By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 2 is a trip to the Wasatch Mountains to visit future Big 12 opponent BYU. This is a night game on ESPN. An independent, BYU officially joins the league along with Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida on July 1, 2023.
Opponent: BYU
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (7th season, 48-29)
2021 Record: 10-3
Conference Affiliation: Independent
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 2-1; Bears won 38-24 in Waco in 2021
Returning Starters: The Cougars return 18 total starters
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 4-3/3-4
Key Returners: OT Blake Freeland, QB Jaren Hall, LB Keenan Pili, LB Payton Wilgar, OT Kingsley Suamataia, RB Christopher Brooks
The Cougars are loaded coming into the 2022 season. They have won 21 games over the past two seasons and should make the AP and Coaches preseason polls.
BYU benefitted from the portal with the addition of several from PAC 12 programs including Suamataia (Oregon), Brooks (Cal) and defensive back Kaleb Hayes (Oregon State).
What has to happen with this team is playing for an entire season. While 2021 featured them winning the pseudo PAC 12 championship with wins over USC, Utah, Washington State and Arizona State, the Cougars were pretty much shut down by Baylor and incredibly lost their bowl game to UAB.
The offense is going to look like Baylor’s – well, Baylor took its offense from BYU when Jeff Grimes arrived in 2021 – with arguably one of the Top 5 offensive lines in the game. Led by likely NFL first-round pick Suamataia, the Cougars will want to pound opponents.
Hall has to bring more maturity running the offense. He had a tendency to make the really bad mistake. This is a year for him to take the next step.
Where the question lays ahead is what BYU can do about its defense. Remember, Baylor planted 500+ yards on it. This defensive front needs to generate a consistent pass rush. BYU only collected 20 sacks in 2021 and allowed opponents to convert on third down at 43 percent.
There will be a Baylor connection in the Cougars 2022 season opener at South Florida. They should see Gerry Bohanon again. Bohanon transferred to USF after losing the starting QB job to Blake Shapen. Bohanon is expected to be the Bulls’ starter.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 at South Florida
Sept. 10 vs. Baylor
Sept. 17 at Oregon
Sept. 24 vs. Wyoming
Sept. 29 vs. Utah State
Oct. 8 vs. Notre Dame (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
Oct. 15 vs. Arkansas
Oct. 22 at Liberty
Oct. 28 vs. East Carolina
Nov. 5 at Boise State
Nov. 19 vs. Utah Tech
Nov. 26 at Stanford
Publisher
SicEmSports continues its look at Baylor’s 2022 opponents. Game 2 is a trip to the Wasatch Mountains to visit future Big 12 opponent BYU. This is a night game on ESPN. An independent, BYU officially joins the league along with Cincinnati, Houston and Central Florida on July 1, 2023.
Opponent: BYU
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (7th season, 48-29)
2021 Record: 10-3
Conference Affiliation: Independent
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 2-1; Bears won 38-24 in Waco in 2021
Returning Starters: The Cougars return 18 total starters
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 4-3/3-4
Key Returners: OT Blake Freeland, QB Jaren Hall, LB Keenan Pili, LB Payton Wilgar, OT Kingsley Suamataia, RB Christopher Brooks
The Cougars are loaded coming into the 2022 season. They have won 21 games over the past two seasons and should make the AP and Coaches preseason polls.
BYU benefitted from the portal with the addition of several from PAC 12 programs including Suamataia (Oregon), Brooks (Cal) and defensive back Kaleb Hayes (Oregon State).
What has to happen with this team is playing for an entire season. While 2021 featured them winning the pseudo PAC 12 championship with wins over USC, Utah, Washington State and Arizona State, the Cougars were pretty much shut down by Baylor and incredibly lost their bowl game to UAB.
The offense is going to look like Baylor’s – well, Baylor took its offense from BYU when Jeff Grimes arrived in 2021 – with arguably one of the Top 5 offensive lines in the game. Led by likely NFL first-round pick Suamataia, the Cougars will want to pound opponents.
Hall has to bring more maturity running the offense. He had a tendency to make the really bad mistake. This is a year for him to take the next step.
Where the question lays ahead is what BYU can do about its defense. Remember, Baylor planted 500+ yards on it. This defensive front needs to generate a consistent pass rush. BYU only collected 20 sacks in 2021 and allowed opponents to convert on third down at 43 percent.
There will be a Baylor connection in the Cougars 2022 season opener at South Florida. They should see Gerry Bohanon again. Bohanon transferred to USF after losing the starting QB job to Blake Shapen. Bohanon is expected to be the Bulls’ starter.
2022 Schedule
Sept. 3 at South Florida
Sept. 10 vs. Baylor
Sept. 17 at Oregon
Sept. 24 vs. Wyoming
Sept. 29 vs. Utah State
Oct. 8 vs. Notre Dame (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
Oct. 15 vs. Arkansas
Oct. 22 at Liberty
Oct. 28 vs. East Carolina
Nov. 5 at Boise State
Nov. 19 vs. Utah Tech
Nov. 26 at Stanford
