BYU 2023 Season Preview
For as tough of a schedule as BYU had in 2022, they came out of it with a solid 8–5 record that included a bowl victory. That’s a season many programs could only wish for and BYU earned it with some great QB play to lead the way.
I’m writing this on May 4th, so today I’m rocking with a cup of Nespresso Fortado in a Darth Vader mug. It has been a calm, rainy day and is the perfect weather to sit down and write about some college football. May the 4th be with you! Had to share the awesome mug, shoutout to my lovely wife for gifting it to me.
Vader Mug with Easter Egg of a team we’ll talk about later in the month
While 2022 was a solid year for BYU, it did come with ups and downs. The Cougars suffered a 4 game losing streak in the middle of the season. It can’t be too surprising as 3 of those 4 opponents were Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Liberty. BYU responded to that losing streak with a win streak of equal value. The final win came against SMU by 1 point in the New Mexico Bowl.
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Offensively, BYU was solid in 2022. Their lowest scoring game was 14 points in a thrashing at the hands of Liberty. Otherwise, the Cougars put up 20 or more points in every game. Can that be maintained this season? It’ll be tough with their offense losing QB Jaren Hall and RB Christopher Brooks. Jaren Hall had a terrific season with 31 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions. To replace Hall, BYU brings in Kedon Slovis who arrives in Provo after leading the Pitt Panthers to a 8–4 season and entering the transfer portal before the Panthers bowl win against UCLA.
I want to believe in Slovis and think that he can turn it around and have a great year. Here is why I don’t think that would be the case. Each year has been a step back since Kedon’s freshman year in 2019. The BYU offense lost their leading rusher in Christopher Brooks and their leading receiver in Puka Nacua. Slovis can be great, that is a fact. However, he needs to have a supporting cast to do the trick. At USC in 2019, Solivs’ best season statistically, he had Michael Pittman Jr. and Drake London in his receiving corps. With a young offense in 2023, Keanu Hill has an opportunity to become a leader on the Cougar offense and a primary weapon for Slovis.
Defensively, BYU wasn’t great in 2022 allowing 408 yards per game to their opponents. Ben Bywater returns in 2023 at linebacker as their leading tackler from last season. Bywater even earned a touchdown with a pick-six in BYU’s bowl game vs. SMU. Jay Hill steps in as the new defensive coordinator for the Cougars in 2023. He arrives at BYU after leading Weber State since 2014 which included 4 straight Big Sky championships from 2017–2020. Hill will have his work cut out for him trying to build up the Cougars defense while going through their first season in a P5 conference.
While I’m excited to dive into each of the “New Big 12” programs, I’m not necessarily expecting any first year “Cinderellas” from that group to make a run at the Big 12 crown. Little bit of foreshadowing there. I expect the schedule to take a toll on these teams as the level of competition will rise greater than what they may have anticipated.
Of the 4 new programs joining the Big 12, I believe BYU is best suited for the change with their previous schedules thanks to their status as an FBS independent. Regardless, I’m anticipating the Cougars to go 5–7 with losses to Arkansas, Kansas, TCU, Texas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. They’ll miss the QB play they had last season and the defense will struggle to slow down more efficient offenses. I don’t doubt Kalani Sitake will have BYU back on track and competing in the conference soon. He’s only had 1 losing season at BYU since he arrived in 2016 and while I’m expecting his 2nd losing season this upcoming year, he’ll kick it into gear to compete toward the top of the Big 12 soon enough. It’ll only get easier with the exit of Oklahoma and Texas as well.
