Three Takeaways From BYU’s 56-24 Victory Over UMass

AMHERST, Ma. – BYU Football cruised to a dominating victory over the UMass Minutemen. Records were set in a game that felt more like a spring scrimmage rather than a regular-season college football game. But, it’s a win and it was one that was never in doubt.

Here are my three takeaways from BYU’s 56-24 win against UMass.

#1 Jackson McChesney has a bright future ahead of him

What takes place against a team like UMass doesn’t automatically guarantee success moving forward, but 228 rushing yards is 228 rushing yards. Don’t care who you go up against, that’s a huge day and he created a lot of the space himself in the win.

Jackson McChesney set a record for the most yards by a freshman in @BYUFootball history in the Cougars win against UMass.#BYU #BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/zJ36DfH3tY

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 23, 2019

Since becoming an FBS Independent in 2011, BYU has faced a lot of FCS and teams in the bottom 10 of the FBS ranks, and no one has popped off for a 228-yard day. McChesney is a speedster and has excellent instincts. He will be a talented running back for BYU in the seasons to come and what has to excite Cougar fans is that McChesney still has four years left in his career in Provo.

McChesney’s 228 yards was sixth all-time for most rushing yards in a single game by a BYU player.

That drive – all @jackson21cheese! McChesney's speed is impressive. Great burst. 56-10 for @BYUfootball! pic.twitter.com/SmgIQAWELV

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 23, 2019

The 10 best single-game rushing yard performances in BYU history.

1. 286 – Jamaal Williams (Toledo, 2016)
2. 272 – Eldon Fortie (George Washington, 1962)
3. 259 – Taysom Hill (Texas, 2013)
4. 250 – Ronney Jenkins (San Jose State, 1998)
5. 247 – Pete Van Valkenburg (Long Beach State, 1972)
6. 228 – Jackson McChesney (UMass, 2019)
7. 219 – Jamaal Williams (Nevada, 2013)
8. 219 – Curtis Brown (Air Force, 2005)
9. 217 – Curtis Brown (Utah State, 2002)
10. 215 – Jeff Blanc (Wyoming, 1975)

All of these running backs in the top 10 single-game performances are some of the best to ever play at running back for BYU. Will be interesting to see how McChesney progresses in his career from here.

#2 Jake Oldroyd is in a slump

It’s tough to get nitpicky after a 56-24 victory, but one area that needs to see improvement is placekicking. Jake Oldroyd has made only one field goal during BYU’s five-game winning streak. Now he’s only had four attempts, but that’s a 25-percent conversion rate.

Oldroyd off the upright. Does Ed Lamb need to turn to Skyler Southam now at kicker? #BYU #KSLsports #BYUvsUMASS

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 23, 2019

At the end of the first half, Oldroyd missed a 28-yard field goal in his only field goal attempt from BYU’s win over the Minutemen. In the second half, Oldroyd handled kickoffs and Skyler Southam took over PATs.

#3 Never schedule UMass again

Saturday’s win for BYU concludes a four-game series between the Cougars and the Minutemen. Hopefully, it’s the last. Credit UMass to attempting a run at operating as an FBS Independent, but BYU is above playing a program like the Minutemen. BYU’s win was in front of 8,204 fans at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. 1,500 of those in attendance were courtesy of BYU fans from the northeast region.

5️⃣ STRAIGHT#GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/RWXDjCYwUr

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 23, 2019

BYU’s intent was to lend a helping hand to a fellow independent program when the Minutemen left the MAC to go independent. But now that the Cougars are nine years into independence, there’s no need to schedule a UMass again. Bad TV, small stadium, no fans, and a game that gives you nothing to gain. It would be wise to never schedule UMass again.

I’ll leave you with the FloSports commercial break theme song playing on loop.

pic.twitter.com/GySDLg6oK8

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 23, 2019

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.