A common denominator in BYU's first six football games of the 2024 season has been the beautiful weather. From Provo to Dallas, from Wyoming to Waco and back to Provo, the weather conditions were spectacular.

Yes, even in Laramie.

If anything, it was almost too warm, especially last Saturday during BYU's 41-19 conquest of Arizona.

Well, if the local forecasters' predictions are correct, everything changes for the No. 13 Cougars (6-0, 3-0) on Friday night when they host unranked Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3) at LaVell Edwards Stadium ) received on a late night special.

Kick-off is at 8:15 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN.

It could rain in the valleys, maybe even snow in the higher elevations of Utah. And it will be cold, about 30 to 40 degrees below the temperatures BYU is enjoying en route to its first 6-0 start since 2020 and sixth overall.

As perfect as the weather was last week and earlier this week, October 18th could be downright gloomy, similar to last year in Stillwater, Oklahoma, when the Pokes defeated the Cougars 40-34 in late November in the misery of rain and sleet Boone Pickens Stadium.

How will BYU handle the weather this time?

Defensive coordinator Jay Hill said Tuesday that it shouldn't affect the Cougars in any way.

“Well, it shouldn’t be a factor for us. We are a cold weather team. We are used to living at heights. “We’re used to cold weather,” Hill said. “We are used to doing spring ball practices in rain and sleet, so I think whatever comes our way should be to our advantage.”

Coaches say the popular belief among fans that wet weather and poor conditions favor running teams and defenses is not accurate. Offensive players know where they are going, while defensive players usually have to react and have less secure footing.

How will Southern California BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff fare in the rain and cold? Last year, he was a little shaky in the 40-degree temperatures in the Sooner State, completing just 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards, with a long of 50, in front of 53,855 shivering fans.

That loss, which denied the Cougars a chance to bowl at 5-7, wasn't used as a rallying cry by coach Kalani Sitake's team this week, but it was clear it hit deep – BYU blew a 24 halftime lead: 6 – and that hasn’t been forgotten either. This time, slightly disappointing OSU is playing to save its season, not the Cougars.

“This is a game where we know we’re going to get everything they have,” Retzlaff said. “At the same time, this is a game that we remember last year at the end of November. We remember that. That’s why we’re ready this week because we know we owe them one.”

Said Sitake, who has downplayed the “revenge factor” all week, instead focusing on the need for BYU to remain humble and hungry as national attention pours in and some people project a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff: ” It's going to be a dogfight, man. It's going to be a lot of fun. We saw some really cool things from the Arizona game and got a lot from our players. We are therefore looking forward to the challenge at Oklahoma State.”

That big challenge will likely come from OSU's defense and rushing attack, especially because the Cowboys will likely use a relatively new starting quarterback, redshirt sophomore Garett Rangel. Sixth-grader Alan Bowman, who threw for 321 yards against BYU 11 months ago, was benched twice this season for ineffectiveness.

“I mean, we have to cover everything,” Sitake said. “They have a really good coaching staff. When you play for the conference championship last year, it's not just luck. We have to be prepared for anything.”

That also means being ready for junior Ollie Gordon II, one of the best running backs in the country. Gordon ran for 167 yards and five touchdowns against BYU last year and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top RB.

“Yes, dangerous player,” Sitake said. “It's hard to contain such a talented man. And so at some point he will find ways to poke holes in your defense. We have to be confident and make things difficult for him and this offense.”

Hill said Gordon was a “phenomenal player” who ran for more than 1,700 yards last year. The Fort Worth native and preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year hasn't really had a big game this year – yet.

“He’s someone you have to have a game plan for. We have to be prepared for him to play his best game. We have to assume that will happen,” Hill said. “The offensive line, those guys are great. They all played last year. We have to be ready with our A game.”