BYU football: Cougars' coaches, players are all on the same page this season

"We don't have a conference championship to win anymore. We have a national championship and that's the only championship we have. We've got to go out and win every game, not just the first one. This being the first one, we have to start our path to where we want to get."

As for this team's identity, it's still too early to make any judgments.

"We have an identity of who we think we are right now and who we want to be at the end of the season," Di Luigi said. "These early games really identify who you are. We'll see who we really are come game day."

Senior team captain Jameson Frazier explained that every team must forge its own identity. He does know that the confidence level is much higher now than it was last season.

"It's great that we have so many guys coming back on defense and offense," Frazier said. "That really helps with getting the ball rolling quicker than last year."

For Saturday's game at Ole Miss, BYU is favored by three points — despite the fact the Cougars are playing on the road against a team from the Southeastern Conference. When asked about that, Mendenhall said it speaks to the "credibility that has been built over six years. We've won a lot of games over the past six years and beat some good teams. When you consider the consistency we have shown not just in one year, but over the last six years and then consider our returning quarterback and our returning players, I don't think it's anything negative against Ole Miss, it's just a compliment based on credibility earned."

Mendenhall expects a tough game against the Rebels.

"We still have to go play and play well. We think it's going to be a very difficult game against a formidable opponent," he said. "I do like that there is confidence in our program."

Frazier is confident about his team's potential.

"We're not resting at all, not waiting for anything to come to us, but being anxiously engaged in trying to get better and improving and being prepared for the upcoming opponent," he said. "I'm really excited to see, after the start we had last year, what this team can do."

Cougars' season-opener

BYU at Mississippi

Saturday, 2:45 MT

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.

TV: ESPN

Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM

Email: jeffc@desnews.com