Coming into our game with BYU this year, many of us were nervous about BYU than I have been in a long time, and that nervousness was justified. You have played solid games against every opponent so far, just some miscues—dropped balls, QB judgment errors, people on the line out of position, turnovers. But you were competitive down to the wire in every game.

The Utah fanbase had to learn that there was a learning curve playing a P5-heavy schedule. Against P5 competition there is general soundness and depth at most positions and on most plays, opponents' team speed is higher and doesn't let up for four quarters, and if one of your own men cuts corners on a play or makes a mistake, your opponent will generally capitalize on it rather than letting you get away with one.

Amongst G5 teams, there are a lot of teams that are just plain not sound football teams, not across the board, not when moving into the depth chart, and not when they get down by a few scores. Amongst P5 teams, many with losing records are not bad teams at all, just "not as good as the other teams in the conference."

You're playing a solid P5 schedule so far this year, and it's not that BYU is bad, it's that the pieces aren't all in place yet. You're close to winning, but you'll have to reach a minimum level of consistency and quality play and discipline for four quarters to start to pull these close ones out all the time. It's taken us a few years and our coaching staff is still learning and the culture and depth chart are still being built.

You guys will be fine. Just need to chill and play through and let your staff work. If you stay independent with schedules like this, or if you go to the Big XII, you'll get there in a couple years. I, for one, hope you get into the Big XII and then the rivalry game gets solidified as a yearly OOC event. It will be awesome having the rivalry game be a Pac 12 vs. Big XII matchup every year with national interest.

Until then, relax. You guys are going to win more games this year, and those that you don't win aren't just down to your QB or to any one or two coaches. It's just learning that you have to be disciplined, sound, and conditioned for four quarters every week, both players and play callers (no mental "plays off"), against every team, no gimmes. With Sitake and Detmer onboard and from what I saw yesterday, it's happening, and your schedule is just tougher this year. Hang tight and hope to see you all in a Pac 12 vs. Big XII matchup soon.