There are 14 times in the last 5 years that BYU (under Sitake) has knelt to end the game. 12 of those 14 were against FCS foes, leading by 3+ possessions, or both. The difference between beating Idaho St or UMass 55-3 or 58-3 just doesn't make a big difference.

The only 2 exceptions were:

Washington St 2021, leading by 2 and having just earned a 1st down while in long FG range (46 yard FG) and with 1:43 left.

Options at that point were:

1. kick a FG - would have been dumb since it gives Wash St the ball back and only a 5 point lead
2. try to get to the end zone (with pass/run as best advances ball) - risks turnover or stopping the clock and giving Wash St the ball back
3. try to get to the end zone (only runs) - very small risk of fumble giving Wash St the ball back, but still more than the zero advantage of getting extra points
4. Kneel out the clock - only option which guarantees the win

and UNLV 2017, leading by 10 and having just returned an interception to the UNLV 4 with 1:33 left.

For this one, we almost certainly could have punched the ball into the endzone.  So I guess the argument is that BYU's done horrible damage to their rep by beating UNLV 31-21 in 2017, instead of 38-21?