PROVO — Having worked under Kyle Whittingham for 10 years, BYU football coach Kalani Sitake picked up a lot of the veteran University of Utah coach’s well-worn phrases, such as using the term “throw game” to describe passing the football and “run game” to describe picking up yards on the ground.

Call it what you want, but through four games, BYU’s run game is struggling. The Cougars are also having a tough time stopping the run, as well.

It is a major source of disappointment for Sitake, who has worked hard to establish an identity of being tough, physical and hard-nosed in the trenches. Instead, the Cougars are getting pushed around far more than he would like.

“We didn’t execute well enough (against Washington) and it is my fault, my fault as a coach. I gotta get these guys ready so that we have a higher execution level next week, and play our style of football. We are looking forward to getting that done next week.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake

After giving up 187 rushing yards to Washington in Saturday’s 45-19 loss at LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU is now 116th in the country against the run, allowing 215.5 yards on the ground per game. The Cougars are 103rd in yards allowed per carry (4.76).

“We didn’t execute well enough (against Washington) and it is my fault, my fault as a coach,” Sitake said after Sean McGrew and Richard Newton filled in for ailing starter Salvon Ahmed and combined for 190 rushing yards. “I gotta get these guys ready so that we have a higher execution level next week and play our style of football. We are looking forward to getting that done next week.”

Don’t look now, but Toledo running back Bryant Koback ran 19 times for a career-high 228 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Mitch Guadagni carried the ball 12 times for 119 yards and a TD in the Rockets’ 41-35 win over Colorado State late Saturday night in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Mid-American Conference favorite Toledo (2-1) hosts BYU (2-2) at the Glass Bowl on Saturday at 10 a.m. MDT, a rematch of BYU’s wild 55-53 win in 2016, Sitake’s first year. Toledo has looked forward to BYU’s visit for a long time and is looking to make a statement against one of the country’s better-known college football programs.

The Rockets will surely study how the likes of Utah and Washington ran roughshod over the Cougars.

Running woes: Where BYU ranks nationally


Defense’s yards allowed per game: 215.5 (116th)


Defense’s yards allowed per carry: 4.76 (103rd)


Offense’s yards per rush: 3.44 (111th)


Offense’s rushing yards per game: 102.3 (120th)


Against Washington, “I thought the guys played hard,” Sitake said. “The effort was there. The hard part is they were just pounding us in the run game and getting chunk yardage.”

Softened by run, BYU’s defense was then riddled by the pass, as UW QB Jacob Eason threw for 290 yards. The Cougars are 93rd in total defense, giving up 428.8 yards per game.

To add insult to injury, BYU is down a few defenders, too. Senior Zayne Anderson needs shoulder surgery and is out for the season and promising freshman linebacker Keenan Pili remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Linebacker Chaz Ah You is also dinged up.

In their absence, linebackers Max Tooley and Payton Wilgar and safeties Hayden Livingston and Malik Moore have emerged, but all four are first-year players.

“We have some guys that are banged up and we have to dip into our depth a little bit more,” Sitake said. “So we felt like we made a huge emphasis on our depth this year, and now we will see what it looks like when we take the field against Toledo next week.”

That applies to the offensive side as well, after graduate transfer running back Ty’Son Williams left the Washington game late in the first half with an apparent left knee injury and never returned. On Sunday, Williams announced on social media he tore the ACL in his left knee and is out for the season.

Even with Williams living up to all the hype that accompanied him from South Carolina, BYU has not been able to run the ball effectively in most games, a common problem not unique to this season.

The Cougars are 120th in rushing yards per game (102.3) and 111th in yards per rush (3.44).

“Washington had a really talented D line,” said BYU running back Emmanuel “Supe” Esukpa, who filled in for Williams and finished with 49 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. “They were doing things to disrupt us, but we just have to keep fighting and do what we do. At some point, (the running game) is going to pop.”

Having gone through the gauntlet of four Power Five opponents with a respectable 2-2 record, the Cougars should see their rushing statistics improve the final eight games of the season. They’ve already seen four of the best defenses they will see this season, although Boise State and Utah State may have something to say about that in October and November.

“Not many people thought we would be 2-2 against some pretty good teams in these first four games,” said tight end Matt Bushman, who had 89 yards on six catches against the Huskies. “So, now we are really focused on Toledo. We are going to own up to our mistakes, figure it out, be in the film room a lot and get as prepared as we can for the next game.”

Cougars on the air

BYU (2-2) at Toledo (2-1)

At the Glass Bowl, Toledo

Saturday, 10 a.m. (MDT)

TV: ESPN-plus (subscription)

Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM