BYU hopes to make history against Sooners

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PROVO -- Coming off a third consecutive 10-win season the BYU Cougars are preparing to kickoff 2009 against the 2nd highest ranked opponent they have faced in 19 years.

"I think this is a game that you've played your whole life for," said BYU sophomore receiver McKay Jacobsen.

The 20th ranked Cougars will travel to Dallas for a clash with 3rd ranked Oklahoma, at team who played in last year's BCS Championship game. It doesn't get any bigger than facing the powerhouse Sooners in a brand new billion dollar stadium on ESPN.

"It's not a tune up game and we have to come out ready to play," said senior tight end Andrew George. "We've prepared like that during fall camp and so I think we'll come out ready. We're going to come out prepared to play one of the best teams in the country."

It's no secret that BYU has struggled through the years against top ranked teams. When you consider the following facts it puts into perspective just how big a win over Oklahoma would be.

- A win on Saturday would give BYU its first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since it defeated No. 14 Arizona State, 26-6, on Sept. 12, 1998. Since that day, BYU has lost 12 consecutive games to ranked non-conference opponents.
- The last time BYU beat a ranked non-conference opponent on a neutral field was the Cotton Bowl game of Jan. 1, 1997, when BYU beat No. 14 Kansas State, 19-15.
- Since the inception of the MWC in 1999, BYU is 2-15 versus teams ranked in the Top 25 by the USA Today/Coaches, and 2-13 versus teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll.
- The last time BYU beat a non-conference team ranked in the Top 10 was its 28-21 win over No. 1 Miami in 1990.

"If you want national credibility at the highest level then you need to beat ranked teams," said Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall. "and ranked teams are the best teams, which we are one of, but playing up and beating one of those teams in front of you is the way you continue to move."

Beating the Sooners in a venue located just 190 miles south of the Oklahoma campus will be a tall order. They are led by 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and their roster is stocked with NFL prospects. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and offensive lineman Trent Williams, along with Bradford, are projected by draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. to be top 10 NFL draft picks in 2010.

"I think the first word that comes to mind is speed and I'm starting with the defensive line," said Mendenhall. "The teams we've struggled with in the past are the teams that could get to our quarterback without having to use blitzes and they are certainly capable of doing that." "Oh man, they're good, they're very good," said BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen. "Just the way they execute their offense is incredible. Sam Bradford does an amazing job out there and he's got a lot of weapons."

Despite the Sooners talent and speed, the Cougars have plenty of confidence going into Saturday.

"I think we have some really quality young players along with some senior leadership and I think we're going to do alright," said George. "We just need to play our game, do what we know we can do and have the confidence we can play with them."

E-mail: jjensen@ksl.com