Week 1 – BYU @ Arizona – Sat, Sept 3, 2016 – UOP Stadium – Glendale, AZ – 10:30pm EST – FS1

Game gets a late-night slot and is showcasing a football game to start the year where last year ended…Glendale, AZ. Lots of chatter about Taysom being 26 years old and named starter…UofA continues to be hush hush about their starter, saying they’ll decided at kickoff. Interestingly enough both Taysom and Tanner were elected as the two offensive team captains (defensive rep is Langi).

Taysom has reportedly looked wonderful in fall camp. The kid is Superman…there seem to be no ill-effects from his injury. Even more promising the nay-sayers that seem to be so focused on his perfectly sculpted legs that they forget he has a great arm and brain, appear to be ready for disappointment as he is fully grasping the new offense Ty wishes to install.

With that said, Taysom leads the team well but Jamaal goes full on beast mode in his first game back and bursts onto the national stage in game 1. He says after the game that he’s been waiting almost 2 years to get back on the field and licking his chops to hit someone. He rushes for 212 yards on 27 carries and has 3 TD’s! He also caught a pass from Taysom out of the backfield on a wheel route for 25 yards on a crucial 4th and short early in the 4th quarter.

BYU’s defense looks a bit overwhelmed trying to stop Rich-Rod’s potent attack and don’t seem to have the full scheme down pat but the offense covers any flaws this team has and the secondary is noticeably more athletic than any BYU secondary we’ve seen in recent memory. Even when Taysom is throwing he looks pretty surgical in the pocket and BYU’s running game is potent. BYU escapes a late surge by the Wildcats to go home with a 35-28 victory.

Player of the Game – Jamaal Williams – 27 carries, 212 yds, 3 TD’s, 3 rec, 33 yds