While tomorrow's matchup between Penn State and Brigham Young will showcase two of the nation's most explosive offenses, it may be the defense that decides who wins and who loses.
Each team has proven that it can play offense. Penn State is ranked No. 6 in scoring offense, averaging 37.3 points per game, while BYU is No. 20, with a 28.9 average.
But while both offenses have been firing on all cylinders, it's their respective defenses that have been tagged for big points during the last few weeks.
"We know we can compete (defensively) on the same level as the Notre Dames and Penn States," BYU defensive back Derwin Gray said. "Our problem has been inconsistency. We haven't been able to put together a good 60 minutes of consistent football."
And it showed in BYU's last game at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame led only 14-9 at halftime and the Cougars were giving the Fighting Irish all they could handle.
Down 21-16 with the fourth quarter yet to be played, BYU was still within striking distance of the Irish. But then the Cougars collapsed.
BYU quarterback Ryan Hancock threw two interceptions and the Cougar defense was not able to respond. And the complexion of the game changed quickly as the Irish rolled to 21 fourth-quarter points, turning their 21-16 lead into a decisive 42-16 victory.
The Cougars had played 45 minutes of solid defense, but it was the final 15 that killed them. It was a scenario much like the Cougars game against Penn State last season, in which the Cougars held Penn State to just 10 first-half points before the Lions exploded to a 33-7 victory.
"Last year we lost to them at their home," BYU defensive standout Shad Hanson said about last year's loss to Penn State. "We made some mistakes, some turnovers. They kept on taking that momentum and were able to win the game. We have to play four quarters of solid football. We didn't do it last year against Penn State, and we didn't do it last week against Notre Dame."
But Penn State's usually rugged defense has also shown some weaknesses since the Lions' heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Miami on Oct. 10.
The following week, the Lions surrendered 28 first-half points in a 35-32 upset loss to Boston College.
Despite showing improvement in last week's game at West Virginia, the Penn State defense looked far from inpenetrable as the Mountaineers rolled to 26 points and 341 yards in total offense.
And with BYU's formidable passing attack up next, the Lions could be in trouble, both in the air and on the ground.
"We'll have to make some adjustments," Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said. "They're not going to run very long, they're going to pass it. Most of their running game comes off what they do passing."
While the Penn State offense can also boast of a talented aerial attack, it has an effective running game to boot.
"We just came off a team (Notre Dame) that runs the ball well," Hansen said. "Penn State's offense passes well and runs well. It'll be real tough to prepare for them."
But the Cougars will have much more at stake than improving their defense.
At 4-4, BYU finds itself in an unusual situtation after appearing in 14 consecutive bowl games. The Cougars are teetering on the edge of receiving a bowl berth, and a win against the highly-regarded Nittany Lions would go a long way in helping to ensure that post-season game.
"The game is important in the sense that we're 4-4," Hansen said. "It's undecided right now about whether we need to win this game to go to a bowl, but it would say a lot about our program if we could beat a team like Penn State."
And if BYU does send Penn State to its third loss in its last four games, it would also say a lot about the Nittany Lions' and their shattered dreams for a 1992 national championship.
