Trevor Matich, a national champion with BYU in 1984, expressed his strong desires for the upcoming season, starting with the first play of BYU’s opener against Southern Illinois. Matich, who had a stellar 47-3 record during his Cougar career, was deeply disappointed to see BYU lose its last five games in 2023.
Speaking on the “Y’s Guys” podcast recently, Matich emphasized the need for the offensive line to demonstrate resilience and endurance throughout every play. He criticized their tendency to start strong but then falter, urging them to finish each play with determination.
“In the last three to four years, I’d watch the offensive line, which is big, strong and talented, and I’d see them go out there and take a few steps and then they would slow down,” Matich lamented. “I’m thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ Finish!”
BYU struggled with running the ball last season, averaging just 3.5 yards per rushing attempt, which intensified pressure on the passing game and led to quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and Jake Retzlaff being sacked a total of 19 times. To address these issues, head coach Kalani Sitake brought in TJ Woods, who Matich praised as one of the top educators of offensive line techniques in college football today.
“He is one of the best teachers of the techniques of the game in college football today,” Matich affirmed. “Everywhere he has been, his offensive lines have gotten better at the craft of playing offensive line.”
Matich, now 62 and entering his 21st season as a college football analyst at ESPN, maintains a keen eye on teams across the country but holds specific expectations for his alma mater, both offensively and defensively.
“I want to see them go from the snap all the way through the whistle with 100% mental and physical focus,” he asserted. “Mental focus is critical. Against Southern Illinois, if (BYU) plays like they can, they will outmatch them physically from top to bottom. But I want to see them finish (every play) as if they are playing for the national championship in that game.”
Drawing from his own experience anchoring an offensive line that secured BYU’s only football national championship with a perfect season in 1984, Matich also outlined expectations for the defensive line.
“I want to see them aggressive and disrupting the backfield,” he stated. “I want individual players to win their pass rush battles with refined technique, showing versatility and adaptability. I want to witness strategic planning in their approach.” Matich’s insights reflect not only his passion for BYU’s success but also his deep understanding of the game from both offensive and defensive perspectives.
