wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney. Nacua, who scored six touchdowns and had more than 800 receiving yards in 2021, got injured in BYU’s season-opening win against South Florida. The junior wideout from Provo scored on BYU’s first play of the game off a 75-yard touchdown run shortly before his injury.

Without their two top playmakers, there was plenty of reason for BYU to come up against a strong Baylor team that is the defending Big 12 champs.

Those worries were at least partially allayed on Saturday night by freshman wide receiver Chase Roberts, who Jaren Hall targeted early and often. The Highland, Utah native finished the game with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown against a stout Bears defense.

Last season, the Baylor defense allowed its opponents only 18.3 points per game, the 10th-best mark in the nation.

Against a Baylor unit that saw four players go in this past spring’s NFL Draft, BYU gained 366 total yards while averaging only 2.5 yards per carry and converting 3-of-14 third-down conversions. It was a tough, gut-it-out win for the Cougars, and the key to the team moving the ball was the connection between Hall and Roberts.

Roberts hauled in a 20-yard scoring pass from Hall for BYU’s first touchdown in the game in the second quarter to go up 10-6. He was a reliable target for Hall throughout the game and should retain a key role for the offense later this season even if Nacua and Romney return soon from injury.

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