High-scoring BYU offense even a joy from the sideline for returning running back Sione Finau (+how to watch, stream, listen)

PROVO — There's been a lot of time for Sione Finau to observe the offense provided during the 6-0 start by his teammates with the No. 11 BYU football team.

Finau missed the first five games of the season while recovering from offseason knee surgery at the end of the 2019 season. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore from Kearns was the Cougars' leading rusher during the eight games he played a year ago, when he averaged 6.1 yards per carry for 359 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshmen prior to tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

So all Finau could do was sit back and watch as twin tailbacks Tyler Allgeier and Lopini Katoa average 6.6 and 5.1 yards per carry, respectively, in piling up 10 touchdowns for a top-10 offense — to say nothing of his thoughts of junior quarterback Zach Wilson, who has already completed 78.1% of his passes for 1,928 yards and 16 touchdowns with just one interception.

And he watched it all with a smile on his face.

"Some of the plays that Tyler and Lopini make just shock me," Finau said. "I'm just so happy and glad for them. They were there for me when I was blowing up last year, and why not be there for them?

"I'm the first dude to run on the field when they get in the end zone."

More than their success on game day, Finau added he's happy for the two running backs' success in practice. He understands the everyday grind of producing in an offense like the one run by offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and passing game coordinator Aaron Roderick — and no matter who it is against, good offense is good offense.

After back-to-back 7-6 seasons — both of which Finau saw, though one as a newly returned missionary on the scout team — the Cougars are seeing the fruits of their preparations as they turn their attention to Western Kentucky (2-4) with a chance to move to 7-0 for the first time since 2001 on Saturday (8:15 p.m. MT, ESPN).

"I've seen these dudes work, and I've seen their work ethic," Finau said. "It's a blessing to see, and a blessing to be a part of."

While Grimes may be the architect and Wilson may be the star signal-caller, both agree the strength of BYU's offense — which ranks No. 6 nationally with 7.82 yards per play and 547.3 yars per game — is in the supporting cast, from Allgeier to Katoa to Finau, who saw his first touches in last week's 52-14 win over Texas State.

"It's a dream. It's a blessing, for sure," said Wilson, who ranks second nationally in passing yards, behind only UCF's Dillon Gabriel. "But all that is really a team award; no one is winning the Heisman if you're losing games. But I haven't been hit all year, and I have wide receivers high-pointing the ball.

"I tell those guys all the time that it's really a reflection of our team."

None of what BYU has done — from the top-10 ranking in the coaches poll to the potential for a New Year's Six bowl berth to Wilson's darkhorse Heisman Trophy contention — matters without a win over the Hilltoppers, who are led by Maryland transfer quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome (632 yards, seven touchdowns) and average 17.7 points per game while allowing 27.8 points.

Western Kentucky is fresh off a nine-win season, and features an aggressive team and a defense known for a lot of blitzes, Grimes said.

"They work really hard to be aggressive in their coverage, and force you to make throws," he added. "I expect we will be in a lot of positions like we were in against Houston."

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, STREAM

No. 11 BYU (6-0) vs. Western Kentucky (2-4)

Saturday, Oct. 31

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. MT

TV: ESPN (Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonantony)

Streaming: WatchESPN

Radio: BYU Radio, KSL Radio (Greg Wrubell, Riley Nelson, Mitchell Juergens)

Live stats: Game Center

Series history: First meeting

Weather: Mostly sunny, high of 64 degrees with an overnight low of 36

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