Facing its toughest test so far this season, No. 14 BYU (5-0) rallied for a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Houston (1-1) at TDECU Stadium.
Playing on the road and in primetime Friday night, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson delivered once again on the big stage as the junior threw for 400 yards — a career best — and four touchdowns to lead BYU to a 43-26 victory.
After a monster first quarter, including throwing a 78-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game, Wilson cooled off before putting on an absolute show in the fourth quarter as the Cougars outscored Houston 22-0.
It was the fifth consecutive game that Wilson has thrown two-plus touchdowns and is the longest streak by a BYU quarterback since Christian Stewart did so in 2014 (5 games). For the fourth consecutive game, Wilson didn’t throw an interception either and marked the first time a BYU quarterback has done so since Ty Detmer ran away with the Heisman Trophy in 1991.
Wilson’s favorite target was junior Dax Milne who hauled in a career high 9 catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Milne stepped up in a big way after fellow wide receiver Gunner Romney (453 yards, 2 TD’s) missed the second half with a hamstring injury. Tyler Allgeier had five catches for 61 yards and Isaac Rex and Masen Wake combined for five catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
With all the attention on Wilson and his incredible season so far, Houston quarterback seemed to take exception as he also put on a show. The junior gunslinger completed 21 of 31 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Tune looked better than Wilson through the first three quarters before disappearing in the fourth.
With the win, BYU improves to 5-0 and is off to its best start since 2008. In fact, BYU has only started the season 5-0 five times before this year (1979, 1981, 1984, 2001, 2008).
Here’s a look at how the media, fans and players reacted after the win:
BYU underhand shovel TD, they are really channeling alum Andy Reid here
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 17, 2020
Well done!! 💪🏽💪🏽😎 https://t.co/hwf5qVYn7h
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) October 17, 2020
What a beautiful throw by Zach Wilson. Every game BYU has played this year, he's been spectacular.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 17, 2020
BYU is having a special season. So glad we’ll get to see them against Boise State in a few weeks.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 17, 2020
Zach Wilson is something special. What a throw.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 17, 2020
I need find a woman who loves me as much as Andre Ware loves Zach Wilson.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) October 17, 2020
Andre Ware is probably going to quit his broadcasting career to become Zach Wilson’s agent when he’s done at BYU.
— Tyson Whiting (@TysonOnSports) October 17, 2020
Career night under the Friday night lights ? pic.twitter.com/zD9rW6rnTO
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 17, 2020
#13 for @BYUfootball is a NFL fullback. He will get drafted. Trust me.
— Dr. Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) October 17, 2020
Can I put @DaxMilne on my fantasy team this week please?? He is absolutely killing it today!!
— Vitamin-J (@JasonGIles5) October 17, 2020
@zachkapono is the real deal. Keep throwing to @DaxMilne too.
— CryptoGPT | Al2Earn Staking Live 18/31 Days Growth (@mitchmathews10) October 17, 2020
5–0. That is all.
— Jimmer Fredette (@jimmerfredette) October 17, 2020
Zach to Dax Milne for 3 TD’s so far?!!!! What a great game! Zach Dawe 99 bringing the fire on D!! @zachkapono @BYUfootball
— Chad Lewis (@Chadlewis89) October 17, 2020
This is how good teams respond. #legit #BYUFOOTBALL
— Ryan Hancock, BSPhD✌ (@rhancoug17) October 17, 2020
I haven't seen a BYU QB sling it like this since John Beck
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) October 17, 2020
What a dime from Zach Wilson. Great QB play tonight.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 17, 2020
PERFECT BALL by Zach Wilson
400 yards, 4 TD’s, 71% completion pic.twitter.com/e76SLq1MeK
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) October 17, 2020
I have been hesitant to say it out loud. But maybe it’s better that Utah didn’t have to play against this Wilson kid with so many new starters on defense…
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) October 17, 2020
It's another #OhMyPerformance from @BYUfootball's @zachkapono! This time he posts a 400-yard, 4-TD effort as the @BYUCougars remain undefeated (5-0)! #DaveyQBs pic.twitter.com/xI705Qaodr
— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) October 17, 2020
Unless Justin Fields had his throwing arm amputated in the offseason I’m gonna go with him over Zach Wilson and Kyle Trask pic.twitter.com/vxKUvw5l6U
— Ryan Ginn (@rmginn) October 17, 2020
Heckuva game for an ESPN audience and the 10,000 or so spectators at TDECU tonight; Both QBs are playing masterfully.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) October 17, 2020
— Chris Wilcox (@SuperCFlash) October 17, 2020
I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!! Felt good to get a win this way. True resilience on display. #GoCougs 🤙🏽
— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) October 17, 2020
Seriously though. Couldn’t be more proud of this team right now. Talk about a gritty come back win!!!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/8CZJSShBKo
— Bryan Kehl (@thekehlzone) October 17, 2020
Great Game‼️ @DaxMilne https://t.co/SmCBkuHQfK
— Margin Hooks (@SkysTheLimitWR) October 17, 2020
Houston we have a problem… 😂 LFG @BYUfootball GOOD JOB BROTHERS!!!!!! #GoCougs
— Lorenzo Fauatea 🇼🇸 (@renzo55_) October 17, 2020
Grateful to return back to my mission grounds tonight. I know the big guy upstairs was guiding me every snap. https://t.co/W7zB00Mk0q
— Zac Dawe (@zdawe99) October 17, 2020
Winners find a way to win!!! Let’s go COUGS!! #BlueGrit https://t.co/rlUIXTxwLU
— Eric Mateos (@CoachMateos) October 17, 2020
Love Winning! Love winning on the Road! Love overcoming some adversity to come back and win! Love seeing our guys on both sides of the ball making adjustments and fighting back! Great team win tonight! @BYUfootball #GoCougs
— David Almodova (@DKaulana) October 17, 2020
BYU 5-0 . Covid or not playing thru This Time With so much that can easily distract you, Is GREAT, Can’t over look this. I’m the hardest critic, But y’all Rocking !!!
— Devon Blackmon (@D_BLACK19) October 17, 2020
My boys showing out tonight !!
— ByuMomma (@uclagrad90) October 17, 2020
We’re ballin ballin this year…. Go Cougs!!!
— Trajan Pili (@TRAYpili9) October 17, 2020
What. A. Ball!
— AB (@algiebrown44) October 17, 2020
This is more exciting than my wedding night!
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) October 17, 2020
* No Tonga
* No Romney
* No Ah You
* No Fauatea
* No Hoge
* No Bushman (😢)
* No Empey most of game
* Multiple ridiculously egregious referee mistakes (targeting fiasco, Pau’u TD catch)Yet, NO PROBLEM. 🤙 #BYU #GoCougs
— ⛳️ Jalenooperdogg 🏌️♂️ (@JalenooperDogg) October 17, 2020
INCREDIBLE onside kick from BYU. What a knuckle ball off the tee pic.twitter.com/R8DQIjIkVj
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 17, 2020
Cougs balling 🔥🔥🔥
— Ezekiel Ansah (@Ziggy_Ansah) October 17, 2020
The best measuring to stick to see who somebody is, is to see how they handle adversity. Zach Wilson and @BYUfootball handled adversity like absolute Pros
— Brady Poppinga (@BradyPoppinga) October 17, 2020
BYU seems to play pretty well in Texas. #GoCougs
— Mikel Minor (@minor_mikel) October 16, 2020
This what we on Houston? Ain’t this a covid violation or somethin for spitting at dude?? take the L and walk bruh. #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/b8iaLqsRBl
— Chazyboy (@Chazyboy03) October 17, 2020
