The 2023 campaign is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the BYU Cougars. After back‑to‑back double‑digit win seasons, the team sits at a crossroads where mere consistency is no longer enough. A 10‑2 record is widely viewed as the minimum benchmark for a successful year, but the program's ambitions stretch far beyond that.
Analyst Nathan Lythgoe has repeatedly emphasized that reaching the ten‑win threshold is a given, yet the real measure of progress will be whether the Cougars can translate those wins into a College Football Playoff appearance or a Big 12 championship. As Matt Zemek notes, simply winning the conference title and delivering a full 60‑minute performance against Texas Tech are prerequisites for avoiding an early exit.
The Road Ahead
Adding urgency is the expected departure of several key players. LJ Martin, Bruce Mitchell, Cade Uluave, Isaiah Glasker, Evan Johnson and Faletau Satuala are all slated to leave for the NFL or graduate, creating a talent gap that the coaching staff must address quickly. Their exits place extra pressure on returning veterans to step up and maintain the team's competitive edge.
For many observers, a playoff berth would be the definitive proof of a breakthrough season, even if the team is eliminated early in the tournament. Jeremy Mauss underscores that such a milestone would signal the program's ascent under its current leadership. Conversely, winning the Big 12 title would not only validate the Cougars' progress but also cement their status as a formidable force in the league.
The stakes are further heightened by the absence of Brendan Sorsby from the Texas Tech roster, a factor that some analysts view as making a conference championship more attainable. Whether BYU can navigate these challenges will be revealed on the field, but the narrative is clear: the Cougars must exceed the baseline and prove they belong among the nation's elite.