What a statement by BYU!
After going down 6-0 to No. 13 Kansas State, the Cougars outscored the Wildcats 38-3 to roll to dominating 38-9 victory Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
BYU started slow but scored two touchdowns in less than a minute apart right before halftime to give the Cougars a 17-6 lead.
With just over a minute to go in the first half, Kansas State running back DJ Giddens took the ball up the middle and his spin move and tackle by BYU linebacker Jack Kelly forced a fumble. The ball was scooped up by BYU’s Tommy Prassas who high stepped his way into the end zone for the 30-yard scoop and score.
Less than 30 seconds later, BYU defensive end Tyler Batty picked off Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson as a blitz forced Johnson to throw it early which landed in the hands of Batty who made a great catch. Two plays later, Retzlaff threw a dart to Chase Roberts for a 23-yard score to give the Cougars a 17-6 lead at halftime.
Big 12 Power Rankings: BYU, KSU, UCF Move Up — Arizona, Kansas Fall
From there the wheels continued to come off for the 13th ranked Wildcats.
On the third play in the second half, BYU linebacker Harrison Taggart stepped in front of a pass near midfield and returned the ball return to the 27 yard line. After a 24-yard run from freshman running back Sione Moa, Retzlaff found Darius Lassiter for a 3-yard touchdown to extend BYU’s lead to 24-6 lead.
After forcing a 3 and out on Kansas State’s next possession, BYU punt returner Parker Kingston muffed the punt as it bounced toward the end zone, the sophomore picked it up and made a few guys miss before running down the sideline for a 93-yard touchdown to give BYU a 31-6 lead just minutes into the second half.
The Cougars then ended the night with another spectacular score as freshman running back Sione Moa took a handoff on 3rd and 10 and rumbled 21 yards in for the score after trucking over the entire Kansas State defense.
Here’s all the reactions in BYU’s win over Kansas State:
Bless you, BYU, for carrying on the After Dark mojo.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 22, 2024
BYU dominates No. 13 Kansas State and improves to 4-0 💪@BYUfootball | @byu_cosmo pic.twitter.com/XpxT9yRqu9
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 22, 2024
PLAY OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE FROM BYU'S PARKER KINGSTON 😮 pic.twitter.com/VqvaJPR6ef
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024
Parker Kingston Punt Return For Touchdownhttps://t.co/Y8gHr86ZzY#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) September 22, 2024
BYU with a DOMINANT win as they take down No. 13 Kansas State 😤 pic.twitter.com/wNQExr5LiN
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 22, 2024
The last time Kansas St. was held to single digits was in 2020 in a 45-0 loss to Iowa St.
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) September 22, 2024
Crazy stat. This is the first time in program history that BYU has not allowed a passing touchdown through its first four games.
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) September 22, 2024
BREAKING: @wojespn spotted at the @BYUfootball game this evening with @BYUMBB head coach, Kevin Young.
(is this how you Woj Bomb?) pic.twitter.com/9ltrQuppex
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) September 22, 2024
best crossover episode ever. pic.twitter.com/N41IVyI9Ox
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) September 22, 2024
Linked up with the king of breaking news.🐐 #Wojbomb pic.twitter.com/oLWVhsS1z4
— Egor Demin (@whoisegor3) September 22, 2024
I know my Ute followers going to hate this but I think BYU upsets K State. BYU defense is physical and playing with Great confidence. K state secondary is struggling. If 13 can PROTECT the Ball and get some explosive plays K State will be in trouble. The LES Crowd is a LOUD AF
— Coach Holliday (@eagle88me) September 21, 2024
#Prophetic wisdom from the great Dr. Dewey Gray!! #GoCougs https://t.co/RuvYcrzgTq
— Peter Clark (@clark77pete) September 22, 2024
The Big 12 is thriving, currently led by their newcomers. pic.twitter.com/Jbvr5qIviY
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 22, 2024
BYU blows out #13 K-State in Provo, 38-9!
The 29-point win is easily the largest victory by an unranked team over a ranked team this season, topping BC’s 15-point win over FSU pic.twitter.com/6weMLNJxpM
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 22, 2024
Most insane 4 possessions of a football game I’ve ever seen 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯#GoCougs
— Bryan Kehl (@thekehlzone) September 22, 2024
That was the best 30 seconds of my life since my wedding night
— Brax (@byu_homer) September 22, 2024
The last time Herbstreit was alone in picking BYU,
BYU beat Utah in 2021
Time for history to repeat itself! pic.twitter.com/6s8dT1BTUF
— Calvy J (@CJRealHoops1) September 21, 2024
The last four ranked opponents that played in Provo at night all lost to BYU.
#21 Utah (2021)
#19 Arizona State (2021)
#9 Baylor (2022)
#13 Kansas State (2024)— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) September 22, 2024
RANK BYU
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) September 22, 2024
BYU has one of the top 10 defenses in the country. pic.twitter.com/c5EpRORQvr
— Jake Lee (@JakeLeei) September 22, 2024
Give me BYU-Utah for the Big 12 title on Nov. 9 #HolyWar #GoCougs #GoUtes #Big12 #CFB
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) September 22, 2024
My God…..
Utah and BYU might be the two best teams in the Big 12
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) September 22, 2024
holy BYU. i have chills.
— locked on big 12, america’s conference. (@LOBig12) September 22, 2024
(mostly) same unis. same result. pic.twitter.com/BoTPzblmA9
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) September 22, 2024
BYU 31, K-State 9 in the 3rd & I feel sorry for the burrito https://t.co/eLdaBHRFrr
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 22, 2024
when you hear what one of your fans has to do with a burrito pic.twitter.com/CQUEk9PXaj
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) September 22, 2024
This has to be the most complete performance a Kalani Sitake coached BYU team has had.
All phases.
Exceptional….
Special teams TD.
Defensive TD.
No turnovers and no costly penalties.
Simply put.
Complete!— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) September 22, 2024
nights in Utah >>>>> pic.twitter.com/scZGNkVhAI
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 22, 2024
I am SCREAMING AT MY TV GO COUGS , most insane game I’ve ever seen
— Gavin Baxter (@gbax51) September 22, 2024
Tommy Prassas was just on our byutv postgame and Spencer asked him how his scoop and score TD felt and he said “well, it looks like I scored more touchdowns than Kansas St. tonight.” Lol. The freshman bringing it. I like this kid!
— David Nixon (@D_Nixon) September 22, 2024
Ok fine winner of this game gets AJ Dybantsa
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) September 22, 2024
— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) September 22, 2024
does anyone know where i can order a byu football jersey with my name on the back?
— jayhawk lasso (@jaylassoku) September 22, 2024
Still haven’t given up a TD to a P4 team this year.
— Garrett McClintock (@GJMcClintock) September 22, 2024
There will be plenty of talk about the defense and ALL of it will be deserved. That unit was complete tonight. Incredible.
Special shoutout to Jake Retzlaff. He was AWESOME tonight. An incredible game.
I can’t say enough about the performance tonight! One for the ages!!
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) September 22, 2024
The BYU coaching staff might need to pump up some more game balls for tonight. What a special team. There was a lot of outside noise and a lot of doubters (myself included) but these dudes delivered in a historic way. I am beyond ecstatic for this squad! #GoCougs 🤙
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) September 22, 2024
yes I’m aware, I’m him😼 pic.twitter.com/xIahW4Zzpy
— Cosmo Cougar (@byu_cosmo) September 22, 2024
Cosmo just did a backflip while holding a flaming barbell. Hell yeah.
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) September 22, 2024
BYU in day games // BYU in night games pic.twitter.com/U6sPLa2K33
— Greg Welch (@ArtDirectorBYU) September 22, 2024
For those watching on TV, this was pretty neat #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/unUJ4ikyIv
— Klebs 🇺🇦 (@whackzilson) September 22, 2024