Week 7 - #5 BYU (6-0) vs #20 Cinci (5-0) – Fri Oct 16, 2015 – 6:00 EST – ESPN

This is being dubbed as the “Big 12 play-in game”. It’s actually quite hilarious how much play this angle is getting but both Bronco and Tommy Tuberville have been extremely vocal about P5 inclusion as soon as possible and ESPN is sure catering to this angle and, rumor has it, has basically told B12 during season that to renew contract as is, expansion and CCG are a must. Kirk Herbstreit even says on GameDay preview of game, “It’s a shame these two aren’t in Big12 to boost the conference strength of schedule…right now we’re all just waiting for Baylor/TCU to end the season and these two programs would consistently give the Big12 a more compelling slate of games.” The two teams don’t disappoint tonight and Tuberville even declares in his post game comments, “a new rivalry is born…I hope we play these guys every year.”

Cinci is coming off a big home win vs Miami and a bye week to prepare for BYU. The Cougars are riding high and can seemingly do no wrong…at least until they meet Gunner Kiel.

BYU’s young secondary has mostly been hidden due to great pressure by front 7 and some pretty sub-par opposing QB performances. Gunner Kiel is NOT sub-par. He shreds BYU’s defense for almost 400 yards, but, thankfully, Taysom and Co can keep pace.

Cincinatti cannot stop BYU on the ground, and BYU racks up almost 500 yards rushing…201 by Taysom, 155 by Brown, Carter with 64 and even Blackmon got into the mix on a fly sweep that he took 44 yards to the house.

Gunner Kiel proves a slinger against BYU’s D but BYU falls on the right end of a shoot-out classic…41-31. After Kiel closes the gap in the 4th quarter to 34-31, BYU answers the bell late and Blackmon escapes on his fly sweep for the game-sealing TD. The ensuing Cinci possession ends with a batted ball down by Hanneman and BYU takes a knee to finish them off.

Player of the Game – entire OL – 479 rushing yards, 6.9 ypa, only 2 penalties!