With both teams coming off of bye weeks, #18 BYU (4-0) hosts the Utah State Aggies (2-2, 0-0 MWC) on a Friday night ESPN show down. Utah State had high expectations this season after the programs third bowl win came following the 2013 season, but the Aggies weren't up to snuff after only returning 8 starters and started out the 2014 season with a disappointing 38-7 loss at Tennessee. They bounced back with wins over Idaho State and Wake Forest, the latter in which may have been the last of the season for QB Chuckie Keeton as he went down with another injury to his right knee. The following week, the Aggies lost an emotional 21-14 OT game at Arkansas State.

BYU and Utah State is an in-state "rivalry" game. BYU leads the all-time series 46-34-3 and leads 29-7 since Lavell Edwards was hired in 1972 while current head coach Bronco Mendenhall holds a 6-1 record over the team from Logan. In recent years, wins have come few and far between for Utah State with the last being in Logan in 2010. BYU last lost at home against the Aggies in 1978 and is 17-0 in Provo since. The Cougars are a heavy favorite in this game, but still need to improve in execution to win this game.

Here are the five keys that will lead to a BYU victory:

1. Establish the run game early. USU is currently ranked #4 in the nation in rush defense. While they haven't played an spectacular running teams, it will be important for BYU to set the tone early by feeding the ball to Jamaal. They have some great talent at LB, despite missing star LB Kyler Fackerell, brother's Zach and Nick Vigil have emerged and are leading the team in tackles.

2. Keep the offense on the field. BYU was only able to run 60 plays against Virginia, which is completely abnormal in Anae 2.0's Go Fast Go Hard offensive scheme. While the Cougars did make the best of scoring with their limited number of plays, tying a season high of 41 points, the Cavaliers had too many opportunities to score. Having Ryker Mathews and Brayden Kearsley back on the line will help keep fresh legs in the rotation, while returning skill players Jordan Leslie, Nick Kurtz, and Algie Brown will give Taysom more options to spread the ball out and keep USU on their toes.

3. Pressure the QB. Utah State has struggled on the O-line replacing 4 starters from last years team. The inexperience has led to the Aggies failing to establish the run game and poor decisions by the QB under pressure. BYU has failed to get a sack in the last two game (Michael Alisa says taht Alani Fua was credited with two against Houston but they have yet to appear in the official stats). With Bronson Kaufusi returning from injury, and USU's lack of experience on the O-line, BYU has the ability to only rush four players and drop 7 back into coverage and still get pressure.

4. Don't allow conversions on 3rd and long. BYU struggled against Virginia on getting stops on third and long allowing them to convert 6 times on 3rd down plays longer than 6 yards. This allowed the Cavaliers to keep drives alive and wear down BYU's defense. The most important thing for BYU's defense is to not lose any momentum by giving up big plays.

5. Rely on Arellano's leg if needed. Scott is a special talent at punter and is ranked first in net avg for punting yards. He proved against Virginia that he can pin opponents inside their own 20 if needed. While it would be awesome if BYU could score on every offensive possession, that is not realistic. When BYU does have to punt, it is nice to do so knowing that the opposing offense has to put together a drive of 80+ yards which is even more difficult with a one-dimensional system.