The BYU Cougars’ remarkable performance against Kansas State appeared nearly impossible to replicate, yet they did just that in their recent game against Arizona. Three weeks earlier, BYU managed to generate three turnovers within six minutes, scoring 28 points and taking control against the then-No. 13 team in the nation.
The second half of the Cougars’ matchup with Arizona kicked off on a high note Saturday afternoon. Defensive back Jakob Robinson swiftly intercepted a deflected pass, giving BYU possession at the 9-yard line, which led to a touchdown by Chase Roberts. Shortly after, Isaiah Glasker forced a fumble from quarterback Noah Fifita, allowing BYU to capitalize once more with another scoring opportunity, resulting in a field goal.
Although it wasn’t quite the same level of turnover frenzy as against Kansas State, these two turnovers contributed significantly to BYU’s 41-19 victory over Arizona. The Cougars improved to 6-0 and secured their place at the top of the Big 12 standings, marking a successful turnaround after missing out on a bowl game last year.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake expressed pride in his team’s hard work during the offseason, emphasizing that dedication leads to success. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff had a commendable performance, recording 218 yards and two touchdowns on 18 of 32 passing attempts, while the team accumulated nearly 400 yards of offense.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill made critical adjustments after halftime, successfully applying pressure to Arizona’s quarterback, who had previously led a 95-yard scoring drive for the Wildcats. Despite a strong performance from Arizona, highlighted by three touchdown passes from Fifita, BYU’s defense tightened up in the second half.
Retzlaff led the Cougars on two essential drives before the turnover sequence began, connecting with Parker Kingston for a 20-yard touchdown and executing a trick play where Kingston threw a 33-yard touchdown to LJ Martin, securing a 14-7 lead. In the fourth quarter, LJ Martin sealed the victory with a one-yard touchdown.
Darius Lassiter was the standout receiver for BYU, amassing 86 yards on five catches. Looking ahead, the Cougars are set to host Oklahoma State next Friday in Provo.