After looking dominant against Wyoming and being pushed to the brink by New Mexico, the Cougar defense must return home and rise to the challenge Saturday against the MWC’s most unique offense: Air Force’s triple option.

Saturday’s game between BYU (8-2, 5-1 MWC) and Air Force (7-4, 5-2 MWC) at LaVell Edwards Stadium begins at 1:30 p.m. and can be seen on CBS College Sports.

Every level of defense faces unique challenges when battling the Falcons. BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen said his biggest obstacle this week will be the cut blocks delivered by the Air Force offensive line.

“It’s legal but dirty. That’s how I feel,” Jorgensen said. “When they cut block they dive at your knees and you can get injured very easily.”

The BYU linebacking corps must face the Falcons without senior Terrance Hooks, who ruptured a patellar tendon in his knee and is done for the season.

“It’s really sad,” said BYU linebacker Matt Bauman. “Terrance is one of the hearts of this team; everybody loves him … He’s stayed really positive, so you have to respect him for that.”

Bauman also said the Cougars are forced to overhaul their defense to match up with the Falcons.

“Air Force’s plays are completely different,” Bauman said. “It’s a whole new package. It’s a whole new defense, essentially, and we get one week to do it. We’ll be ready to go.”

Even though the Falcons enter Saturday’s game ranked 118th of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing offense, BYU defensive back Brandon Bradley says the Cougar secondary will still be called on quite a bit.

“Even though they run all the time, that’s their whole plan: to try to get you to play the run and then sneak a deep pass behind you,” Bradley said. “So we just have to stay focused and make sure we’re doing our part.”

Bradley also said the Cougar defenders must not only know their roles, but stay within them against the unpredictable Falcons.

“It’s one of those games where you have to make sure your assignment is sound and you’re doing all the small things right,” Bradley said. “As soon as you try to do too much … you can mess up.”

Offensively, BYU will try to break through the nation’s top pass defense. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall praised Air Force’s defensive scheme in his Monday press conference.

“Traditionally, Air Force uses a collective approach defensively, like they do offensively with scheme to kind of make the most of the type of athletes they have,” Mendenhall said. “They get nice pressure on the quarterback and they’re very innovative in what they do.”

The deciding factor in Saturday’s game may be beyond either team’s control: the weather. The forecast for Saturday shows cold temperatures and a significant chance for rain or snow.

Bauman said BYU will be ready, no matter what the conditions are.

“Maybe [the cold] will harden the field up, so that will be nice,” Bauman joked. “I grew up in Utah, I’ve played in the cold. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”