Washington @ Brigham Young preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2008 ) Brigham Young 28, Washington 27

Brigham Young University will feature a two-quarterback system, when it opens Saturday night against Washington.

Wonder how Jim McMahon, Robbie Bosco, Steve Young, Ty Detmer, Steve Sarkisian or Max Hall would have felt about sharing playing time?

BYU is one of the most quarterback-rich programs in the nation. Bronco quarterbacks have won a combined 12 postseason awards (1 Heisman Trophy, 4 Davey O’Brien Awards, and 7 Sammy Baugh Awards) since 1974.

There never seems to be a drop off when a new name steps into the lead spot on the offensive machine in Provo, Utah.

It will be a little different this year. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall recently announced junior Riley Nelson and true freshman Jake Heaps are going to share time behind center in a big home home opener at LaVell Edwards Stadium against the Huskies. Riley played sparingly behind Hall last season, completing 7 of 10 pass attempts, while Heaps, the top ranked QB in last season’s recruiting class by most services, won three state titles and had a 40-2 record as a starter at Skyline High in Washington state.

The Huskies feature Heisman Trophy and No. 1 overall draft pick candidate Jake Locker. Many were surprised the senior came back for his final season in Seattle. He e signed a six-year rights contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which gives him time to explore his NFL options.

Locker is a dynamic dual-threat play-maker. He is the school’s all-time rushing yards leader for quarterbacks (1,554, including 986 yards as a freshman, and 23 total TDs) and enters the season ranked fifth in passing yards (5,374).

While QB play will be vital in this quality opening-weekend matchup, it is hardly the only reason to tune in.

The aforementioned Sarkisian will get a first-hand look at BYU’s quarterback rotation. He begins his second year as Washington’s head coach, coming off a 5-7 debut season in which the Huskies went 4-5 in the Pac-10.

It has led to a major shift in expectations within the program, especially after suffering through a 0-12 campaign in 2008. The Huskies are thinking it will be their first winning season since 2002 and, if all goes right in the Pac-10, a winning record in the conference for the first time since 2001.

The Cougars, who announced this week that they will become an independent by leaving the Mountain West Conference, haven’t had such struggles. BYU has gone 44-11 since the start of the 2006 season and 50-16 overall under Mendenhall.