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Corvallis, Ore. • Bronco Mendenhall has a winning record, 7-5, against opponents from the Pac-12 in his seven-year tenure as BYU's football coach. And he acknowledges that if the Cougars remain a football independent, they will need a steady dose of opponents from that league to ensure a palatable schedule for their fans.
But that doesn't mean he has to like it.
With the 4-2 Cougars set to face the Pac-12's Oregon State (1-4) on Saturday at Reser Stadium (2 p.m. MDT), Mendenhall acknowledged this week that the Pac-12's rule stipulating that its officials work its home games gives him pause. While not criticizing Pac-12 officiating in a specific game or instance, Mendenhall in the past has publicly questioned the value of scheduling opponents from that league because of the policy.
But times have changed.
"I don't have much choice now," he said. "You know, it makes sense for us to play those schools, if they will play. So [the officiating policy] is part of their rules. It makes sense for us because it is a regional game. It seems like it would make more sense to have an official agreement that [they] would be neutral [officiating crews]."
The irony is that the last time the Cougars ventured into Pac-12 territory (Pac-10 at the time), they were the benefactors of one of the most controversial calls in league history — the excessive celebration penalty on Washington quarterback Jake Locker that backed the Huskies up on their PAT attempt. The longer kick was blocked by BYU's Jan Jorgensen, preserving a 28-27 Cougars win.
"I would like to play schools from every major conference," Mendenhall said. "So I would love to play Big 12, I would love to play SEC, I would like to play Pac-12, I would like to play Big Ten [schools]. Part of being independent is I want the country to see us not only on TV, but in person as well, so yeah, I would like to do it all, and we have a pretty good start this year."
The Cougars are 4-5 all-time against OSU, and 34-57-1 against Pac-12 schools not named Utah or Colorado.
This is a measuring stick game for BYU, seeing as how its schedule weakens considerably after Saturday's clash, with the exception of that Friday night game later this month against TCU in Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Riley Nelson will start against the Beavers. He said it has been business-as-usual this week in practices and preparation sessions.
"Coach Mendenhall does a good job of keeping us even-keeled, as far as our emotions go, and respecting every one of our opponents, and making sure there is no spike or dip in the emotion and the preparation," he said.
The Cougars have spent plenty of time watching replays of their last meeting with OSU, that 44-20 win in the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl, but Mendenhall says while the Beavers' schemes haven't changed much, their talent level is better.
"Our biggest concern right now is just holding on to the ball, protecting the ball, and making progress offensively while holding on to it, and not giving up big plays defensively<" he said "They have good skill and they have some schemes that have gotten the ball over the top or around pretty much everybody they've played."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU at Oregon State
P At Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Ore.
Kickoff • 2 p.m. MDT
TV • Fox College Sports Pacific, KBYU
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM
Records • BYU 4-2, Oregon State 1-4
Series history • Oregon State leads, 5-4
Last Meeting • BYU 44, Oregon State 20 (Dec. 23, 2009)
About the Cougars • They are 68-117-6 all-time against Pac-12 teams. ... They are averaging 343.2 yards of total offense per game. ... They are 1-1 on the road this season, having defeated Ole Miss and having lost to Texas.
About the Beavers • LB Feti Unga is second in the Pac-12 in tackles with 45 total and is the cousin of former BYU star Harvey Unga and brother of BYU walk-on LB Uana Unga. —
BYU vs. Pac-12 under Mendenhall
Date Result
Sept. 17, 2011 Utah 54, BYU 10
Cougars trailed 14-10 at halftime, then collapsed
Sept. 4, 2010 BYU 23, Washington 17
Beat Jake Locker for second straight time
Dec. 12, 2009 BYU 44, Oregon State 20
Bitter cold and windy conditions in Las Vegas
Dec. 20, 2008 Arizona 31, BYU 21
Cougars couldn't get it done in Vegas Bowl
Sept. 13, 2008 BYU 59, UCLA 0
Max Hall throws seven touchdown passes
Sept. 6, 2008 BYU 28, Washington 27
Win marred by controversial ending
Dec. 22, 2007 BYU 17, UCLA 16
Blocked FG in Vegas Bowl preserves win
Sept. 8, 2007 UCLA 27, BYU 17
17 points didn't cut it in first meeting of 2007
Sept. 1, 2007 BYU 20, Arizona 7
Max Hall's debut a successful one
Dec. 21, 2006 BYU 38, Oregon 8
Cougs route disinterested Ducks in Vegas Bowl
Sept. 2, 2006 Arizona 16, BYU 13
Last-second FG beat Cougars in desert
Dec. 22, 2005 California 35, BYU 28
Mendenhall comes up short in first bowl