Week 3 - #22 BYU (2-0) @ #9 UCLA (2-0) - Sat Sept 19, 2015 - 10:15 p.m EST - ESPN

Third straight week on ESPN for the Cougars, who are gaining lots of national respect as people are beginning to remember Taysom Hill and the 2014 BYU Cougars before he went down. 2 big-time wins also helps the cause. UCLA meanwhile has looked sharp but only had to play UVA at home and UNLV on the road. They won both games convincingly and still sit in the top-10, with a huge P12 south showdown @ UofA next week. The Bruins prove to be talented but also distracted, for more than one reason.

Jamaal Williams was also finally cleared to play and will get the start, while he still shares snaps with Brown and West depending on how his knee responds. Taysom has thrown the ball over 100 times the first two weeks and is obviously making a concerted effort to use his legs less and slide more. BYU will need to rely on his perfectly sculpted legs though in this one as the BYU WR’s struggle to get open against tough, man coverage.

The only exception is a screen pass to Jeurgens who goes the distance and put BYU up 7-0 early in the second quarter. Coach Jim Mora opted to start true freshman Josh Rosen (#1 QB and #2 overall prospect by Rivals) instead of steady veteran, Jerry Neuheisal. Rumor has it, this has created a bit of turmoil in the locker room. Rosen has backed it up by winning the first two games, but he looks rattled by Bronco’s complex defensive packages and constant pressure. He throws 2 picks and UCLA fumbles another ball during their only decent drive to give BYU another great shot to score. Williams, playing in front of over 100 family members and friends, picks an awful time to lose the first fumble of his career, and coughs up the ball on the ensuing possession.

This is an ugly, turnover-filled battle, that might just be decided by special teams…which is a scary thought given BYU’s kicking situation.

Tayom manufactures something out of nothing and rushes 6 times on a long, 12 play drive, to build a 14-0 lead going into the half. Mora comes out of half time saying he’ll give Rosen one more shot in the 3rd and go to Neuheisal immediately if needed. Mora shouldn’t have waited. Kaufusi tips a pass at the line and speedster freshman Dayan Lake picks it off and runs 48 yards to the endzone to give BYU a commanding 21-0 lead. Rosen storms off the field and chucks his helmet on the ground, getting an earful from his head coach.

Can Neuheisal save the day? BYU has a history of looking bad against back-up QB’s…this game proves no different. UCLA goes on two straight scoring drives and narrows the gap 21-14 heading into the 4th. Bronco decides to go for it on 4th down and 4 from UCLA’s 35 yard line b/c we have no kicker and Jamaal gets stuffed in the backfield for a loss. Neuheisal leads UCLA on another scoring drive but BYU at least forces them into a field goal. Taysom throws his second pick of the game and Neuheisal appears to be the hero as he leads the Bruins on another TD drive with 3 minutes left, to give UCLA the first lead of the game, 24-21.

Taysom cements his early season hesiman run by willing his team to victory. He scrambles on 3rd and long and runs over the UCLA safety to get the first down. Then he scampers and finds Mathews streaking down the sideline. The ruling on the field was a catch, and after 4 minutes of review, it stands, much to the chagrin of Bruin fans. 5 plays later, Taysom hits Terren Houk for a TD across the middle and BYU survives, 28-24.

Player of the Game – Taysom Hill – 20/39 281 yds, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s, 21 rushes, 159 yds, 2 TD’s