Forgive the BYU Cougars if they don't quite know how to handle a bye week this early in the college football season.
But coach Kalani Sitake's 4-1 team isn't about to give it back. That's especially true because the Cougars face a monumental task a week from Saturday, a Big 12 showdown with 2022 College Football Playoff runner-up TCU at the Horned Frogs' 50,000-seat venue, Amon G. Carter Stadium.
"You obviously get an extra week (to prepare) for them than they do for you," BYU linebacker AJ Vongphachanh said Monday. "They have to focus on their opponent this week, so it is definitely a huge advantage to have an extra week to prepare and gameplan, for sure."
It was announced Monday that the Oct. 14 game in Fort Worth will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised by ESPN. TCU (1-1, 3-2) plays at Iowa State this Saturday while the Cougars are idle. Because they are 19-1 in their last 20 night games, there were some Cougars hoping to play under the lights in the heart of Texas , but not offensive lineman Connor Pay.
"Road games, I don't care too much. The time doesn't really matter to me, especially on the road," Pay said. "Home games are fun to be under the lights. There is a different feel to that, and it is really enjoyable. … But whenever they want us to take the field and go play, that is what we are going to do."
Conference play is obviously unfamiliar to the Cougars, who were independent the past 12 seasons, and so is having a bye this early.
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In each of the last two years, their bye came after 10 games, which obviously is not optimal. In 2021, their bye came on Nov. 13 after they beat Idaho State 59-14 on Nov. 6. In 2022, their bye came on Nov. 12 after they beat Boise State on Nov. 5 to snap a four-game losing streak.
They were a bit rusty after their last two byes, edging Georgia Southern 34-17 in 2021 and starting slowly before holding off Utah Tech 52-26 last year.
Still, "the bye week is really timely this year," Pay said, noting how the tradeoff is that they lose a little momentum garnered from last Friday's 35-27 win over Cincinnati.
"Just anywhere in that middle section of the season is nice, just because now that we are five games in, just normal bumps and bruises, that type of thing (have happened)," Pay said. "You get a chance to heal from those, and maybe some more serious injuries for other guys, and get a chance to get people back with the week off."
Speaking of which, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga said on their respective "Coordinators' Corner" segments Monday that guys who missed the Cincinnati game such as receiver Kody Epps, running back, Aidan Robbins, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho and linebacker Ben Bywater could be back for TCU. Another injured player they could use is safety Talan Alfrey, who has been out since fall camp.
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"We don't talk about injuries unless they are season-ending, so that is a good sign (that there are no new ones to report)," Sitake said. "We are still looking at getting guys back. I think there are a good number of players who will come back for the TCU game.
"And then there are some that will probably take a couple more weeks, even after that," Sitake continued. "But I think for those that have got hurt in the last couple of weeks, there is a good chance that they could all come back by TCU."
Punter Ryan Rehkow , who joined Sitake, Pay and Vongphanchanh for Monday's weekly press briefing, said the Cougars "will hit these next few days pretty hard, just kinda get back into the swing of things."
After four days of practices, the players will get Friday, Saturday and Sunday off to recuperate and gear up for a killer stretch of seven straight games against some of the top teams in the conference.
As he mentioned after the Cincinnati game, Sitake "feels good" about his team right now, which has shown plenty of resilience to get four wins in September.
BYU (4-1)
at TCU (3-2)
Oct. 14, TBA
Amon G. Carter Stadium
(Capacity: 50,000)
TV:TBA
Radio:102.7 FM/1160 AM
Note:TCU plays at Iowa State on Saturday; kickoff time and television plans for Oct. 14 game were announced Monday.
"We are sitting in a really good spot right now going into the bye week," Sitake said. "I am really proud of the boys, proud of the team, proud of the coaches, their commitment to each other and our culture, but also committed to just knowing that they gotta battle it out."
TCU was upset 24-21 by West Virginia Saturday night in Fort Worth, which illustrates just how much parity exists in the league, Sitake said.
"That has kinda been proven in every game," he said. "When you are looking at the Big 12 Conference, a lot of parity. There are large leads that aren't safe, and a lot of games coming down to the wire. So that is going to be part of it. You have to be ready for a battle every week."
Even when your bye comes in early October.
Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) catches a snap during a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty (92) sacks Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Emory Jones (5) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts scores a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Players warm up before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass intended for the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (27) runs past Cincinnati Bearcats defensive back Taj Ward (15) during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
BYU cheerleaders cheer before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Jakob Robinson (0) intercepts a pass intended for the Cincinnati Bearcats and runs for a touchdown during the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
A BYU cheerleader cheers before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Cosmo and Bearcat interact before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Drummers perform before the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The Brigham Young Cougars enter the field to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake coaches from the sideline in a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
BYU players greet fans after winning a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Braden Smith (0) scores a touchdown as Brigham Young Cougars safety Ethan Slade (26) reaches for the ball during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Eddie Heckard (5) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Xzavier Henderson (8) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars running back Miles Davis (4) gets tackled by Cincinnati Bearcats safety Deshawn Pace (3) and Cincinnati Bearcats defensive end Eric Phillips (97) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars running back Miles Davis (4) runs past Cincinnati Bearcats defensive end Eric Phillips (97) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Cosmo plays a drum during a break in a football game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Performers spin fire during a break in a football game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars cornerback Marcus McKenzie (32) tries to recover a muffed punt by Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Braden Smith (0) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (27) runs with the ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Fans cheer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The Brigham Young Cougars run onto the field to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Fans cheer as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Keelan Marion (17) runs with the ball as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts runs for a touchdown during the second half of a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
A fan cheers as the Brigham Young Cougars play the Cincinnati Bearcats in a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Cincinnati Bearcats running back Corey Kiner (21) gets tackled by Brigham Young Cougars safety Tanner Wall (28), Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Blake Mangelson (93) and Brigham Young Cougars safety Ethan Slade (26) during the second half of a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
BYU players greet fans after winning a football game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. BYU won 35-27. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
