The morning breaks: At long last, BYU football opens Big 12 play today

LAWRENCE, Kan. — To borrow a line from the late Latter-day Saint apostle Parley P. Pratt and use it in relation to BYU's conference opener Saturday near the banks of the Missouri River: the (Big 12) morning breaks, the shadows (of independence) flee.

The Cougars' long-awaited unfurling of the Big 12 banner will begin Saturday against Kansas (1:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN), and it's fitting that the Great Plains are hosting the first-ever matchup in BYU's new Power Five (for however long the designation remains) home.

Like the Mormon Pioneers fleeing west, the Cougars have fled from a dozen years of football independence to find a spot in the Big 12 just a year before college football reshuffles, with a "Power Two" already emerging from the remnants of the Power Five that has already thrown the Pac-12 into public and private disarray.

Fitting, then, that the Cougars' tilt with the likewise undefeated Jayhawks (3-0) will take place just 48 miles from Independence, Missouri, home to significant pieces of history of the school's sponsoring institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For head coach Kalani Sitake's crew, Saturday is more than a football game. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and this weekend marks the Cougars' first impression to their new conference mates.

"This is our opening game in the Big 12 Conference. We aren't going to ever get this back again," Sitake said. "I need these guys to understand the seriousness of this situation, and why there needs to be a huge sense of urgency for us to play at our best. … That's what the focus is on."

The Cougars are an unlikely 3-0 after a 38-31 upset victory at Arkansas, thanks to a defense that ranks among the top 50 in the nation less than a year after Jay Hill was named defensive coordinator and an offense that still has plenty to prove with fifth-year transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis under center and freshman LJ Martin likely next to his hip.

But with a secondary that ranks tied for 11th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, their task becomes infinitely more difficult with Kansas superstar Jalon Daniels.

The Big 12 preseason offseason player of the year has thrown for 4,167 yards and 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 24 games over the past four years, and he'll look to stretch the Jayhawks' winning streak to four straight in front of a sold-out crowd at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

"He does a great job getting the ball out of his hand, and with the RPO game," Hill said of Daniels. "He doesn't hold on to it very much; and when he does, you've got to catch him when he's scrambling. He brings a lot of problems to the field; there's a reason why he was the preseason Big 12 player of the year. We've got to contain him and do some things that cause him some consternation and some disbelief in what he's trying to do based on our coverages and our blitzes."

Of course, this isn't BYU's first game as a member of the Power Five. The Cougars brought in close to 60 newcomers via transfers and returned missionaries in the offseason, with the hopes of turning around a roster marked by a moribund defense and a graduating quarterback in Jaren Hall who is now backing up Kirk Cousins with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.

In other words, everything has led to this moment.

"The guys don't need to be reminded," wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake said. "But as coaches, we're always reminding them that this is the first Big 12 game ever in the history of BYU, and it will only be the first, so how will you make your mark? I think there's an added level of energy and anticipation, excitement, enthusiasm and I've really appreciated watching these guys and what they bring to practice every day."

Offensively, the Cougars expect to be at full strength — or as close to it as possible, four games into the season. After missing the season opener, Keanu Hill has played in each of the past two contests, and fellow wide receiver Kody Epps joined him on the active roster a week ago in Arkansas, though he didn't register a catch in his first action.

Both returns have been and will continue to be appreciated, too, as the Cougars prepare for a matchup that is "huge for the program," as Slovis explained.

"The last week was great, and the first three weeks coming out 3-0 is awesome," Slovis said. "But this is what really matters: All goals are within conference play, and we have to take care of our games in conference."

The plan is to have Epps ready — "until we hear otherwise," Fesi Sitake added — to pair with breakout redshirt freshman Parker Kingston, game-winning touchdown receiver Chase Roberts, and Darius Lassiter, the Eastern Michigan transfer who went to high school in Lawrence and is the son of the late KU star Kwamie Lassiter.

For Lassiter, Saturday's game is personal — no less so because his brother Kwinton could line up against him at cornerback inside "The Booth," where he has many fond memories of attending games as the son of a Kansas legacy product.

But when the ball tips, both Lassiter brothers are in agreement: It's just another game, and they both want to win.

"Our preparation hasn't changed from Week 1," Darius Lassiter said. "Even though our first few games didn't have the same Big 12 status Kansas has, we still need to get ready for the game the same way. We need to amp things up a little bit since we have tougher opponents in conference, so we need to be locked-in every day at practice."

The game is the same, but it's about to mean a lot more for the newest member of the Big 12.

"I'm really excited about the competition, about the game, and the opportunity to go out to Kansas and be on the field to play against them," Kalani Sitake said. "They're a great program, well-coached, and I like the young men on their team. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to the interactions with the fans, too; this is a Big 12 opening game, and we're really excited about playing against Kansas and working together with the Big 12."

Related topics