Vikings Travel To Meet BYU Of The Big 12

Troy Wayrynen

Defensive finish Spencer Elliott places a success on a Tarleton State operating again forcing a turnover on the Texans first sequence.

Football
8/25/2025 10:55:00 AM

by Mike Lund

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-1)

at #23 BYU COUGARS (0-0)

Saturday, August 30, 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT, Lavell Edwards Stadium (62,073), Provo, UT
Television: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Mike Corey • Analyst: Brad Hopkins
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.livestats.us
 

COACHES

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS: Bruce Barnum (Eastern Washington, 1987)
PSU Record: 38-65/eleventh 12 months • Big Sky Record: 28-44 • vs. BYU: 0-1 • Career Record: 38-65/eleventh 12 months
BYU COUGARS: Kilani Sitake (BYU, 2000)
BYU Record: 72-43/Tenth 12 months • vs. Portland State: 1-0 • Career Record: 72-43/Tenth 12 months
 

VIKINGS MAKE FIRST ROAD TRIP TO BYU

Last Saturday was a tough begin for the Portland State Vikings and it does not get any simpler as they transfer on to face Twenty third-ranked BYU of the Big 12 Conference this Saturday in Provo, UT. The Vikings and Cougars will kick off at 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT in a sport televised on ESPN+.
     
PSU took a home-opening loss to Tenth-ranked Tarleton State, 42-0, within the earliest begin in program historical past final Saturday. It was additionally the most popular residence sport in program historical past because the thermometer registered 97 levels at kickoff and crossed 100 levels late within the third quarter. The Vikings had been out-gained 453-277 by the Texans, however a much bigger issue for PSU was 4 turnovers.
     
Numerous younger, inexperienced gamers noticed vital motion for the Vikings, together with three new quarterbacks. PSU hopes the first-game jitters have been shaken away this week as they face a formidable FBS program.
     
BYU comes off an 11-2 season in 2024. The Cougars can even have a brand new sign caller, freshman Bear Bachmeier, as they are going to be enjoying of their first sport of 2025. They can boast the return of their high rusher, receiver and tackler from final 12 months’s marketing campaign.
     
The two packages have met simply as soon as earlier than, within the 2017 season opener at BYU. The Cougars received that sport, 20-6.
     
Portland State might have made its earliest begin ever on Aug. 23, however it is going to be some time earlier than coming residence once more. The Vikings play at BYU, adopted by North Dakota (Sept. 6) then Hawai’i (Sept. 13) – a complete of 8,906 air miles – over the subsequent three weeks. PSU then has a bye on Sept. 20 earlier than returning residence to face Northern Arizona on Sept. 27.
 

STORYLINES

• CAT HAS CLAWS: BYU was 11-2 in 2024, sharing first place within the Big 12 (7-2). The Cougars defeated Colorado within the Alamo Bowl… BYU was ranked seventeenth within the last 2024 FBS polls… they’re at the moment Twenty third within the AFCA Coaches Poll, and twenty sixth within the AP Top 25… just like the Vikings, BYU will begin the season with a brand new quarterback, true freshman Bear Bachmeier.
• VIKINGS vs. FBS: This is the primary of two FBS opponents for the Vikings in 2025. Portland State can even play at Hawai’i this 12 months. PSU is 4-48 all-time when enjoying “up”towards FBS packages… Wins have come over Hawai’i (2000), New Mexico (2006), Washington State (2015) and North Texas (2015).
• MONEY GAMES: This marks the eleventh consecutive season that Portland State has performed two FBS opponents. PSU has finished so a complete of 15 occasions, together with three in 2006.

NUMBERS GAME

• QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: The Vikings had three quarterbacks play in sport one. SO Gabe Downing, RS FR Tyrese Smith and SO John-Keawe Sagapolutele mixed to go 18-35 for 169 yards and three interceptions.
• LEADERS: SO RB Delon Thompson had 17 carries for 55 yards whereas FR QB Tyrese Smith ran 10 occasions for 50 yards… SR WR Branden Alvarez caught six passes for 72 yards.
• HOMECOMING: SO LB Lonnie Burt is from Portland and performed soccer at Central Catholic High School. After one season at Coffeyville JC he transferred to PSU and in his first sport – a begin – he made 10 tackles, together with one for a loss to guide the Vikings.
• FIVE WEEKS UNTIL HOME AGAIN: After the earliest begin in program historical past final week, the Vikings are on the street for 3 straight video games adopted with a bye. Their subsequent residence sport is Sept. 27 vs. Northern Arizona.
• BYE-BYE: Due to the Week 0 sport with Tarleton State, Portland State may have two byes this season: Sept. 20 and Oct. 11.
• SOS: In 2024, Portland State had probably the most troublesome power of schedule of any FCS group within the nation in response to the Massey Ratings. PSU performed 5 nationally-ranked FCS groups and two nationally-ranked FBS groups. Four of the FCS groups had been within the Top 10… this season’s schedule will rival final 12 months’s in issue. PSU performs 5 groups within the FCS Preseason Top 25, together with Tarleton State, and two FBS groups, together with nationally-ranked BYU.

TEAM LEADERS

• PORTLAND STATE: Portland State totaled 277 yards and allowed 453 yards within the opener towards Tarleton State…. PSU threw for 169 yards and rushed for 108 yards… the protection allowed 301 dashing yards… the Vikings had 4 turnovers and compelled one turnover… SO QB Gabe Downing led three quarterbacks with 10-17 passing for 91 yards and two interceptions… SO RB Delon Thompson had 17 carries for 55 yards whereas FR QB Tyrese Smith had 10 carries for 50 yards… SR WR Branden Alvarez caught six passes for 72 yards… SO LB Lonnie Burt led the protection with 10 tackles and one deal with for loss. SO S Isaiah Green made seven tackles.
• BYU: BYU averaged 31.2 factors and 392.3 yards per sport on offense final season… on protection, the Cougars allowed 308.8 yards and 19.6 factors per sport…. the main rusher from final season, LJ Martin, returns after gaining 718 yards and 7 touchdowns… main receiver Chase Roberts additionally returns after compiling 52 catches for 854 yards and 4 touchdowns… linebacker Isaiah Glasker leads a stout Cougars protection. He had 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions and 4 cross breakups final season… the Cougars made 22 interceptions and compelled 29 turnovers in 13 video games final season… kicker Will Ferrin made 24 of 27 subject objectives for the Cougars in 2024.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• THE NUMBERS: Portland State gained 277 yards within the opener, 108 on the bottom and 169 by way of the air… the Vikings threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball away on a kickoff return… the Vikings crossed midfield 5 occasions, together with two journeys into the redzone, however had been unable to attain. They had been 4-14 on third down, 0-1 on fourth down and missed two subject objectives.
• QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL: PSU had a brand new opening day starter at quarterback for the primary time in 4 years and solely the second time for the reason that 2018 season… three completely different Viking quarterbacks noticed at the least a full quarter of motion towards Tarleton State. SO QB Gabe Downing began and accomplished 10-17 passes for 91 yards and two interceptions. FR QB Tyrese Smith was 2-4 for twenty-four yards and rushed 10 occasions for 50 yards. SR QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele was 6-14 for 57 yards and one interception.
• GET OFF DELON: As anticipated, SO RB Delon Thompson received the majority of the dashing for the Vikings. He had 17 carries for 55 yards. He additionally caught two passes for 20 yards…. in his 14-game profession, Thompson has 165 dashing performs for 770 yards and eight touchdowns… final season, Thompson posted a career-high 117 yards on 22 carries with one rating at Montana (11/16).
• SENIOR LEADER: SR WR Branden Alvarez led the Vikings in all three receiving classes final season. He opened with a six-catch, 72-yard sport towards Tarleton State to guide the Vikings… in 11 profession video games, he has 42 receptions 552 yards and 5 touchdowns.
• SWISS ARMY KNIFE: FR QB Cru Newman might but play at quarterback this season. In the meantime, he’ll do different issues. Newman had 4 kick returns for 86 yards and three receptions for six yards within the opener towards Tarleton State.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• THE NUMBERS: Portland State allowed 453 whole yards to Tarleton State, together with 301 dashing yards… the Vikings pressured and recovered one fumble, two missed subject objectives and one three-and-out.
• NEW MAN IN THE MIDDLE: SO LB Lonnie Burt is from Portland, however a switch from Coffeyville JC this season… he earned the beginning towards Tarleton State and went for a team-high 10 tackles, together with one for a loss.
• GREEN DAY: SO S Isaiah Green is PSU’s high returning tackler with 50 as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He made seven extra within the opener towards Tarleton State.
• DOUBLE-DOUBLE: JR DE Spencer Elliott recorded the second pressured fumble of his profession in Tarleton State’s opening drive. SR DT J’Querian Ladson made his second profession fumble restoration for the Vikings.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• FOOTWORK: The usually dependable SR Ok Mathias Uribe (11-12 on subject objectives final season) missed two makes an attempt towards Tarleton State. His 54-yarder try within the first half hit the left upright and bounced away. His 37-yard try within the second half was large left… Uribe’s .917 subject purpose proportion final season was a PSU report.
• PLACEMENT POLICY: JR P Tony Johnson has a modest common of just below 41 yards per punt in his profession. But in 50 profession punts, there have been solely 22 returns for a mere 72 yards.
• YARD BOYS: RS FRs Cru Newman and Andre Miller are each from Portland and have their very own yard care enterprise in the summertime to make slightly additional money. Now they’re teaming up as kick return companions for the Vikings. In the opener, Newman had 4 returns for 86 yards whereas Miller had three for 58 yards. They additionally each play slot receiver for the Vikings.

NEW VIKINGS

DETAILS, TRIVIA, AND MORE

 

STRANGE BUT TRUE

• There had been plenty of milestones within the residence opener towards Tarleton State: 1) The temperature at kickoff was 96 and crossed 100 levels by late within the third quarter, making it the most popular residence sport on report in Portland State historical past; 2) The August 23 date was the earliest begin at school historical past; 3) It was Portland State’s first opener at residence for the reason that 2016 season; 4) The Vikings had been enjoying Tenth-ranked Tarleton State for the primary time at school historical past; 5) The final time a Portland State group was shut out by an FCS program was a 14-0 loss at Montana State on Oct. 7, 2006.
• On the Vikings’ run of three straight street video games, Aug. 30-Sept. 13, they cross one time zone and again, two time zones and again, then three time zones and again, enjoying at BYU, North Dakota and Hawai’i successively. It shall be a complete of 8,906 air miles (RTs of 1,332; 2,424; and 5,206).