Lessons learned from first year in the Big 12

LAS VEGAS — The 2023 football season was not what BYU football players and fans expected in the first year of their new conference.

The Cougars struggled to finish last season, ending their 2023 season by losing their final five games and failing to make a bowl appearance for the first time since 2017.

BYU learned a lot about itself in the five-game losing streak at the end of the season, and as a result, they are approaching this offseason differently as they prepare for their second year in the Big 12.

“I know everyone looks at the record, but we had flashes of where we could compete. We know from this conference, it’s a physical conference,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I can tell you that the learning curve from year one to year two is already happening naturally. Our guys know what to expect. Last year was a lot of uncharted territory.”

Sitake wants to establish BYU’s image as a physical football team, especially on the offensive side of the team.

Physicality, responsibility and simplicity

“I think for us, physicality has been the focus, and that was the focus in spring ball, especially because that’s key to having a good offensive line. You’ve got to be physical and move the line of scrimmage,” BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay said. “We want to be the most physical offense in college football.”

In 2023, BYU’s offensive line and running game fell far short of expectations. They finished the season ranked 118th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 104.3 yards per game. This year, they have a chip on their shoulder to be a better, more physical group in the trenches.

“I think there’s a different energy… you know, just that juice that comes from, honestly, for lack of a better word, being embarrassed about how we played last year,” Pay said. “Everybody on the team kind of feels that way.”

The Cougars also struggled to finish games in their first year in the Big 12. To close out the season, they fell just short against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Late-game turnovers and mistakes proved too much to overcome, despite facing two of the league’s best.

“To finish games, we’ve got to finish everything we do, whether it’s conditioning or player workouts, we’ve got to finish it. We can’t start slow, our biggest thing is pace and we’ve got to keep it going,” BYU wide receiver Darius Lassiter said.

Not only did this BYU team finish strong, but they also held each other accountable for the performance of their team leaders.

“Accountability, I think last year we lacked a little bit of accountability. And the leaders have stepped up this year and (when) someone does something wrong, we point it out immediately, whereas last year we let it slide,” BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts said.

The wide receiver room specifically focuses on “the fundamentals. I think being able to execute plays at a high tempo,” Roberts said. “Everybody knows what they’re doing, from the guys starting to the three deep, if everybody’s on the same page, then the workouts just roll.”

Work harder and get more pressure

It was Jay Hill’s first season as defensive coordinator at BYU and it showed some flashes. By the end of the season, the defense was decimated by injuries and the Cougars allowed over 35 points per game in their final four games of the 2023 campaign. Where is the focus for the defense this offseason?

“I think we’re just working harder than we did last year,” BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson said. “I think just working together as a team and being more connected as a team is definitely going to help us. Because last year we were friends and stuff in the locker room, but this year the locker room has completely changed.”

One thing that has plagued BYU’s defense in recent years is the lack of pressure they’ve put on the quarterback. The Cougars need to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks if they want to turn the tide on the defensive side of the ball.

“Realistically, as a defensive unit, we need to have more than 11 (sacks),” BYU defensive lineman Tyler Batty said. “Eleven would be a great number for me personally, I would love to see that happen. And as a defensive unit, we need to have double or triple what we had last season, that’s what we need if we want to be an elite defense.”

It was abundantly clear during Big 12 media days that BYU has a chip on its shoulder and is “ashamed” of how it ended last season. Have the Cougars done enough this offseason to have the rebound season they want? We’ll find out in 52 days when BYU kicks off the season against Southern Illinois on August 31.