BYU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Baylor (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• Kick-off: Saturday, 10am MDT
• Location: McLane Stadium (capacity: 45,140)
• TV: Foxsport 1
• Live stream: foxsports.com/live/fs1
• Radio: KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM/BYU radio Sirius XM 143
• Series: Draw, 2-2
• Weather: Mostly sunny skies at kick-off, with temperatures in the 80s and possibly climbing into the 90s by half time. Winds will be light and variable, with gusts up to 12 km/h from the northwest. During the race the wind may increase slightly.

The trends

For BYU: The Cougars are coming off one of their most dominant wins in years, a 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State, while earning a No. 22 ranking in both major polls. BYU is still looking for its first Big 12 win on the road after going 0-5 in league play on the road last year.

The Cougars are 22-7 under coach Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team, looking to move to 5-0 for the first time since 2021, when they were 5-0 before a home loss to Boise State. They followed that loss with a 38-24 loss at Baylor in their last trip to Waco.

For Baylor: The Bears were absolutely devastated after dropping a 38-31 decision in overtime in Colorado in a game they should have won by most accounts. Baylor is 59-198-6 all-time against ranked opponents, and 5-13 during coach Dave Aranda’s tenure in Waco.

In 2021, Baylor went 5-1 against ranked teams, including four straight wins over ranked opponents, and three straight wins over ranked opponents, and three straight wins over teams in the top eight.

What to pay attention to

The Cougars scored on offense, defense and special teams in the win over the Wildcats, and enter their first Big 12 road game scoring 32.8 points per game and holding opponents to 12.8 points per game. BYU has not allowed a touchdown to the last two Power Four opponents it has played, SMU and KSU.

Jake Retzlaff won the starting quarterback job in preseason training camp after a close race with Gerry Bohanon, who, ironically, was Baylor’s starting QB when the Bears defeated the Cougars in 2021. Bohanon was 18 of 28 for 231 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, in the win over Jaren Hall and the Cougs that day. Baylor would win the Big 12 title.

The Bears nearly had a 31-10 lead over Colorado, but a potential touchdown pass was dropped in the end zone, and the Buffaloes seized the momentum late and won with the help of a Hail Mary at the end of regulation. Sawyer Robertson has taken over as starting quarterback after Dequan Finn won a battle in fall camp to get the starting snaps. Finn was the QB in Baylor’s loss at Utah in Week 2.

In the last game in Waco against BYU, the Bears did not concede a single penalty which was the first time in program history.

Key player

Jake Retzlaff, junior, BYU, quarterback: The junior college transfer has been more of a game manager in recent weeks as BYU used defense and special teams to thwart Wyoming and Kansas State. Apparently more will be needed from the so-called BY-Jew on Saturday, as BYU still holds the running back spot. Running back Hinckley Ropati, however, is expected back after missing the last two games due to swelling in his surgically repaired knee.

Retzlaff is No. 31 nationally in total offense with 273.3 yards per game and was 15 of 21 for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas State.

Quotable

“They have suffered a heartbreaking loss. They had the match under control. The overtime game.

“I know they’re in a tough situation right now, but because he knows everything about Dave Aranda and what he does in this industry, he’s going to get those guys working and make sure they give us their best.

“My job is to make sure that we also do our best, and we’ll see how it goes. I’m looking forward to the match and looking forward to being there. — BYU coach Kalani Sitake

“Really tough and just a heartbreaking loss. I haven’t really been a part of anything like that, especially until the last play of (regulation), or the last play of overtime, how that went. Very difficult to take. The team is very upset and so frustrated right now. We’ll probably be in pain all the way back to Waco. — Baylor coach Dave Aranda after CU loss

Next

• BYU: Day week (vs. Arizona on October 12)
• Baylor: in the state of Iowa

BYU schedule

• August 31 – Defeated Southern Illinois, 41-13
• September 6 – Defeated SMU, 18-15
• September 14 — Defeated Wyoming, 34-14
• September 21 – Defeated Kansas State, 38-9
• September 28 – at Baylor
• October 5 – Goodbye
• October 12 – Arizona
• October 18 – Oklahoma State, 8:15pm MDT, ESPN
• October 26 – in Central Florida
• November 2 – Goodbye
• November 9 – in Utah
• November 16 – Kansas
• November 23 – Arizona State
• November 30—Houston