How to watch Saturday night’s BYU-Houston football game in Provo – Deseret News

Houston (4-7, 3-5 Big 12) at no. 19 BYU (9-2, 6-2 Big 12)

• Kickoff: Saturday at 20.15 MDT
• Meeting place: LaVell Edwards Stadium (Capacity: 62,073)
• TV: ESPN
• Live stream: https://www.espn.com/watch
• Radio: KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM/BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.
• Series: BYU leads 3-0
• Weather: Sunny and dry conditions are expected throughout the day, but unfortunately this kickoff comes at 8.15pm when it will be much colder but still dry. The temperature around kickoff is expected to hover around 30 degrees and drop into the 20s as the game progresses.

The trends

For BYU: The Cougars have lost two straight games, both games by one score, and are currently tied for first place in the Big 12 with three other teams: Arizona State, Iowa State and Colorado. To get to the Big 12 championship game in their second season in the league, the Cougars must win out and have either ASU or ISU lose on Saturday.

The Cougars fell to No. 19 in the College Football Playoff rankings and can only get to the CFP by winning the Big 12 championship game, it seems.

BYU is trying for its 19th 10-win season as a program; head coach Kalani Sitake coached BYU to two of those other 10-win seasons, in 2020 and 2021.

For Houston: Wearing red, these Cougars have previously battled BYU and are 0-3 against the blue-clad outfit from Provo. The schools last met in 2020, with BYU overcoming a 26-14 deficit to win 43-26 at TDECU Stadium in Houston.

The last time Houston played in Provo, BYU won 33-25 as Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill combined for 323 yards rushing in 2014.

Houston has lost two straight games — at Arizona and at home to Baylor — after upsetting No. 17 at Kansas State 24-19 at Houston.

What to watch out for

BYU has run into some late-season injury problems, with linebacker Harrison Taggart suffering a concussion in Tempe in the 28-23 loss to Arizona State. Taggart is in concussion protocol and likely won’t play against Houston. However, defensive coordinator Jay Hill said safety Wakley should be back after Wakley missed the ASU game with an undisclosed injury.

The Cougars will try to establish their rushing attack in the cold in Provo, not relying on Retzlaff and standout receivers Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter to carry so much of the offense. That means sophomore RB LJ Martin and senior RB Hinckley Ropati will consistently be called upon to get things going on the ground.

Before the game, BYU will honor 20 departing seniors, although some with eligibility remaining — such as tight end Mason Fakahua — have not officially said they are moving on.

The Houston Cougars will need to adjust to the cold quickly. According to the school’s game notes for their regular season finale, the average kickoff temperature for Houston’s first 11 games has been 80.5 degrees. In just one game this season has Houston played when the temperature was below 65 degrees at kickoff. It was 58 degrees in Arizona on November 15th.

Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s and high 20s in Provo on Saturday.

Zeon Chriss has started the last six games at QB for the Cougars, completing 63.2% of his passes for 668 yards. He also has rushed for 376 yards and is a true dual-threat QB, BYU DC Jay Hill said Tuesday.

Key player

Jake Retzlaff, Junior, Quarterback, BYU: Retzlaff is no. 26 nationally in passing touchdowns with 20, but couldn’t quite get the Cougars into the end zone when it really mattered the last two games as the Cougars fell short against Kansas and Arizona State. Retzlaff’s numbers against the Sun Devils were fantastic, especially after the officials called a 49-yard toss to Chase Roberts on the Hail Mary vs. ASU in the record books.

For BYU to win Saturday night, Retzlaff needs to return to his pre-Kansas form, which is to execute better in the red zone and avoid costly turnovers. If he does, BYU should be able to outscore visiting Houston and get double-digit wins in the regular season.

Citable

“This is for the seniors. This is their last go-round and our last time in LaVell Edwards Stadium with them. We’re looking to focus on them and do our best for them. … We’re getting ready for a team like Houston that is dangerous and has beaten some teams and surprised some teams along the way.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake.

“Shoot, this is our bowl game, in my opinion. This is a big one for us. I’m looking forward to it. I have a lot of respect for what coach (Sitake) has done there at BYU. They have had a fantastic season. It will be an opportunity for us to test ourselves. — Houston coach Willie Fritz.

Next up

• BYU: Either the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 7 in Arlington, Texas, or a bowl game at the end of the month
• Houston: Season over

BYU schedule

• August 31 – Defeated Southern Illinois, 41-13
• Sept. 6 – Defeated SMU, 18-15
• Sept. 14 – Defeated Wyoming, 34-14
• September 21 – Defeated Kansas State, 38-9
• Sept. 28 – Defeated Baylor, 34-28
• October 5 – Goodbye
• October 12 – Defeated Arizona, 41-19
• October 18 – Defeated Oklahoma State, 38-35
• October 26 – Defeated Central Florida, 37-24
• November 2 – Goodbye
• November 9 – Defeated Utah, 22-21
• November 16 – Lost to Kansas, 17-13
• November 23 – Lost to Arizona State, 28-23
• November 30 – Houston