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To celebrate 100 years of BYU football in 2024, let’s look back at the top 100 games for the Cougars. Starting with games 100 through 91.
BYU celebrates their 100th football season in 2024. The Cougars are one of the most historic football programs in college football, certainly among programs out west.
With that pile of history, let’s dive into the top 100 games of the BYU football program. The “top” games could mean many things — championship games, bowl games, key wins over rivals, record-setting individual performances, overtime thrillers, and much more.
These games are not ranked chronologically.
Let’s take a look at games 100 through 91.
100. Syracuse, 2002 (42-21)
This certainly as an unorthodox place to start. Smack in the middle of the beleaguered Gary Crowton years, the Cougars opened up against Big East foe Syracuse. The Orange were coming off of a 10-3 season and a top 15 ranking the season before. The issue was still in doubt until early in the fourth quarter. Cougars QB Bret Engemann tossed three touchdowns for 386 yards and also ran for a score. Running back Marcus Whalen added 152 on the ground. The Cougars outscored the Orange 21-7 in the second half.
99. Tulane, 2001 (70-35)
The Cougars have only scored 70-plus a handful of times in program history. 2001 saw one of their most prolific rushing attacks in school history on the legs of Luke Staley. The Cougars totaled a whopping seven rushing touchdowns as a team- three by Staley, three by Brian McDonald, and one by quarterback Brandon Doman. The Cougars ran roughshod over the Green Wave for 734 total yards.
98. Utah, 1942 (12-7)
Yes, you read that score right. BYU had not beaten Utah since becoming BYU, formerly known as Brigham Young Academy in 1922. They finally broke the two-decade long losing streak in 1942 by upsetting Utah 12 to 7, before the school took a break from football ahead of World War II. This would be BYU’s only win against the Utes until 1958 and their first win in the Holy War as officially Brigham Young University.
97. Georgia Tech, 2003 (24-13)
We return to the Crowton era. BYU opened up the 2003 season against the ACC’s Yellow Jackets. QB Matt Berry flung it all over the yard for BYU to the tune of 31 completions and three touchdowns. Daniel Coats caught two of those scores including both touchdowns that gave BYU the lead in this game. The Cougars shutout the Jackets 17-0 in the second half.
96. Hawaii, 2012 (47-0)
This was the day BYU fans were introduced to a kid named Taysom Hill. While he had made a few brief appearances before this game, this was the moment people began to know Hill as the dominant athlete he became. In his first career start under center, he ran for 141 yards and a touchdown while throwing for two more scores. Jamaal Williams got in on the action with 155 yards on the ground. The defense pitched their first shutout since 2009.
95. Boise State, 2013 (37-20)
The Broncos had been a thorn in BYU’s side for a decade. Ahead of this matchup, BYU had been 0-3 against Boise State. The Broncos seemed ripe for the picking in something of a down season. BYU took advantage, thanks to one of Taysom Hill’s best passing days of his BYU career. He tossed for 339 yards and three touchdowns with zero turnovers. He also ran for a score, in classic Hill fashion.
94. New Mexico, 1988 (65-0)
Even though the opponent wasn’t exactly notable, BYU put together one of their most complete and dominant wins in program history against the Lobos. A young Ty Detmer tossed for 333 yards and five touchdowns. The defense tallied five sacks and two interceptions, stifling New Mexico to a lousy 131 total yards in the shutout.
93. Georgia Tech, 2012 (41-17)
The Yellow Jackets make their second appearance already in the short life of this list. Anytime BYU beats a power conference program on the road by 24 points, it’s worth a look. Jamaal Williams ran for three touchdowns. They kept Paul Johnson’s offense at bay, allowing just 157 yards.
92. Colorado State, 1977 (63-17)
Whenever you see a blowout of a ho-hum opponent on here, just know it’s likely because a Cougar player went absolutely bonkers on the stat sheet. This time, it was quarterback Marc Wilson. He needed just 15 completions to total 332 yards and seven touchdowns. Yes, nearly half of his completions went for touchdowns. Not to mention, it was Wilson’s first career start. No collegiate QB had ever thrown seven touchdowns in their first career start. He added a rushing score to total eight touchdowns against the Rams, which is tied for the most touchdowns responsible for in a single game by a Cougar.
91. Wyoming, 2016 (Poinsettia Bowl, 24-21)
It certainly wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game. The Cougars and Cowboys squared off on a soggy field amid wet conditions in San Diego at formerly Jack Murphy Stadium. BYU led 10-0 at halftime with minimal offense on either side. Josh Allen quarterbacked Wyoming, but had little help. Tanner Mangum threw for less than 100 yards for BYU. Their saving grace was Jamaal Williams, who ran for 210 yards and a touchdown. Wyoming got the ball back with just under two minutes left. Kai Nacua ended the comeback attempt, intercepting Josh Allen sealing the win.
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