3. BYU football coach Kalani Sitake is a proven winner vs. ranked opponents
While Autzen Stadium is one of the most difficult places to compete in on the West Coast — those 54,000 fans sound just as loud as any of those SEC stadiums — BYU head coach Kalani Sitake always finds a way to win big ball games.
BYU has won its last three games against teams ranked in the AP Top 25: last week’s game against No. 9 Baylor and back-to-back wins vs. No. 21 Utah and No. 19 Arizona State in 2021.
Perhaps even more impressive, is Sitake’s ability to keep his team motivated when they are ranked. The Cougars are 20-5 when playing as a ranked team, according to BYU’s game notes.
Don’t bet against the Cougars when they are ranked. That’s an impressive winning percentage (.800).