If they are describing many of the opening games that certain teams have as cakewalks, or the fact that many teams begin their season with a warm up cakewalk games, and then follow up that this one is far from that. Then it is a huge compliment to their own team for scheduling a non-cakewalk game, while also being a compliment to BYU for being the non-cake team.

How could that be seen as anything as a compliment? Either you are a cakewalk or you aren't. They said this game isn't. How can that be anything but a compliment?