BYU gamers have fun after stopping USC broad receiver Gary Bryant Jr. in need of a primary down to show over the ball throughout a recreation in Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Ashley Landis, Related Press
BYU broad receiver Chase Roberts runs after a catch at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Roberts was recruited by Stanford, however didn’t obtain a proposal. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
If nothing else, BYU’s foray into faculty soccer independence has enabled the Cougars to play extra Pac-12 groups than ever earlier than in the course of the previous 12 seasons, and get wins towards the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon State and USC.
There's one Pac-12 faculty that Large 12-bound BYU has by no means defeated, nonetheless.
That may be the Stanford Cardinal.
For all of the recruiting battles the Cardinal and Cougars have engaged in over time — most of them received by Stanford, a lot to BYU followers’ chagrin — the 2 personal faculties have met solely twice on the soccer subject, and by no means throughout BYU’s independence. Stanford edged the Cougars 18-14 in Provo in 2003 and drubbed BYU 37-10 in Stanford Stadium in 2004.
“Each week it's a completely different story and so, on this one, it's simply us attempting to do one thing that a BYU program has by no means carried out earlier than, and that's beat Stanford.” — BYU soccer coach Kalani Sitake
Stanford remains to be scheduled to go to BYU on Aug. 30, 2031, however a four-game sequence calling for BYU-Stanford video games in 2025, 2026, 2028 and 2035 was canceled final June in response to BYU’s schedule being restricted in 2023 and past when it's within the Large 12.
So in essence, Saturday’s regular-season finale at Stanford Stadium (9 p.m. MST, Fox Sports activities 1) marks the Cougars’ final likelihood in fairly a while to get a victory over the Cardinal. Their chances are high respectable, contemplating bowl-bound BYU is 6-5 and has received two straight, whereas Stanford is 3-8 and has misplaced 4 straight.
Then once more, of us who've watched BYU’s final 9 video games — when the protection began getting shredded by the likes of Oregon, Liberty, Arkansas, East Carolina and even Utah Tech within the first half final week earlier than the Cougars took a 52-26 win — know nothing is a certain factor with Kalani Sitake’s 2022 crew.
“You see quite a lot of surprises occurring in faculty soccer (together with) some issues that folks weren’t capable of predict,” Sitake stated Monday. “That's what makes it so enjoyable to look at. Each week it's a completely different story and so, on this one, it's simply us attempting to do one thing that a BYU program has by no means carried out earlier than, and that's beat Stanford.”
Settling a present Pac-12 rating
After BYU fell 41-20 to the Pac-12’s Oregon on Sept. 17, the Cougars want to even their season document towards Pac-12 faculties to 1-1 and take that momentum into their very own Energy 5 league. However Sitake stated the main focus isn’t on getting one final victory towards the league BYU has wished to be part of for years earlier than the Large 12 got here calling.
“Our focus isn’t on that stuff,” Sitake stated. “It wasn’t even on the convention (document towards the Pac-12) final yr, too.”
In fact, the Cougars went 5-0 towards the league final yr, beating Arizona, Utah, Arizona State, Washington State and USC. BYU’s subsequent scheduled recreation towards the Pac-12 is the rivalry renewal at Utah on Sept. 7, 2024.
“We all know we're going to be on the street, and it will be their Senior Day, and so we're going to get their finest shot,” Sitake stated after Stanford misplaced a very powerful recreation on its schedule, 27-20 to Cal within the Large Recreation. “… I plan on giving them our greatest shot as nicely. I want to see or not it's carried out for 60 minutes, from starting to finish, after which we are going to simply reside with the outcomes.”
A number of of BYU’s future video games towards the Pac-12 had been canceled after the Large 12 invite got here, most notably a 2023 return to USC. Scheduled video games towards Arizona in 2026 and 2027 are nonetheless on the books, for now. BYU and Utah are scheduled to satisfy every season from 2024-28. The 2020 recreation at Rice-Eccles Stadium that was postponed attributable to COVID-19 has been moved to the 2030 season.
A recruiting rivalry
Off the sphere, BYU and Stanford have developed slightly rivalry, a minimum of within the eyes of BYU followers, as a result of the Cardinal have recruited the state of Utah nicely, and have drawn some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the religion that sponsors BYU — to Palo Alto.
Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson, a fringe candidate to exchange Bronco Mendenhall earlier than the job went to Sitake, is a Latter-day Saint and sometimes the Cardinal’s level man in recruiting Latter-day Saint gamers.
Present returned missionaries on Stanford’s roster embrace quarterback Tanner McKee, inside linebacker Levani Damuni (Ridgeline Excessive), linebacker Spencer Jorgensen (Provo Excessive) and defensive again Scotty Edwards (Olympus Excessive).
Does Saturday’s recreation symbolize an opportunity for BYU to win again a few of these recruits?
Not likely, Sitake stated, earlier than expressing reward for the teaching job David Shaw has carried out at Stanford and for a way McKee has performed himself as a high-profile church member within the Bay Space.
“Stanford will not be the one (faculty) that recruits LDS children. There are quite a lot of good soccer gamers on the market that occur to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and so they undoubtedly have gotten some,” Sitake stated. “So I feel it's extra in regards to the match and this system and the college and the schooling.
“I want we might take all of the recruits which are members of the church. However we are able to’t. So there are nice ones that may go to completely different locations,” he continued. “I feel for us (the sport) is only a matter of us taking part in our recreation and doing our greatest, and probably not any added motivation than what we've happening proper now.”
In July, Stanford acquired a dedication from Walker Lyons, the No. 5 tight finish recruit within the nation, who's a Latter-day Saint and whose father Tim Lyons performed for BYU. American Fork defensive finish Hunter Clegg, a four-star move rusher, additionally not too long ago dedicated to play for Stanford.
Shedding McKee to Stanford in 2018 was a giant blow to BYU, contemplating he grew up a BYU fan earlier than departing on a church mission to Brazil. Sitake’s second season in Provo produced a 4-9 document and resulted within the firing of offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, and McKee appeared elsewhere.
That very same recruiting cycle, BYU signed a evenly recruited native QB by the identify of Zach Wilson, and this system acquired again on an upward trajectory.
Making essentially the most with out McKee
BYU has had its points this season, however quarterback play isn’t one in every of them. Jaren Corridor has been higher than the extra closely recruited McKee, statistically and by way of delivering wins.
McKee has accomplished 60% of his passes for two,634 yards and 12 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, in 11 video games. Corridor has accomplished 66% of his throws for 3,078 yards and 29 touchdowns, with six interceptions.
“With reference to Tanner McKee, fantastic household, nice younger man, tons of expertise,” Sitake stated. “He's an NFL expertise, for certain. You may see how snug he's throwing the ball. We recruited him. We wished him right here. I'm joyful to see him doing nicely and making performs.”
Sitake stated he’s a McKee fan each day however this Saturday.
“I feel he's a man that can go fairly early within the draft. I'm not an NFL knowledgeable, however you'll be able to see the arm expertise, you'll be able to see the poise and the athleticism and the power to make performs,” Sitake stated. “I'm simply actually joyful for him. Clearly it is going to be actually cool to cheer him on and see him carry out all through his profession. I can’t cheer for him this weekend, however I can cheer for him from this level on as he strikes on along with his profession.”
BYU gamers talk about the Cardinal
In fact, BYU’s roster consists of one former Stanford participant, fullback Houston Heimuli, a graduate switch who was used sparingly on offense this season however discovered a pleasant area of interest on particular groups. Heimuli has spent the week assuring the Cougars that Stanford hasn’t packed it in. He expects a bodily, intense battle Saturday.
“There's quite a lot of respect for Stanford. Very prestigious faculty and college, and really prestigious program and coaches which have been there and instilled greatness in this system, and so it is going to be good to go in there and play an amazing recreation,” stated BYU offensive lineman Joe Tukuafu. “It's good to have Houston right here. He tells us quite a lot of nice issues about Stanford, which is nice to have that connection.”
Receiver Chase Roberts drew curiosity from Stanford, however a proposal by no means got here as a result of he dedicated to BYU as a sophomore.
BYU broad receiver Chase Roberts runs after a catch at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Roberts was recruited by Stanford, however didn’t obtain a proposal.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
“I undoubtedly talked so much with Stanford,” Roberts stated. “… I'm grateful for Stanford and the way they impacted me and pushed me as a younger child in highschool and I'm excited to go see the coaches once more and all of the gamers,” Roberts stated. “I used to be near some who dedicated there, Tanner McKee and another guys. It will be superior to be on their campus and be capable of be across the superb those who symbolize that college.”
Saying goodbye to the Pac-12 — for now
The Cougars are taking part in Stanford in late November due to an unofficial scheduling settlement BYU has had with the league because it went impartial. The Cougars give Pac-12 faculties a scheduling choice so USC and Stanford can proceed their rivalries with Notre Dame.
As an example, USC performs the Irish Saturday in Los Angeles; final yr, when BYU was beating USC 35-31 in Los Angeles, Stanford was shedding 45-14 to Notre Dame in Palo Alto.
BYU assistant head coach Ed Lamb stated on his “Coordinators’ Nook” program that the Cougars are fired as much as end independence towards a Energy 5 program on the street.
“We're tremendous enthusiastic about this chance. They is likely to be struggling within the win-loss (class), however make no mistake, this can be a good workforce,” Lamb stated. “They've a win over Notre Dame. Our gamers know all about how good (ND) is. It will likely be problem for us.”
All informed, BYU could have performed each Pac-12 workforce besides Colorado when Saturday’s recreation goes last. The Cougars and Buffaloes haven’t met since a 20-17 BYU win within the 1988 Freedom Bowl.
“We love taking part in all faculties, particularly the Pac-12 (faculties),” linebacker Pepe Tanuvasa stated. “They're nice competitors, and it's a nice league. We're excited to play Stanford. We haven’t had an opportunity to play too many Pac-12 faculties this season, so we're excited.”
Cougars on the air
BYU (6-5)
at Stanford (3-8)
Saturday, 9 p.m. MST
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California
TV: Fox Sports activities 1
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM