BYU football: Cougars' record against ranked opponents is unimpressive

ARLINGTON, Texas — As BYU prepares to face No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday, it's hard to ignore the Cougars' futility against ranked nonconference opponents.

BYU has dropped 12 consecutive games to ranked nonconference opponents and since joining the Mountain West Conference in 1999, the Cougars are 2-13 against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

The last time the Cougars beat a ranked nonconference foe was in 1998, when they downed No. 14 Arizona State at home, 26-6.

The last time BYU defeated a ranked nonconference opponent on a neutral field was on New Year's Day, 1997, with a 19-15 victory over No. 14 Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.

And the last time the Cougars knocked off a nonconference team ranked in the Top 10 occurred in 1990, when they upset No. 1 Miami in Provo, 28-21.

In his four years at the helm, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall owns a 1-6 mark against ranked opponents.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is 32-12 against ranked opponents in 10 years.

So why has BYU struggled against ranked teams?

"I'm not sure," said defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen. "There are different reasons for each loss. It's always a challenge to go on the road and play a top 25 team that are very good. Hopefully it's something that we can fix. I think it's just a mindset that we have to fix."

"If we would like national credibility at the highest level, I think we're getting national credibility now," Mendenhall said. "We have regional credibility. I think the number of wins speak to that. If you want national credibility at the highest level, then you need to beat the best teams. Ranked teams are the best teams, which we are one of. But playing up, beating those teams that are in front of you is the way that you continue to move. This isn't something new. If you look at BYU's history over a long, long time, the record hasn't been favorable. It's 2-16 or something like that. A lot of reasons for that — really good teams, mostly on the road. Those are the nation's elite and we'd like to become one. That's the next step. So we need to turn the tide. The only way to do it is by playing well. I think that comes step by step."

GRESHAM INJURED: Stoops announced Thursday that senior tight end JermaineGresham will be sidelined for Saturday's game against BYU due to a knee injury.

Gresham, who suffered damage in his right knee, is quarterback SamBradford's top returning receiver from last season, having caught 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns. Bradford has also lost his top receiver from 2008, JuaquinIglesias, who went to the NFL.