Even with the known loss of Jamaal and Takitaki and the suspected loss of Nacua and Langi for a half, we're looking pretty good. Really on offense we lose Jamaal...who we didn't have that much of last year...and Leslie...who was hurt all year. We replace Leslie with Kurtz who may be better and Algie, Hine, and Carter all have a lot of experience. The starters on the OL are all back...and Hill is the best player on the field.

Defensively we are 3 deep on the line...and we'll probably need it because of the heat. Losing Langi for a half hurts as he has been coming in, but Pikula and JLD have both started plenty on the inside and Tautu has been grading out as the best OLB. He doesn't have the pass rush of TakiTaki, but may be better in space and more assignment sound.

Losing Nacua hurts as he's second only to Hill perhaps as the most athletic guy on the team, but shifting Preator back gives us three legit cover guys in the secondary. If our front 7 does OK, the secondary will be adequate.

The heat and humidity are big concerns...primarily on the OL and in the secondary. Everywhere else I like our rotations.

I like the setting for BYU going in to this game. It's still Nebraska...but we have some advantages we might not often have.