Is BYU's offense ready for its Big 12 debut?

PROVO — Paul Maile jokes that he didn't make a habit of going to Utah County when he was growing up at East High, or during his 29 games playing center and guard for the University of Utah.

But the 6-foot-2, 300-pound offensive lineman who loves to nap holds one vivid memory of the last time he played at LaVell Edwards Stadium with the Utes.

"It was probably a top-three loudest games I've ever played in," Maile said of the Cougars' 26-17 win over their archrivals that snapped a nine-game losing streak.

"I'm just so excited to play in LaVell Edwards Stadium, on the good side this time around," he added. "It was so loud when I played in it back in 2021, and I can't imagine what it's like with everyone cheering for you. It was so loud, so I'm excited to see how bumping it gets on Game 1."

Maile will be the Cougars' starting center when BYU opens its Big 12 era Saturday against FBS newcomer Sam Houston State (8:15 p.m. MDT, FS1), a position he won after a "friendly" competition with incumbent and new teammate Connor Pay.

Pay, the 6-foot-5, 312-pound junior lineman from Lone Peak, will still line up next to Maile at right guard, which made the decision on whom to start at center a little bit easier, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick admits.

Only one other spot on the offensive line was decided by the time BYU closed fall camp, that being left tackle Kingsley Suamataia. Oklahoma State transfer Caleb Etienne was presumed to have the edge on 6-foot-9 returning junior Brayden Keim at right tackle, while Utah State transfer Weylin Lapuaho and former FCS All-American Ian Fitzgerald from Missouri State will battling at left guard.

That made Roderick and offensive line coach Darrell Funk's decision at center all the more necessary, but perhaps a little easier to make.

"It's funny; it was a competition, but it didn't really feel like one," Roderick said. "Most of the time, they were playing together, so there were so many reps alternating. They're both team guys, and they were both good with whatever.

"What was clear from the start," he added, "was they were both in our top five and have to be on the field."

The roster along the line of scrimmages was one of the few decisions left to make as the Cougars began preparing to face the Bearkats, who are making their own jump from the Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA.

Former USC and Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis will line up under center (with Jake Retzlaff and Cade Fennegan behind him), with UNLV transfer Aidan Robbins in the backfield, and a line of returning pass catchers that could include Kody Epps, Parker Kingston, Chase Roberts, Keanu Hill and Isaac Rex will be available, as well.

But even as the line remained a mystery, Maile and Pay continued to show their best effort while trying to earn the center job. In the end, it may have been Pay's physical intangibles that pushed him to guard — though the decision could easily be reversed throughout the season, Roderick was quick to add.

"Connor is a really good guard, a little longer, a little taller, and that came into consideration with some of the big defensive tackles you have to block in this league," Roderick said. "I think with Connor's experience in this offense — and whoever plays right tackle will be a new starter (at BYU) — having a super experienced guard next to a new tackle was a consideration. But we could flip it right now, and there wouldn't be any difference. I also think this will be great for Connor; now he gets to show the NFL a season of playing guard."

The Cougars are 6-1 in season openers under head coach Kalani Sitake, but have played just two prior openers at home. The most recent win, of course, was last year's 50-21 victory over South Florida at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

With the roster on the offensive line solidified — Roderick said he "knows what we're going to do," though he chose not to elaborate much on the specifics — is the offense ready for its first introduction of 2023?

"We're about to find out Saturday night," Roderick said. "We're on track, and we'll be ready to play. I'm confident in this group. Game ones are always a wild card, and there are usually some mistakes, so you have to just play hard and try to overcome those. But I expect us to play."

Sam Houston could provide a clear challenge to the Cougars, too, despite the Bearkats new status in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The team ranked first nationally in first down defense, 14th in blocked punts, and 15th in scoring defense in allowing 20.8 points per game.

That while redshirting 15 players, many of whom helped the program to the FCS national championship in 2021, in preparation for the jump.

"These guys are disruptive," Roderick said. "We're going to have to stick together, and I'm interested to see how we do that. We have so many new players, and I want to see how we overcome adversity."

That's the next step for the BYU offense, one that has performed well since Roderick took over full-time coordinator duties in 2021: how will the Cougars fare when the defense is coming after them and the games count? It won't get any easier with the move to the Big 12, so take advantage of live reps when Sam Houston and Southern Utah come to town in the first two weeks.

Practice is over. It's about to get real.

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