PROVO, Utah - After two narrow wins, BYU got a much-welcomed rout.
The 17th-ranked Cougars closed out their third straight unbeaten season at home with a 41-12 win over San Diego State on Saturday, setting a school record with 18 home victories in a row and staying in the Mountain West Conference title race.
Max Hall threw for three touchdowns, including two to Austin Collie as he had his eighth straight 100-yard receiving game.
The Cougars (9-1, 5-1) had allowed 87 points in their past two games. They won both, but by a total of just 10 points and were ready for a blowout.
"It was nice to have an all-around team effort," said Max Hall, who was 25-for-30 fore 317 yards. "Our defense played well and I think that boosted their confidence. But our offense has got to keep on rolling."
BYU scored the first 27 points, then after two field goals by San Diego State, Max Hall found Austin Collie for two more touchdowns early in the fourth quarter against the injury-plagued Aztecs (1-9, 0-6).
San Diego State had four turnovers, including a fumble on the second-half kickoff that set up a quick score to put BYU up 27-0 early in the third quarter.
"We knew coming out today we were going to hit hard and get after them," said David Nixon, who had an interception and 14 tackles in his final home game. "Fortunately enough they turned the ball over and we were able to capitalize on it."
Austin Collie had nine catches for 127 yards and seniors Fui Vakapuna and Wayne Latu ran for touchdowns in their final game at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where BYU hasn't lost since 2005.
BYU needs to close the season with wins at Air Force and No. 10 Utah for at least a share of a third straight conference title.
Utah's 13-10 win over No. 11 TCU on Thursday ended the Horned Frogs' hopes of an outright MWC championship. TCU is the only team to beat BYU this season.
"Now it's back in our hands, depending on what we do. We hold our own destiny and we realize that," Nixon said. "We don't have to depend on anybody else to do anything."
Lane Yoshida kicked two field goals in the third quarter for San Diego State, which added a touchdown in the final minute on a 9-yard pass from Ryan Lindley to Darren Mougey.
San Diego State has been hurt by injuries this season. Only seven Aztecs have started every game and 40 players have had at least one start for coach Chuck Long.
"You have to get through these times to get better. You just have to," Long said.
Austin Collie had 48 yards receiving at the end of the third, then took a short pass from Max Hall and ran it in for a 61-yard touchdown early in the fourth to break 100 for the eighth straight game and put BYU up 34-6. Max Hall found Austin Collie again for a 9-yard TD to make it 41-6 with 10:07 left to go.
Max Hall has thrown 32 touchdown passes this season and Austin Collie has 13 TD receptions.
"I think they would compete no matter what they were playing. They don't like to lose," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "They think they can make every play at any time to help our team win."
The Aztecs gambled a couple of times in the first quarter while trying to keep the ball out of the Cougars' hands. San Diego State converted on a fourth-and-1 and later a fake punt. If either play had failed, BYU would have taken over around midfield and had only a short distance to go.
San Diego State's first play was telling. Lindley lined up in the shotgun and wasn't ready for the snap, which hit him in the facemask and BYU recovered at the 49-yard line. The Cougars took seven plays to reach the end zone on Vakapuna's 7-yard run with 9:42 left in the first quarter.
The Aztecs' beleaguered defense held BYU to 10 points, then finally broke in the second quarter. Max Hall threw a 56-yard pass to Michael Reed, then a 6-yard touchdown pass to Andrew George to put BYU up 17-0 with 5:19 left in the half. David Nixon, also playing in his final home game, got the Cougars the ball back with an interception at the 32 and BYU added a field goal by Mitch Payne to take a 20-0 lead at halftime.
San Diego State entered the game ranked 119th in the Bowl Subdivision, allowing 292.78 yards, but held BYU to 104 yards on the ground.
"We grew defensively today," Russell Allen said. "If you told me before the game we'd hold them to 104 yards rushing, I would have thought we had a chance to win the game."
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