#98 - 11/1/80 – Most points in a game: #17 BYU – 83, UTEP - 7

Junior QB Jim McMahon didn’t like to share the limelight with anyone. Yet that is exactly what he’d had to do in Provo. When Jim arrived in 1977, he found himself the backup to Marc Wilson, who enjoyed a spectacular sophomore season. The next year, the two QBs shared time behind center. That didn’t work out so well, so McMahon redshirted in 1979 - Wilson’s senior season. The result was the first undefeated regular season in team history. Now, it was Jim’s turn, and he wanted to break every single one of Wilson’s records, as well as set a bunch of new ones. Unfortunately, the Cougars started the 1980 season with a surprise loss to lightly regarded New Mexico. The loss served as a wake-up call to BYU, who were universally picked to repeat as WAC champions. The Cougars rolled out six straight victories, including a 28-3 win over Wisconsin on Sept. 20. These were convincing wins - with a minimum margin of victory of 16+ points. However, the Cougs didn’t break into the Top 20 until Oct. 18, with a record of 5-1. Since most of their opponents didn’t rate very high among the pollsters, the #17 Cougars (6-1), felt obligated to keep the pedal to the metal and score as many points as they could in order not to be leap-frogged by higher profile 2-loss teams. That was the political situation when the UTEP Miners (1-7), the doormats of the WAC, showed up in town.

The Cougars took advantage of a Miner fumble during the game’s opening drive to put some points on the board. Their first drive was punctuated by a 24-yard TD pass from McMahon to his favorite target, TE Clay Brown. However, the extra point attempt failed. A quick three-and-out by UTEP, and a punt return to the Miner 45 set up the next score - a 45-yard TD pass from McMahon to Lloyd Jones. On their third drive, McMahon made his first mistake, an interception. Luckily, the Cougar D forced yet another Miner punt. The result of the Cougars’ fourth possession was perhaps more shocking - a Cougar punt. The quarter ended with BYU leading 13-0. It turned out to be a slow start.

In the second quarter, the Cougars got back on track, driving 73 yards, capped by a 3-yard TD pass to Brown. They completed the two-point play to regain the point they’d lost on their first drive. Their next drive went for 57 yards, with Homer Jones pounding the ball home with a 1-yard TD rush. The next drive went for 48 yards, with McMahon completing a 14-yard TD pass to Scott Phillips to ring up another 7 points. That drive was followed by a 46-yard drive, ending with a 21-yard TD pass to Phillips. The game wasn’t even half over, and McMahon already had 5 TD passes. Leading 42-0, the Cougars made their next mistake on their ensuing possession, losing a fumble in their own territory. The Miners only had to move the ball 35 yards to finally put some points on the board - a 3-yard rush by Sieczkowski. The Cougars tried to get the points back before the half, but threw their second interception of the day. Still, the Cougars entered the locker room with a 42-7 lead.

The Cougars got the ball to start the third, and ended up losing 16 yards before delivering their second punt of the day. The punt must have ticked off the Cougar Offense, because they went back to shredding the Miner Defense. Their next drive went 90 yards, with McMahon throwing TD #6 to Matt Braga from 9 yards out. McMahon could have racked up even more yards and TD passes, but Coach Edwards decided that it was time to send in the reserves. It didn’t make much difference. Backup QB Royce Bybee led the Cougars 80 yards on their next drive, throwing a 9-yard TD pass to Homer Jones. A Miner fumble deep in their own territory set up the next Cougar score - an 11-yard TD rush by Scott Pettis, giving the Cougars 63 points after three.

Although the Cougars tried to slow down things down by eating up a lot of clock with run plays, they embarked on a 67-yard drive to start the fourth. This one resulted in a 1-yard TD rush by Bruce Hansen. With the Cougar Offense enjoying all the glory, the Cougar D decided to get in on the fun. Rob Wilson intercepted a Miner pass and ran it back 28 yards for a Pick 6. The extra point however failed, leaving the Cougars with a measly 76 points. On their final drive, Bybee led the Cougars 55 yards, with Scott Pettis breaking free for a 20-yard TD jaunt. The extra point gave the Cougars 83 points - the highest scoring game in Cougar football history (though the basketball team has been known to score more on occasion).

QB Jim McMahon
courtesy of BYU Photo

In the win, McMahon threw 6 touchdowns (T4th) and racked up 451 passing yards. He could have amassed much more if not for his early exit. Still, he ended up rewriting the NCAA record book that season - setting 34 NCAA records in 1980 alone! Since bowl game statistics weren’t included in official seasonal stats at the time, his records included: 4,571 passing yards, a 176.9 passing efficiency rating, 47 TD passes, 10.27 yards per play, and 11-straight 300+ passing games - among others. Was he awarded the Heismann in recognition of his stellar accomplishments? No. He didn’t even win the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s “most outstanding passer.” That award went to Mark Herrmann, who had 3,212 passing yards, 23 TD passes and a 150.5 passing efficiency rating. I’m still trying to figure that one out. McMahon did cap his junior season by leading BYU to it’s first ever bowl win - a 46-45 thriller over SMU in the Holiday Bowl.