PROVO, Utah (AP) — Riley Nelson threw for two touchdowns in his first start in four years and BYU’s defense shut out Washington in the second half as the Cougars won 23-17 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Washington’s Jake Locker passed for 266 yards, but missed passes on two fourth-down conversion attempts late in the final period that could have put the Huskies ahead.
Nelson and Jake Heaps, who are sharing BYU’s quarterback duties, both finished with 131 yards passing.
Locker threw for one touchdown and ran for another and Erick Folk kicked a career-best 54-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter to give the Huskies a 17-13 lead.
