The Road Ahead for BYU Football
After two consecutive seasons that saw the Cougars finish 11‑2 and 12‑2 but fall just short of the College Football Playoff, Brigham Young University is poised to turn those near‑misses into a legitimate championship push in 2026.
Coach Kalani Sitake, now in his 11th year at the helm, was retained after a high‑profile courtship from Penn State, signaling a long‑term commitment to the program and its recruiting pipeline.
The offense returns with quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game, completing 65% of his passes. Complementing him is running back LJ Martin, the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, who amassed 1,305 rushing yards last season.
Defensive Overhaul and New Faces
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill departed for Michigan, prompting the promotion of Kelly Poppinga to lead the unit. The revamped defense will lean on Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa and former Cal linebacker Cade Uluave, who are expected to anchor the front seven.
Special teams will also see changes, with senior kicker Matthias Dunn taking over kicking duties. Freshman punter Fuller Shurtz has assumed punting responsibilities after Sam Vander Haar was denied a waiver for an additional season.
Analysts currently project BYU to be ranked 16th nationally at the start of the season, a position that reflects both the optimism surrounding the returning talent and the competitive nature of the Big 12 Conference.
If the Cougars can stay healthy and translate their offensive firepower into consistent wins, they are expected to contend for the Big 12 Championship Game and potentially secure a spot in the playoff conversation.