Saturday’s win over Utah Tech gave BYU fans something to rave about over the weekend. Highlight reel after highlight reel could be seen flooding social media with one player at its center, Legend Glasker.
In the 63-7 win, No. 15 BYU answered many of the biggest concerns surrounding the team, but it also brought up some new ones. However, the biggest takeaway from last week’s game is how many new weapons BYU has on the offensive side of the ball.
These weapons will prove to be essential if the Cougars are to top Noah Fifita and the Arizona Wildcats Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The game will be streaming on FOX.
Every opponent, or anyone who has watched BYU play a game over the last year, knows that BYU’s depth at running back is its strongest point of attack for the offense. In the game against Utah Tech, BYU had two of its rushing touchdowns come from true freshman running backs Devaughn Eka and Journee Tonga.
“I was super proud of Journee and Devaughn and some of the younger guys that really stepped up,” said running back Preston Rex, who rushed for a touchdown himself. “They just did their part and did a great job in that second half. I was really proud of them and they’re going to be amazing players.”
Overall, BYU had three true freshmen score rushing touchdowns in the season opener, Eka, Tonga and Glasker. This puts BYU into a special category as one of just four teams to do so since 2000. Those schools include Army, Maryland, USC and LSU.
In the air attack, it is safe to say that the Cougars exceeded expectations with their new wide receiver unit. Glasker, a true freshman, could not be stopped in the first half, recording three receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Kyler Kasper was another favorite target and caught four passes for 42 yards. Kasper may have been considered a gamble in the transfer portal by some, but proved his skill in the season opener.
The success of these two groups will be one of the main determinants for how the game against Arizona will go. Last weekend, Arizona defeated Northern Arizona University 35-7 and dominated the Lumberjacks’ running game, who finished with negative seven rushing yards. The Arizona defensive front lived in the backfield, recording five sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
“They have a disruptive defense,” said coach Kalani Sitake. “They are a tough team and we’re excited about the matchup but we’ve got to be at our best and we’ve got to make sure to take care of our preparation and make sure that our guys are ready to roll too.”
If BYU is going to walk away with its sixth straight win over the Wildcats, all of the offensive weapons are going to have to click, especially the run game. And already BYU’s depth has taken a significant hit after last week’s win.
Sione Moa, the backup for LJ Martin, left the game with an injury and did not return. While there is no word on how serious the injury is, it is going to be up to third string running back Rex to aid LJ Martin. Rex scored a touchdown and ran for 38 yards on five carries. He has some experience in the offense's system.
“The mindset is the same,” said Rex in Monday’s press conference. “Whoever is stepping into LaVell Edwards (Stadium), we just got to handle our stuff the right way.
“As for the running backs room, everyone is just preparing to be ready when your number’s called.”
Another impactful loss for the Cougars came during the second quarter, when safety Raider Damuni was injured while assisting a tackle. Damuni’s status has been confirmed and he will return later in the season. However with his loss, Damuni’s backup Tommy Prassas has big shoes to fill.
Fifita, Arizona’s quarterback, is known for his ability to pass and scramble away from defenders. Currently, he is set to break Nick Foles’ all-time passing yards record for Arizona. In the contest with NAU, Fifita threw 22-of-29 with 262 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 24 yards on five carries.
“It’s a big challenge. Arizona is a great team,” said defensive end Hunter Clegg. “I’m especially excited as [someone on] the defensive line because they like to throw the ball a lot. So we hope to get after them.”
The defensive line getting pressure on the quarterback could be a concern after last week’s game. However, with the minimal blitz packages that BYU ran, the jury is still out on what this group can do on the field.
Another key to stopping Fifita’s passing threat is going to lie on the shoulders of cornerbacks Evan Johnson and Tre Alexander III. The good news is, these two can handle the pressure. Johnson has a good history against Arizona, in fact, he sealed the win for BYU last season in its double overtime showdown with Arizona.
Alexander and Johnson both had interceptions against Utah Tech and in the past two matchups, Noah Fifita has thrown a total of four interceptions, three in 2024 and one in 2025. If Johnson and Alexander can continue to excel, their efforts could alleviate the loss of Damuni.
As with any game in college football, BYU is going to have to fire on all cylinders. Currently, BYU is the 7.5-point favorite, so the odds are in its favor. A Week 2 win over Arizona would not only give the Cougars an early confidence boost, it could further legitimize them as a potential top contender for the conference title.