After back-to-back losses basically eradicated BYU from School Soccer Playoff rivalry, the Cougars should win their season finale in opposition to Houston on Saturday in Provo, Utah, after which hope for favorable situations to unfold to clinch a spot within the Huge 12 title recreation and maintain its slim CFP hopes alive.
BYU (9-2, 6-2 Huge 12) fell right into a four-way tie atop the league with its 28-23 highway loss to Arizona State and fell 5 spots within the CFP rankings to No. 19, three behind the Solar Devils and one under Iowa State, each 6-2 within the Huge 12. No. 25 Colorado can also be tied for first within the league. Arizona State and Iowa State are the most probably title-game individuals primarily based on projections.
“All I care about is specializing in the seniors and making an attempt to regulate the issues we will management, which is how we play this weekend and the way we put together, after which we’ll simply see what occurs afterward,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake mentioned. “The purpose is to try to go 1-0 this week. That is acquired to be our major purpose after which we’ll cope with the outcomes of how that impacts the whole lot else from then on.”
BYU was undefeated earlier than an upset residence loss to Kansas on Nov. 16. The Cougars surrendered prime place with a second loss to Arizona State, forcing a reset of their objectives.
“Clearly we wish the state of affairs we’re in to be higher however I do not know what number of thought we would be sitting right here at 9-2 presently,” Sitake mentioned. “However now we’re coping with actuality, which is we’re sitting right here on this place and we will management what we will management, which is that this week.”
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff handed for 346 yards final week, two off his season excessive. However he has thrown three picks to simply two touchdowns within the Cougars’ pair of losses.
Houston (4-7, 3-5 Huge 12) will conclude a disappointing first season underneath coach Willie Fritz, whose otherworldly success at Tulane didn’t instantly translate. Houston’s 20-10 loss to Baylor final Saturday marked its second consecutive defeat, which stifled the momentum generated by three wins in 4 video games earlier than a 24-point loss at Arizona on Nov. 15.
“That is our bowl recreation for my part,” Fritz mentioned. “We need to do one of the best we presumably can in preparation and exit and play nice on Saturday night time, nationwide TV, in entrance of a full home I think about.”
Fritz on Tuesday introduced the dismissal of offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay. Quarterbacks coach/passing recreation coordinator Shawn Bell was named interim offensive coordinator and can deal with the play-calling duties in opposition to BYU.
Houston enters its season finale final amongst 134 FBS groups in scoring at 13.6 factors per recreation and 129th in whole offense with 291.5 yards per recreation. Present beginning quarterback Zeon Chriss has amassed simply 668 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and 7 picks, although he is added 376 yards and two scores on the bottom.
Earlier than relieving Barbay of his duties, Fritz outlined how the Cougars may domesticate extra success on offense in opposition to BYU.
“There are some issues we’re this week however extra importantly, we have got to do a fantastic job with the execution,” Fritz mentioned. “For that to be nearly as good as you need it to be you have to work on all of it week.”
–Area Stage Media