Battles within the battle: Receivers and defensive backs

Editor's note: This is the third of a four-part series exploring the battles between the battle.

BYU wide receivers

The Cougars boast one of the top wide receiver-tight end tandems in the country in Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta. When defenses double-team Pitta, Collie gets big numbers and when defenses double-team Collie, Pitta makes them pay. Together, Collie and Pitta average 209.7 receiving yards per game.

Collie, who leads the nation in receiving yards, has already turned in the best single-season performance of any wide receiver in school history with 1,315 yards. A Biletnikoff Award finalist, Collie has recorded nine straight games with at least 100 yards, which is a school record and a conference record. Fifteen of his 85 catches have gone for touchdowns, including a season-best 76-yarder against Utah State. He had a 58-yard TD against Colorado State, a 61-yard TD against San Diego State and a 45-yard TD against Air Force.

Pitta, who is No. 15 in the country in receiving yards, has caught 76 passes for 992 yards and six touchdowns this season, though he suffered a knee injury (MCL sprain) last week at Air Force. He has been rehabbing the knee this week and whether or not he plays this week could be a game-time decision. Behind Pitta is Andrew George, who is capable of making big plays, having hauled in 21 passes for 204 yards and five touchdowns.

BYU's other main threat is senior Michael Reed, who has caught 35 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. Backups include Reed White, Luke Ashworth, O'Neill Chambers, Tyler Kozlowski and Spencer Hafoka.

BYU defensive backs

This area has been much-maligned, having struggled against teams that employ five-receiver sets, as TCU and UNLV did, and against foes with mobile quarterbacks. The defensive secondary has been riddled with injuries and has had trouble with gadget plays. BYU is ranked No. 53 in the nation in pass defense and No. 42 in pass efficiency defense.

Cornerback Scott Johnson, regarded as the team's best at that position (he leads the team with five pass break-ups), had started every game until sustaining a serious groin injury against Colorado State. He will not play this week.

In his place is Andrew Rich, who at 6-foot-3, is BYU's tallest defensive back. He sustained a bell-ringer in the Air Force game, but he is expected to play this week. Cornerback Brandon Howard has had his ups and downs, but he intercepted an Air Force pass in the end zone in the waning moments of that game.