Brigham Younger Cougars quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) slides down after a run as BYU and Utah play an NCAA soccer sport at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. The Cougars and Utes are projected by many consultants to be prime 25-caliber applications this season. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
It’s a superb time to be followers of each the BYU and Utah soccer applications.
Each groups are coming off banner years, having gained 10 video games whereas ending the 2021 season within the prime 25.
The Cougars and Utes, too, are projected by many consultants to be prime 25-caliber applications this season.
It’s no shock, then, that each faculties are persistently introduced up in nationwide conversations in regards to the 2022 season.
Earlier this week, Bleacher Report’s Brad Shepard recognized 11 video games for his way-too-early faculty soccer upset picks within the upcoming season, and BYU and Utah are concerned in two of them — although in several methods.
Upset No. 1: May BYU upset Baylor?
“In what could also be one of many longest photographs, the BYU Cougars are set to host Baylor on Sept. 10, they usually owe coach Dave Aranda’s Bears some payback,” Shepard wrote.
“A season in the past, the Bears pulled off an enormous win in Waco, Texas, in a battle of 5-1 groups. They dealt with Kalani Sitake’s crew 38-24 on their option to the Massive 12 title and solely improved all year long.”
The place each groups completed final season: BYU went 10-3 final season, together with a 6-1 file towards Energy 5 applications, and completed the yr No. 19 within the last Related Press ballot rankings. Baylor went 12-2, gained the Sugar Bowl and ended the yr No. 5 within the last AP ballot.
Why it’s intriguing: This can be a matchup of future Massive 12 rivals, with BYU becoming a member of the convention in 2023. The Bears took care of enterprise towards the Cougars final season by dashing for 303 yards and controlling possession.
Each groups return their beginning quarterbacks — Jaren Corridor at BYU and Gerry Bohanon at Baylor — although the Cougars have a major edge in returning manufacturing, per ESPN’s Invoice Connolly. BYU is second nationally in returning manufacturing (88%), whereas Baylor is 99th (58%), per Connolly.
Upset No. 2: May USC beat Utah?
“A shift within the Pac-12’s steadiness of energy might come Oct. 15, when the Trojans journey to Salt Lake Metropolis to tackle the defending champion Utah Utes. Coach Kyle Whittingham’s crew is predicted to be the category of the convention once more,” Shepard wrote.
“However it has been identified for hiccups alongside the way in which, and whereas it could be asking an excessive amount of for the Trojans to be constant all year long, they’re going to nab some huge wins.”
The place each groups completed final season: Utah went 10-4 in 2021, gained their first Pac-12 championship, appeared within the Rose Bowl for the primary time in program historical past and completed the yr ranked No. 12 within the last AP ballot. USC, in the meantime, went 4-8, fired head coach Clay Helton midseason and changed him with former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley.
Why it’s intriguing: The Utes are the crew to beat within the Pac-12 South. Utah has performed in three of the previous 4 Pac-12 championship video games and final yr, the Utes simply beat the Trojans in Los Angeles behind returning quarterback Cam Rising.
It’s been a aggressive collection between the 2 faculties since Utah joined the Pac-12 — USC holds a 7-4 collection lead since 2011, although they’ve break up the previous 4 video games. This yr’s contest will largely revolve round Riley and how briskly he can flip round a moribund Trojans program.
The Utes, although, have gained three of the previous 4 matchups in Salt Lake Metropolis, with the one loss coming within the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season.