PROVO, Utah — For the purists and the night-owl college football lovers, Friday’s late kickoff between BYU and West Virginia promises prime late-night drama. At 10:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local MDT), the Cougars will host the Mountaineers in a Week 6 clash that feels built for the “sickos” among us who demand big matchups under the lights. BYU rolls into this one riding strength, swagger and statistical edges. West Virginia enters as a work in progress under Rich Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown, having flashed glimpses of optimism but not yet consistency.
BYU (4-0) has largely backed up the hype in 2025. Its offense, paced by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, has shown it can move the ball efficiently—Bachmeier is among the team’s passing leaders this fall. The run game, led by LJ Martin, gives BYU a balance that few opposing defenses can fully neutralize. The Cougars opened the year with a 69–0 blowout of Portland State, where Bachmeier accounted for multiple touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Their defense has held foes in check, and in the early stretch, BYU has looked like a team well above average.
West Virginia, sitting at (2–3), has had more turbulence. Their offense has leaned on a ground-based attack—Jaylen Henderson (also the team’s backup quarterback) has chipped in on the run, while starting QB Nicco Marchiol has been modest through the air with about 720 passing yards so far. The Mountaineers are averaging roughly 179.4 yards passing (among the lower tiers in FBS) and around 216.2 rushing yards per game (a more respectable middle-of-the-pack figure). Points per game have hovered near 22.0, with points allowed at about 26.6. At home, WVU stunned Pittsburgh in overtime, 31–24, but losses to Kansas and Utah have exposed defensive gaps and offensive inconsistency.
Statistically and by perception, BYU arrives as the favorite. In Sagarin’s hybrid rankings, BYU sits at 31st overall with a rating of 78.91, while West Virginia checks in at 84th with a 65.96 rating. By the subtraction method, BYU holds a raw edge of 12.95 points (78.91 minus 65.96). When you layer in home edge—5.14 points for BYU—the projected line tilts to about 18.09 in BYU’s favor. That aligns closely with the Vegas line, which currently lists BYU around –18.5. The over/under is set at 47.5, implying oddsmakers expect a moderately paced scoring affair, not a shootout, with the Mountaineer offense largely inept to date.
Keys to Victory
BYU must:
- Dominate the line of scrimmage. If BYU can consistently win up front—running lanes and protecting Bachmeier—they can keep WVU off balance.
- Limit turnovers in the late hours. A 10:30 p.m. kickoff invites fatigue; clean ball security will be essential.
- Force West Virginia out of its comfort zone. If WVU can’t establish the run or gets behind early, it’s vulnerable.
West Virginia must:
- Lean on its run game and control tempo. If WVU can grind time and keep BYU’s offense off the field, they stay close.
- Create disruption up front. Pressure and negative plays on Bachmeier are key to upsetting BYU’s rhythm.
- Win third downs and red zone battles. With limited offensive firepower, WVU can’t afford to stall in scoring positions.
Prediction
All signs point to a BYU blowout, even with the odd late-night time slot injecting some uncertainty. The Sagarin-based line (≈ 18.1) and the Vegas line (–18.5) paint similar pictures. But let’s be a bit aggressive: BYU wins by 20, say 38–18. West Virginia will show fight, especially early, and may keep things respectable into the second half, but this looks like BYU’s night to impose its will and leave little doubt on its status as a Big 12 contender.
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