BYU football: Cougars play low-key

ARLINGTON, Texas — No doubt, BYU's showdown tonight against No. 3 Oklahoma is one of the biggest season-openers in school history.

It marks the first college game ever at lavish, billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium, and it's a matchup with a team that's projected to contend for the national championship. It's on ESPN, and the nation will be watching to see last year's Heisman Trophy winner, Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford, and to see if a Mountain West Conference team can pull another improbable upset, as Utah did against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last January.

Still, for the No. 20 Cougars, there is danger in thinking too much about this unique atmosphere and peripheral issues.

To that end, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, when addressing his team, has been trying to put this game in perspective. While Mendenhall and the Cougars are eager to make a splash nationally, the coach is preaching that regardless of what happens against the Sooners, this one game doesn't make or break the season.

Running back Harvey Unga has heard the message, one year after BYU was anointed as the 2008 BCS-busters, only to fall flat in three key games.

"That was one of the biggest setbacks, honestly, last year — worrying about the whole national stage thing," Unga said. "We recognize the team that we're playing, their ranking, whatever. But to us, we're not in it for the national recognition. We're in it to win this football game. That's our biggest concern. As far as the national ranking is concerned, we'll let that play out on its own."

"It's just another football game. That's the way we look at it," said tight end Dennis Pitta. "We're not preparing any different. Oklahoma is a very good football team. We recognize that and we respect their program and the things they've done over the years. But it's a new year, and we're excited about the challenge. We're ready to go."

Certainly, a BYU victory would rank among the biggest in school history.

"We've been slowly establishing our program to be one of the top programs in the country," said quarterback Max Hall. "We're getting there. To win a big game like this one could help us get to that top tier of programs."

Mendenhall likes his team's preparation and attitude going into this season. "I think this team is hungry," he said. "I think possibly not winning the conference championship last year after winning it two years in a row has given them an edge. And maybe more appreciation for what it takes to win a championship and what it feels like not to have one."