1985 BYU Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1985 BYU Cougars football Western Athletic Conference WAC 17 16 11–3 7–1 LaVell Edwards 14th Roger French 5th West Coast Dick Felt 11th 4–3 Cougar Stadium WAC co-champion Florida Citrus Bowl L 7–10 vs. Ohio State The 1985 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by 14th-year head coach LaVell Edwards and played their home games at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah. The team competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, winning a share of their 10th consecutive conference title with a conference record of 7–1, sharing the title with Air Force. BYU was invited to the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl, where they lost to Ohio State. The Cougars were ranked 16th in the final AP Poll with an overall record of 11–3. However they lost their first WAC game in three years to UTEP, which is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in college football history, as the Miners were 0–6 at the time the two teams played. It is tied the fifth biggest upset by points spread.2021-11-14 The 30 Biggest College Football Point Spread Upsets Since 1980 The Action Network https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/college-football-biggest-upsets-point-spread 2023-05-13 Action Network en-US It was also the last time a top ten AP poll team lost to a team 0–4 or worse until 2025 when No. 7 Penn State lost to 0–4 UCLA.Uggetti Paolo Pasadena, California, U.S. No. 7 Penn State searching for answers after loss to UCLA https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46489952/ucla-notches-first-victory-season-stuns-no-7-penn-state ESPN.com October 4, 2025 October 5, 2025 Schedule 1985 AP August 29, 1985 w y y 10 Boston College Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ Kickoff Classic Raycom 28–14 51,227 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-byu-wins-a-showcase-for-qb-st/170215677/ The Record BYU wins a showcase for QB star August 30, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 7 l y 8 UCLA 20 Cougar Stadium Provo, UT ESPN 24–27 65,455 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-ucla-beats-byu/170250303/ Lexington Herald-Leader UCLA beats BYU, ending Cougars' win streak at 25 September 8, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 14 w y 16 Washington Cougar Stadium Provo, UT ABC 31–3 65,476 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-byu-embarrasses-huskies/170250499/ The Columbian BYU 'embarrasses' Huskies September 15, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 w y y 13 Temple Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA KSL (1 hour tape delay) 26–24 31,085 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news-byu-foils-owls-upset-b/170216615/ Sunday News Journal BYU foils Owls' upset bid 26–24 September 22, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w y 15 Colorado State Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO 42–7 26,881 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-bosco-byu-tear/170245806/ The Des Moines Register Bosco, BYU tear apart Colorado State, 42–7 October 6, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 w y 11 San Diego State Cougar Stadium Provo, UT 28–0 65,407 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-bosco-leads-cougars-o/170250660/ The Sacramento Bee Bosco leads Cougars over Aztecs 28–0 October 13, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w y 9 New Mexico University Stadium Albuquerque, NM KSL 45–23 20,918 https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-lobos-give-byu-tough/170225746/ Albuquerque Journal Lobos give BYU tough time in 45–23 loss October 20, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 l y 7 UTEP Sun Bowl El Paso, TX 16–23 22,121 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-miners-close-down-byu-o/170223384/ The Daily Herald Miners close down BYU offense October 27, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 w 17 Wyoming Cougar Stadium Provo, UT 59–0 65,243 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-bosco-bombs-wyoming/170224612/ The Greenville News Bosco bombs Wyoming November 3, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 w y y 18 Utah State Romney Stadium Logan, UT rivalry KSL 44–0 29,024 https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-idaho-press-byu-beats-utah-st-44/170250841/ South Idaho Press BYU beats Utah St. 44–0 in snow storm November 10, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w 16 Air Force 4 Cougar Stadium Provo, UT KSL 28–21 65,393 https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-byu-stuns-no-4-air-force/170251027/ Courier-Post BYU stuns No. 4 Air Force November 17, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w 11 Utah Cougar Stadium Provo, UT Holy War 38–28 65,473 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-byu-beats-state-rival-uta/170249279/ The Times-News BYU beats state rival Utah November 24, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com December 7 w y 9 Hawaii Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI 26–6 47,482 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-byu-wins-another-w/170248057/ The Salt Lake Tribune BYU wins another WAC title with win in Hawaii December 8, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com December 28 l y y 9 Ohio State 17 Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL Florida Citrus Bowl NBC 7–10 50,920 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-ohio-state-defens/170251170/ The Charlotte Observer Ohio State defense peels Brigham Young in Citrus December 29, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Dec-24. Game summaries Vs. Boston College (Kickoff Classic) 1985 Boston College Eagles football team BYU Cougars; text-align:center collapsed No. 10 BYU Cougars vs. Boston College Eagles (Kickoff Classic) – Game summary August 29, 1985 6:00 p.m. MDT/8:00 p.m. EDT No. 10 Cougars 0 14 7 7 Eagles 0 7 7 0 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 51,227 Partly cloudy, 80 F C Box score First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter BYU – Mark Bellini 6-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (kick failed), 13:11. Cougars 6–0. BYU – Lakei Heimuli 1-yard run (Robbie Bosco pass to Kelly Smith), 9:34. Cougars 14–0. BC – John Mihalik 1-yard run (Tim George kick), 5:40. Cougars 14–7. Third quarter BC – Troy Stradford 5-yard run (Tim George kick), 5:33. Tied 14–14. BYU – Mark Bellini 12-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 3:38. Cougars 21–14. Fourth quarter BYU – Glen Kozlowski 22-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 8:32. Cougars 28–14. Team Category Player StatisticsBYU Passing Robbie Bosco 35/53, 508 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT Rushing Vai Sikahema 7 rushes, 27 yards Receiving Glen Kozlowski 10 receptions, 241 yards, TDBoston College Passing Shawn Halloran 18/37, 159 yards, 3 INT Rushing Troy Stradford 21 rushes, 101 yards, TD Receiving Scott Gieselman 9 receptions, 78 yards No. 20 UCLA 1985 UCLA Bruins football team BYU Cougars; text-align:center collapsed No. 20 UCLA Bruins at No. 8 BYU Cougars – Game summary September 7 5:45 p.m. MDT No. 20 Bruins 10 3 3 11 No. 8 Cougars 3 14 0 7 Cougar Stadium, Provo, Utah 65,455 Partly cloudy, 76 F C Box score First quarter UCLA – John Lee 25-yard field goal, 8:57. Bruins 3–0. BYU – Gary Webster 24-yard field goal, 3:23. Tied 3–3. UCLA – Craig Rutledge 65-yard interception return (Gary Webster kick), 1:26. Bruins 10–3. Second quarter BYU – Mark Bellini 10-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 13:47. Tied 10–10. UCLA – John Lee 35-yard field goal, 6:28. Bruins 13–10. BYU – Glen Kozlowski 7-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 3:29. Cougars 17–13. Third quarter UCLA – John Lee 20-yard field goal, 5:29. Cougars 17–16. Fourth quarter UCLA – John Lee 25-yard field goal, 9:01. Bruins 19–17. BYU – Robbie Bosco 1-yard run (Gary Webster kick), 2:57. Cougars 24–19. UCLA – Gaston Green 2-yard run (Gaston Green run), 1:02. Bruins 27–24. Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Matt Stevens 6/11, 113 yards Rushing Marcus Greenwood 13 rushes, 71 yards Receiving Mike Sherrard 6 receptions, 98 yardsBYU Passing Robbie Bosco 29/41, 340 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Vai Sikahema 6 rushes, 54 yards Receiving Vai Sikahema 8 receptions, 129 yards At UTEP 1985 UTEP Miners football team BYU Cougars; text-align:center collapsed No. 7 BYU Cougars at UTEP Miners – Game summary October 26 No. 7 Cougars 10 0 6 0 Miners 10 10 3 0 Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas 22,121 Clear, 75 F C Box score First quarter BYU – Scott Norberg 11-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 11:29. Cougars 7–0. UTEP – Clarence Seay 52-yard pass from Sammy Garza (Hugo Castellanos kick), 9:33. Tied 7–7. BYU – Gary Webster 45-yard field goal, 6:03. Cougars 10–7. UTEP – Hugo Castellanos 50-yard field goal, 1:08. Tied 10–10. Second quarter UTEP – Danny Taylor 100-yard interception return (Hugo Castellanos kick), 5:52. Miners 17–10. UTEP – Hugo Castellanos 31-yard field goal, 0:13. Miners 20–10. Third quarter BYU – Lakei Heimuli 1-yard run (kick failed), 9:44. Miners 20–16. UTEP – Hugo Castellanos 29-yard field goal, 6:00. Miners 23–16. Team Category Player StatisticsBYU Passing Robbie Bosco 15/34, 151 yards, TD, 4 INT Rushing Lakei Heimuli 30 rushes, 154 yards, TD Receiving Kelly Smith 7 receptions, 60 yardsUTEP Passing Sammy Garza 8/16, 147 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing John Harvey 25 rushes, 112 yards Receiving Larry Linne 3 receptions, 56 yards No. 4 Air Force 1985 Air Force Falcons football team BYU Cougars; text-align:center collapsed No. 4 Air Force Falcons at No. 16 BYU Cougars – Game summary November 16 No. 4 Falcons 14 7 0 0 No. 16 Cougars 0 7 14 7 Cougar Stadium, Provo, Utah 65,393 Cloudy, 35 F C Box score First quarter AFA – Randy Jones 22-yard pass from Bart Weiss (Tom Ruby kick), 12:29. Falcons 7–0. AFA – Tom Rotello 25-yard interception return (Tom Ruby kick), 12:09. Falcons 14–0. Second quarter BYU – Mark Bellini 22-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 12:46. Falcons 14–7. AFA – Dwan Wilson 58-yard interception return (Tom Ruby kick), 8:36. Falcons 21–7. Third quarter BYU – Vai Sikahema 72-yard punt return (kick failed), 12:47. Falcons 21–13. BYU – Mark Bellini 25-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Robbie Bosco pass to Lance Lindley), 4:42. Tied 21–21. Fourth quarter BYU – Vai Sikahema 69-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 5:41. Cougars 28–21. Team Category Player StatisticsAir Force Passing Bart Weiss 9/18, 101 yards, TD, INT Rushing Pat Evans 18 rushes, 65 yards Receiving Randy Jones 2 receptions, 25 yards, TDBYU Passing Robbie Bosco 29/49, 343 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT Rushing Tom Tuipulotu 3 rushes, 15 yards Receiving Mark Bellini 9 receptions, 143 yards, 2 TD Robbie Bosco wore number 7 in honor of injured teammate Glen Kozlowski. Vs. No. 17 Ohio State (Florida Citrus Bowl) 1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl BYU Cougars; text-align:center collapsed 1985 Florida Citrus BowlNo. 9 BYU Cougars vs. No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes December 28 12:30 p.m. MST/10:30 p.m. EST No. 9 Cougars 0 7 0 0 No. 17 Buckeyes 0 3 7 0 Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida 50,920 Clear, 63 F C Vincent Price NBC Jay Randolph, Dave Rowe, and Tom Hammond Box score First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter OSU – Rich Spangler 47-yard field goal, 10:32. Buckeyes 3–0. BYU – David Miles 38-yard pass from Robbie Bosco (Gary Webster kick), 0:52. Cougars 7–3. Third quarter OSU – Larry Kolic 14-yard interception return (Rich Spangler kick), 13:52. Buckeyes 10–7. Fourth quarter No scoring plays Team Category Player StatisticsBYU Passing Robbie Bosco 26/50, 261 yards, TD, 4 INT Rushing Tom Tuipulotu 9 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Mark Bellini 5 receptions, 87 yardsOhio State Passing Jim Karsatos 19/35, 196 yards Rushing John Wooldridge 25 rushes, 109 yards Receiving Cris Carter 6 receptions, 85 yards Personnel 1985 BYU Cougars y Robbie Bosco QB y Jr Bruce Hansen Bruce Hansen (American football) RB y 7 Glen Kozlowski WR y 42 Darin Nelson OLB 53 Sr Cary Whittingham LB LaVell Edwards References BYU Category:BYU Cougars football seasons Category:Western Athletic Conference football champion seasons BYU Cougars football Category:Long stubs with short prose