No. 9 BYU football will make the short trip down I-15 to face rival Utah Saturday night. The BYU-Utah rivalry is always meaningful, but it’s especially so this season. BYU sits in first place in a hotly contested Big 12 race and the Cougars are currently in position to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.

BYU is favored by 3-5 points over Utah in this game according to sportsbooks. Here are the five most critical players for BYU against Utah.

BYU’s offense has been much better with LJ Martin in the lineup. In games in which Martin did not play, BYU’s offense gained 43% of available yards (excluding garbage time). In games where Martin played, BYU’s offense gained 69 percent of the available yards. Martin does this championship caliber offense.

Martin will undoubtedly be one of the most important players in this match. Utah’s only weakness on defense, at times, was stopping the run. Expect a heavy dose of LJ Martin early. If Martin can go, the rest of BYU’s offense will start to open up.

Martin is coming off back-to-back games of 100+ rushing yards. Utah will be the best run defense Martin has faced this season.

Jake Retzlaff will be tasked with leading a rising BYU offense against a stout Utah defense. The Utes rank 15th in total defense and 11th in scoring defense. Retzlaff’s running ability could be the difference in this game. If Retzlaff can pick up two or three key first downs with his legs (or, more importantly, help convert in the red zone), it could be the difference between scoring 17 or 27 points. In a game where the first 20 team will likely win, all eyes will be on Jake Retzlaff.

If Retzlaff protects the football and doesn’t give Utah’s offense short fields, Utah will have a hard time scoring points.

If Retzlaff can protect the football and help BYU capitalize on its scoring chances like he has all season, BYU will win this game.

The most dangerous weapons for Utah’s offense are tight end Brant Kuithe and running back Micah Bernard. One BYU defender will be tasked with defending both: linebacker Isaiah Glasker. Glasker is BYU’s best linebacker in coverage. Isaiah Glasker will likely be responsible for covering Brant Kuithe during handoffs.

Glasker will also be key when it comes to defending the run. It was Isaiah Glasker who made a couple of big stops in the running game against Oklahoma State as Ollie Gordon was rolling. Stopping Micah Bernard is the key to stopping Utah’s offense.

Utah is 3-4 against FBS opponents this season. In three wins, Bernard averaged 141 rushing yards per game. In four losses, Bernard was limited to 82 yards per game.

Good run defense requires high-level execution from all 11 players on the field, but Isaiah Glasker will be especially important against Utah.

Historically, Utah has run a very aggressive defense. Given how their offense struggles in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Utah’s defense turn up the pressure on Jake Retzlaff in an attempt to force turnovers.

In fact, you can almost guarantee it.

Jake Retzlaff’s main weakness has been blitzing. Retzlaff’s TD/Int ratio is 13:2 when not blitzed and PFF gives him 10 big throws. Against the Blitz, Retzlaff’s TD/Int ratio drops to 5:5 and he has no significant throws. You can bet Utah will force Retzlaff to beat the blitz.

The offensive lineman tasked with identifying the defense and setting up the protection is converted defensive lineman Bruce Mitchell. Mitchell has started for BYU at center since starter Connor Pay was injured against Baylor.

This will be Mitchell’s biggest test of the season and he will be making his fifth career start on the offensive line.

We’ve already talked about Utah running back Micah Bernard. Stopping Utah’s offense starts with stopping Micah Bernard. BYU defensive lineman Blake Mangelson isn’t one of the players talked about in the national media when talking about BYU’s undefeated start, but he’s been an absolutely vital piece. Mangelson is BYU’s highest-rated defensive lineman against the run this season.

If Mangelson and BYU’s senior-laden defensive line can shut down Utah’s running game, Utah won’t be able to move the ball consistently through the air. Stopping the run on first downs will create turnover opportunities for the BYU defense and that will result in stops.

Blake Mangelson is one of BYU’s most important players on defense and his performance will be critical Saturday night.