Cincinnati latest in run of first-time BYU opponents


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PROVO — BYU will face Cincinnati for the first time in program history Friday night at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN, the third and final first-time opponent for the Cougars in 2015.

It's a significant first-time affair for the Bearcats (3-2, 0-2 The American), who will be making their first trip to the state of Utah in program history. Cincinnati last played a game in the mountain time zone against another team from the Beehive State, beating Utah State 35-19 in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

But don't think Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville isn't familiar with BYU (4-2) and its history-ridden offense.

"I've been very familiar with this offense they run at BYU, since I coached against LaVell Edwards at the University of Miami," said Tuberville, who was a defensive assistant with the then-No. 1 Hurricanes during BYU's 28-21 upset in 1990. "They were on the cutting edge of Pro Style passing. There is not a lot of difference in the offense they run today as to what LaVell Edwards did years ago.

"It's a tribute to him and the coaches who followed him; they've just kept that engine going."

BYU is also getting used to the Bearcats' conference, the newly formed American Athletic Conference. The three-year-old league was a byproduct of the old Big East's dissolution in 2013, but Tuberville said the conference has been getting better.

The Cougars know the strength of the conference as well, having almost lost to East Carolina last Saturday before Algie Brown's touchdown run in the final minute gave them a 45-38 Homecoming win. BYU is 21-5 all-time against current members of the AAC, with a 7-1 mark against Tulsa at the top of the list of schools primarily from the old Conference USA.

Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel (11) throws a pass as Alabama A&M defensive lineman Anthony Lanier (90) rushes during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel (11) throws a pass as Alabama A&M defensive lineman Anthony Lanier (90) rushes during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)

"I think the commitment is really strong," Tuberville said. "The conference has made a huge commitment to play other teams in other leagues, the so-called Power 5 teams. I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between our conference and most of the teams in the Power 5."

On offense, Cincinnati could bring back Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel, the former starter who is recovering from a neck injury and was cleared to play Sunday. Or the Bearcats could lean on Hayden Moore, who made his first career start in Cincy's 34-23 upset of Miami and completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Moore is completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 1,061 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions as a redshirt freshman.

Both quarterbacks will practice this week, and Tuberville said the starter likely will be a game time decision.

BYU is more concerned with the Bearcats' defense, including a secondary that receivers coach Guy Holliday called "extremely athletic."

"They're a good team," BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum said of Cincinnati. "They're athletic, fast and they move well on both sides of the ball. That's going to push us to match their speed and their physicality."

If the Cougars get into a shootout, as they did against the Pirates, Mangum is confident his offense can keep pace.

"Whatever it takes to win," said Mangum, who returned from a hamstring injury to lead the Cougars' late rally and has been limited in practice this week. "That's what we want to do as an offense: every time we go out on the field, we want to score.

"As an offense, we don't worry about what it's going to take. We just expect to score every time we go out ont he field, and we are developing that mindset and that attitude."

After struggling to finish drives early in the season, BYU put together several long TD drives last week. The Cougars scored touchdowns on six of their seven scoring drives against the Pirates, compared to just three of six touchdowns a week previous against UConn.

"I feel like we're doing better," Mangum said of the offense. "There's a lot of room to improve, things we can work on. But I feel like we are taking steps in the right direction."

Another win over an AAC opponent would be the next step in the "right direction" on Friday night.

"Last week is over," Holliday said. "It's time to get ready for Friday now."

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