BYU’s potent offense might meet its match

Brigham Young’s offense fields plenty of star power in quarterback Max Hall, tailback Harvey Unga, wide receiver Austin Collie and tight end Dennis Pitta.

But the Cougars could be sternly tested Thursday when they play an equally impressive Texas Christian defense at Fort Worth.

TCU ranks first in the nation for fewest yards allowed (207.4 per game) and fewest rushing yards allowed (20.7).

“They might be the best defense I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” fourth-year BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall said the Horned Frogs not only are well coached but are a confident defensive group.

“You can tell they trust each other,” he said.

The game, to be televised nationally on Versus (Channel 67), carries potential implications for the Bowl Championship Series.

BYU is No. 8 in the USA Today and Harris polls, which make up two-thirds of the BCS standings. The AP poll, which ranks the Cougars No. 9, does not factor in the BCS rankings, which will be released for the first time Sunday.

TCU, unranked by AP, is No. 24 in USA Today and is not in the Harris poll Top 25.

As important as the game will be in regards to the BCS and Mountain West Conference, Mendenhall acknowledged it won’t receive the attention nationally.

He attributed that to not being part of a conference that automatically qualifies its champion for a BCS game.

“I think right now the system has excluded us, so the perception nationwide is we’re excluded,” Mendenhall said.

• TOUGH TIMES IN LARAMIE — Joe Glenn’s days as Wyoming coach appear numbered.

The Cowboys have committed at least five turnovers four times this season, and they are last nationally in turnover margin at minus-2.7 per game.

“I can’t sleep at night,” Glenn said. “I go to bed for an hour and wake up. This is no joke. I don’t sleep well at all. It’s killing me, it’s killing the team, it’s killing the program.”

Even worse, Glenn is facing possible dissension on his team, with defensive players making known their displeasure about the offense after Saturday’s 40-7 loss to Utah. Wyoming is averaging nine points per game, last in the nation.

Glenn told the players in a meeting Sunday they needed to stick together.

“They’ve got to be frustrated about our offense, but it’s all about us,” Glenn said.

• BOTH WILL PLAY — Shea Smith started at quarterback in Air Force’s first five games before freshman Tim Jefferson was handed the reins Saturday.

Smith came into the game in the fourth quarter after Jefferson suffered a concussion during the Falcons’ 35-10 victory over San Diego State. Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said he didn’t know how playing time would be divided this Saturday at UNLV.

“Both (quarterbacks) do different things,” Calhoun said.

• LOOKING WAY AHEAD — UNLV will play Iowa State again, but not any time soon. The Rebels will play at Ames, Iowa, in 2020, and the Cyclones visit Las Vegas in 2021.

The teams have developed a bit of a rivalry, having met five times since 1995. UNLV beat Iowa State 34-31 in overtime Sept. 20, ending a four-game series losing streak. That followed a 16-10 Iowa State victory two years ago.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.