No. 2 BYU heads to UCF after beating Notre Dame, with Sitake stressing focus
The 6-0 Cougars face a UCF team that is 3-0 at home and says it is fighting for respect in Florida.
Based on reporting by Deseret News. Read the original story →
No. 2 BYU travels to Orlando to play UCF on Saturday, trying to move past the emotion of its 28-24 home win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, the Deseret News reported. The Cougars are 6-0 and face the longest road trip of their season. [1]
Head coach Kalani Sitake has been telling his players to stay hungry and humble. The Deseret News said that includes avoiding what former Alabama coach Nick Saban calls "rat poison," letting praise on social media go to a team's head. After the Notre Dame game, quarterback Bear Bachmeier was named the Associated Press National Player of the Week and linebacker Cade Uluave, BYU's leading tackler in that game, was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. [1]
UCF is 3-0 at home and has beaten TCU. The Deseret News wrote that the Knights are fighting for respect in a recruiting-rich state where they compete with Miami, Florida State and Florida, and that they have experienced, speedy receivers. [1]
Deseret News writers Jay Drew and Dick Harmon pointed to BYU's cornerbacks as a key to the game. Drew said the secondary was particularly effective against Notre Dame, and that Matthias Leach and Jordyn Criss stepped in when Tre Alexander and Jayven Williams were hurt. Harmon wrote that Alexander and Evan Johnson allow BYU to play man coverage and pressure quarterbacks. [1]
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