Those are the KEYS to winning this game. The offense will take care of itself and execute, but the defense is the key to a win. The best way to break in a new defense is special teams and field position. Just like we needed a strong O-line and a running game to break in a new quarterback, long fields to defend is what the new defense will need. If we can keep the ball downfield and keep good field position, the defense will have a longer field to defend, giving them more reps, more chances to force a 3 and out, and more chances to turn over the ball.

This years BYU team has some real talent and has the potential to be a pretty good team but i just don't see an undefeated season. Yes BYU has an excellent record the past two years but who have they beat outside the conference? A lucky victory over a banged up 6-6 UCLA team without their coach on basically a home field doesn't give me the convidence that it has given everyone else. I think they lose at Washington and at Utah. That doesn't mean i am routing against them, I just think this perfection garbage will destroy their season if they finsh with 1 or 2 loses, which they will. Learn some humility before you are humbled by the huskies. Seriously when was the last victory against a top 25 nonconference team? 1999? 95? 94? Really, i don't know

I could beat N. Iowa by myself while blindfolded and tied to a stake. My prediction: N. Iowa 48 BYU 3

For the Ute trolls still ragging on BYU/Northern Iowa, here are some of the other top matchups on Saturday:

#22 Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina
#2 Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
#1 Georgia vs. Georgia Southern
#11 Texas vs. Florida Atlantic
#4 Oklahoma vs. Chattanooga
#14 Kansas vs. Florida International
#10 Auburn vs. Louisiana Monroe
#19 South Florida vs. Tennessee-Martin
#15 Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona
#13 Wisconsin vs. Akron
#7 LSU vs. Appalachian State

Hmmm...seems like a lot of ranked teams schedule "patsies" the first game of the season.

OK, the last one might be a good matchup. Wonder if Les Miles has asked the LSU AD, "what the he@# are you doing scheduling a team like the Mountaineers?"

"Well, Les, back in 2004, they were 6-5. Sure looked like patsies to me. Who knew they would go on to win 3 straight 1-AA/FCS championships."

Fact is, BYU scheduled Nevada-Reno. They're on par with the teams listed abpve. Then UNR backed out. Teams schedule 4-5 years in advance so i'm sure it wasn't easy finding 1) a school that could still add a game w/o exceeding the maximum limit and 2)a school per #1 w/ availability August 30th.

I respect what Mendenhall has done at BYU and expect another fine season for the cougars. To take the next step Mendenhall needs to get a handle on non-conference opponents. To play like they have in conference and then disappoint on their non-conference schedule has really undermined the conference's efforts to demand respect. Comparing Northern Iowa to the better teams in our league, as Mendenhall has, does not help much either. I know a coach has to get his team ready to play and make sure that the team does not overlook its opponent, but that could have been done without such a silly comparison. The real test It is a game the cougars need to win to get the road and non-conference monkey off of their back. If they go up their and lose and then dominate in conference, it will be a huge set back for the conference (like Tulsa and UCLA (both times--the bowl game was a win, but for its champ to win in such fashion after complaining about its opponent for a month was humiliating for the MWC last year).

accidentally deletion in previous post: the real test is next week's game at Washington.

This Quest for Perfection will be exposed for the fraud that it is.

Quest accepted. Wear Blue. Go Cougs!

Fall is here. The weather is turning and college football is back! Best of luck to all our Utah teams.

The real key to BYU winning is decent field position to break in the new defense. The offense will execute and take care of itself, but our new defense needs to contain a running back that had 1,500 yards last season. So if they start out with the ball, we've got to get Payne or probably Sorensen, or whoever to boot the ball downfield so that we have a long field to defend. Just like a good O-line and a running game is essential to break in a new quarterback (like last year), it's also important to have good field position to break in a new defense. Those are my thoughts.

I will laugh so hard if BYU chokes against UNI. It couldn't happen to a better team.

If they open up a big lead, why risks Collie's health and have him play quarterback? Wouldn't that be the opportune time to allow the backups to get some experience? Collie may add a different dimension to the offense, but why use that option so early in the season if you don't have to? Let the backups get the experience.

Consider that the 4 games we lost the last two years were close games; within a touchdown or a turnover by BYU.

Perfection will end in Logan :)

Without one top 25 opponent and a schedule liberally sprinkled with patsies this quest for "perfection" will result in a nice W-L percentage but will not get the BCS attention BYU so desperately craves.

Will this team ever play a competitive schedule?

let the games begin!

Few things excite me like good BYU football...

I'll be watching...

always watching!

Great way to start a season...beating up a cupcake.
Pathetic.

Sure, LSU opens with three patsies. They also play four top 25 teams this season, three of which are top ten.

BYU's big game? The Huskies?

I can't wait for the game this afternoon. Should be a lot of fun.

Two words for all of the Yoot trolls on here trying to poke fun at BYU's first opponent: Weber State

At least UNI is a ranked 1-AA team...

Oh, wait, two more words: Go away.

No one care what any of you Yoot fans have to say or about your pathetic little "football team" anyway.

Hey Coach, Brandon Doman never looked all that great in practices either, which was why he sat on the bench or played at other positions until they absolutely had to use him at QB. Brandon, you're now our QB coach. Don't tell me you've fortgotten this too? I hope this QB thing with Collie is just a ploy. Maybe Bronco is just mocking Kyle for trying out one of his QB's as a receiver.

Actually, I think they're a tougher team than Nevada would've been, Nevada would've gotten their trash kicked, but Northern Iowa has actually caused some doubt. With Coach Mendenhall comparing them to teams in our league, shoot, I would almost put them on the same level as the Utes talent wise.

...a.k.a. yewt troll, BYU had some banged up players in that bowl game against UCLA too, including Travis Bright getting a broken leg during the game and Max still recovering from a shoulder separation.

But I'm glad to hear you say "That doesn't mean i am routing against them". Maybe you could also try not ROOTING against us.

Funny to see yoot fans posting their weak smack about BYU's schedule not being competitive when their own schedule is not any better or even worse. An unranked rebuilding Michigan. An Oregon St team that just got kicked all over the field by a weak Stanford program. Oh gee did I forget to mention USU and Weber St? Go eat some red jello.

Yes it is true that BYU does not have the schedule of an SEC team (who does?!?). One of the problems that always looms for teams outside of the BCS is the reality of a potentially weak conference schedule. BYU has attempted to schedule tough non-conference opponents, but when you schedule Washington, UCLA, Florida State and the like 5 years in advance only to get them on a down-turn season, well, that's just the way it goes.
I should tell you though, the toughest games on BYU's schedule this year are likely away games at UTAH and TCU! Those programs are not weak!!
Buy the way, while there is no doubt that the SEC is the toughest conference, let's take a look at some that are "posing" a little bit: Hello Big-10!!!

Go Cougars!!!

Okay all you cougar fans get ready....... I'm a Ute fan through and through, but I like to see the.... the....Cougs do well to, except of course when they play the Utes!! See we Ute fan's can play nice too!
I wish the Cougs the best of luck today, and I hope the Utes destroy the Wolverines. May both teams go undefeated until November 22, and then GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's funny how Michael Reed said that they've been "real close". As much as all of you dont like Utah, you have to admit that BYU has had a pretty good streak of luck the past 2 years. The very well could have been 9-4 last year (loss to utah and UCLA) and 10-3 in 06 (loss to utah). If any of those games would have gone differently you BYU fans wouldn't be sitting on your high horses thinking that your on you quest to perfection. How about you win your first 4 games then start talking about how good you are. Just thought I'd point that out.

Hey, utah's strength of schedule got a big boost this week. Their tough opponent this year, Weber St, beat Montana Western Baton Twirling Academy 62-6. That will help them maintain a high SOS even if they lose to Michigan, no doubt.

Way to put a positive spin on a joke of a matchup. "FCS Champions?" I'd be more impressed with "Class 5A State Champions." After Hawaii's easy schedule last year, this game will do more to hurt the Cougars in the BCS chase than it will to help. Nevada wouldn't have been much of an upgrade.

Don't believe that there was no way out of this situation. Two years ago, Holme and Bronco both publicly stated that they were going to make their schedule easier, and this is the result. Stop going for USC and Notre Dame, start filling the schedule with cream puffs FCS teams

It is what it is. BYU is opening their BCS dream season against N Iowa/Nevada because that was what they wanted, not because they were forced into it.

BTW, misspelling names (Yewt, Yoot, Kewgars, etc.) is just stupid. Our collective trash talk can be better than this...

Men of war know their opponents, scout and research their strengths and plan tactics to exploit weakness. You know nothing about the NIU Panthers. They play DIV-I quality ball. They are FAST. They score over 30 points per game and their special teams players score quickly and often. Of greatest concern for our Band of Brothers is their ability to go deep with great accuracy. They will test our new secondary. Their starting QB is bigger, faster and has a stronger arm than their departing star who led the Panthers to an undefeated regular season. He also has a tendency to take off when pressured. Yes the Cougs should win; but I’m afraid it’s going to be a much more interesting game than many of our fans will want. Hope I’m wrong, I’d like to see the second units get experience. As to you beating the Panthers yourself with one arm tied behind your back? When you grow up perhaps your parents will teach you that Men of War never disrespect a worthy opponent, nor do they demean themselves by bragging about how tough they are. Then, perhaps, your opinions will be worthy of adult conversation. SEASONED COUGAR FANATIC.

Easy conference opponents are one thing, but the Cougars routinely seem to actually avoid scheduling top tier teams. It's almost conspiratorial.

I have nothing against BYU other than the generally weak schedule and the constant whining by their fans about how unfair the BCS is. Put a Texas, OU, LSU, or any other perennial powerhouse or two on the schedule and let's see what you got.

... enjoy your Quest for Imperfection Ute fans.

It seems in the minds of MOST, not all Ute fans, Quests for Perfection at Utah ended with the departure of Urban Meyer.

Anyways, good luck in Ann Arbor. I'll still be ROOTING for you to beat Michigan.

Unlike in the old WAC, it's nice to have Utah and
TCU carrying a little of the load in bringing prestige to the conference.

See U in November.

BlueCoug - the Quest begins!!!

I'm excited for the game today against UNI because either way, it'll be awesome to see the cougars at their home field starting off the 2008 season. Going along with "Quest of Perfection," shouldn't that be an overall goal for every team? If your team isn't playing to win all their games, then what are they doing here? Besides, why shouldn't we all strive to be the best we can in all we do?

Anyways,good luck to the Cougars today and the Utes today against Michigan, the win will only contribute to the added suspense for the end of the year. As long as our teams win we'll all be happy and it'll make the BYU/UofU game the most anticipated game yet! Good luck to everyone and enjoy game day because it is FINALLY HERE!!!

If Northern Iowa is a cupcake, what does that make Weber State? The usual myopic yoot drivel.

GO NORTHERN IOWA!!!!

Just remember this yoots: when you trash talk our "weak" schedule and say we don't play anybody, take a minute to look up BYU's schedule and you'll see you're on it. Oops! Didn't think about that one, did ya? Why does this little fact always escape the yoots? That's right, now get mad and throw your beer across the room.

I'm a huge Cougar fan but don't think BYU would deserve a BCS bowl unless they go undefeated. Their schedule just is not that strong. I know you play who is in front of you but if BYU is truly BCS worthy (which I think they are) then they should dominate this schedule. Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, and USC would dominate this schedule and if we think we are in the same league then we need to dominate (all due respect to Utah, TCU and Air Force) as well.

If we have some trick plays for Collie at QB we shouldn't reveal them against N. Iowa. Pull them out at a time we really need them. And if this is about more than trick plays - if it is about Collie actually prepping to be the backup QB - then we have to admit that we have failed in our recruiting/mission stagerring of our QBs at QB U.

It finally happened... I saw a sane and sportsmanlike post from a Ute fan. Thanks, "Ute fan"! I suspected there were some out there... somewhere.

Can the rest of you stop mocking the quest for perfection? Why shouldn't a team set a goal to win all their games?

Better said, why wouldn't ALL teams set that goal? BYU has lost two games in each of the past two seasons. Why would they want to stay there?

Would you want to root for a team who sets a goal of winning 9 or 10 games? "Quest for Mediocrity" -- yeah, that's really motivating!

What is Utah's goal? Don't they have a goal to win all their games? That would be called a "perfect" record, wouldn't it? Or do they not set their sights that high. Maybe their goal for the season is still "Beat BYU."

"Top FCS Team"?!? That's like saying that your 16-year old child is an intellectual of the fourth grade.

Sometimes circumstance are beyond our control with players. We suffered through a huge DB gap when we lost several quality recruits under Crowton. It looks like we are experiencing the same thing with our QBs but for different reasons. We lost Bower, Cooper and Doman in one season when a Sophomore Hall won the job and looked entrenched for a long time. Gaskins hung around but it looks like he just does not have the same quality as the others - or even as peewee QB sensation Collie. Just like we built our DBs back up to the quality kids competing back there now - the same will happen when the three QBs currently on missions get back within the next year or so and Adam Timo joins the mix. No one could have predicted the transfers that left the cupboard bare today. But hopefully we learn from this and manage the QBs better when they return so we don't lose them as well.

I have been a BYU fan all my life, I love the Cougars and I don't like Utah. But come on, Quest for Perfection? Of course I would love to see it happen but I have to say that I have been quite dissapointed with how prideful the Cougars have been since luckily, I will admit, beating UCLA last year. If you want to go a BCS game you don't schedule N. Iowa, even though they will win it won't impress anyone. I don't care if Nevada backed out, atleast find a team in your same classification. Good for Utah for scheduling Michigan and I hope they win. I would not be surprised if we started 1-2 again, and maybe it will humble Mr. Max Hall and we can win the MWC again.

Total class! Thanks.

Go Cougs!

Everyone and anyone thinking today's game against the UNI Panthers will be a laugher doesn't understand how good this program is. I'm an Iowan and have seen what they can do. These guys are not 1980s UTEP--they would have beaten most WAC teams in BYU's glory years, too.

I still say BYU wins, unless they've REALLY overlooked this team (doesn't sound like it), but be forewarned, Cougar fans--it'll be closer than expected! So don't be surprised, get in a snit, or turn to your secret Postum stash when the final score is something like 35-27. They ARE good.

I live in Dallas Texas. How can I watch or listen to this game on the radio or TV?

listen to it on ksl.com watch it on DIrect TV on channel MTN

A blowout for the Cougs would be the worst result, mentally. No matter what the coaches say, they will start thinking (even more?) they are better than they are.

We need a semi-close game (dont' think it will be super close) to keep the guys a little humble.

and to "Prideful Cougs" - I say again there is nothing wrong with setting a goal to have a perfect, loss-less season, is there?

I don't get it. I love the Cougs, but we've been playing the same, crappy, low-level team every single year for decades and I don't hear anybody complaining about it. Hey look--the Utes are on the schedule yet again. Told you.

I agree with the 1:14 poster--you've got class, man. I'll second your comment--except for the wanting Utah to win the matchup part. On Nov. 23, may we find Utah 11-1 and BYU 12-0! That'll be best for us all. (You can respectfully disagree, of course.) :)

Give the kids a little credit. They must be smarter than you give them credit for. They have been in a program before and know how to handle the results of games, whether to shout or control their feelings. No one but they know how the situation should be handled and they will do the right thing.

Get real BYU fans the Utes won today! you beat a High school team LOL!

Norman, did you really laugh out loud at your comment? Really? While I don't like the fact that BYU even scheduled Northern Iowa (lose/lose), they are no high school team. Northern Iowa could roll many division one teams. They are no Michigan (perhaps Michigan this year is no Michigan), but they're still a pretty good team. LOL!