BYU puts its magical start to the test against UCLA

— -- If anybody in college football could have used a little divine intervention this first month of the season, it was BYU.

The schedule was already brutal with trips to Nebraska, UCLA and Michigan and a home date with Boise State. And if that September grind wasn't enough, Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback Taysom Hill went down in the opener at Nebraska with a season-ending foot injury.

But, alas, miracles do happen. Just don't tell the Cougars that their 2-0 start -- which includes a Hail Mary touchdown pass by backup quarterback Tanner Mangum to beat Nebraska and another fourth-down touchdown pass by Mangum in the final seconds to beat Boise State -- is anything other than a team rallying around each other, believing in each other and scrapping until the very end.

"I know some people are saying we're lucky and everything else, but with the time we put in during the offseason and the type of guys we have on this team, we feel like this didn't happen by luck," said BYU senior receiver Mitch Mathews, who was on the receiving end of the 42-yard Hail Mary to beat Nebraska.

"Sure, we're blessed and fortunate to be able to play this game. But guys just want to win. We're hoping to make this a great season, not just a magical one. People may think of it as luck. We think of it as something we deserve."