BYU Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Cougars in 2026

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In retrospect, BYU should probably feel hard done for not making the 2025 College Football Playoff. The Cougars were a fantastic team last season, with their only two slip-ups coming against behemoth Big 12 foe Texas Tech. In the end, BYU just missed out on being included in the 12-team field.

This time around, BYU fans have to feel great about their chances to finally crash the College Football Playoff party. Coach Kalani Sitake is back after a not-so-quiet flirtation with the Penn State job. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier returns after a strong freshman season as the full-time starter. Add in a few high-upside transfers in key spots and the Cougars might have the recipe to push Texas Tech for the Big 12 title.

BYU has a tricky Big 12 slate, but with Brendan Sorsby's departure from college football, the door might be open for the Cougars to surpass the Red Raiders in the Big 12 pecking order.

Here are five bold predictions for BYU in 2026.

5 Bold Predictions for BYU in the 2026 College Football Season

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake works the sideline against Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio.Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

BYU Will Make the 2026 College Football Playoff

BYU had an outstanding 2025 season by all accounts. Outside of the two matchups against eventual conference champs Texas Tech, the Cougars steamrolled the conference and looked like one of the better teams in college football.

This season, the expectation for Sitake’s bunch is to finally break through and make it to the 2026 College Football Playoff.

Bachmeier is back after an impressive freshman campaign. The defense returns a ton of talent from last year’s group, despite the loss of former coordinator Jay Hill. There are questions about who will step up at receiver after Parker Kingston was kicked off the team, but BYU should have enough playmakers to get it done out wide.

The Cougars notably avoid Texas Tech during the 2026 regular season. Pencil me in for a Texas Tech-BYU Big 12 Championship game rematch where, after it's all said and done, both teams get a spot in the 12-team CFP field.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) drops back to pass against West Virginia at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Oct.3, 2025; Provo, Utah.© Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier Will Drastically Improve as a Passer

Bachmeier had an excellent freshman season by most accounts. He was a bully in the run game, churning out over 500 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. One area he could stand to improve is his ability as a passer.

His numbers are sort of deceiving. He threw for over 3,000 yards and completed almost 65% of his passes, but his lack of a cutting edge in the passing game showed up during both losses to Texas Tech.

I’m fully expecting Bachmeier to make a solid step forward as a passer this season. He’ll be breaking in a few new wide receivers, and it might feel choppy at first, but I think we should reasonably expect him to be a more efficient passer in 2026.

If he does drastically improve, BYU will have all the tools to be one of the best teams in the Big 12.

The Cougars Will Lose Their Highly Anticipated Matchup Against Notre Dame

BYU will not square off with reigning Big 12 champs Texas Tech in the regular season, which means the Cougars’ biggest game of the season will come on Oct. 17 against Notre Dame.

That game has all sorts of national implications for the perception of the Big 12. If BYU plays well, or dare I say wins the game, it’ll go a long way in adding some legitimacy to the league.

The Cougars will be really good this season, but Notre Dame will be better. The Fighting Irish are loaded on both sides of the ball, bring back a dynamite quarterback in CJ Carr and appear on a warpath to the national championship game.

The Cougars will keep it competitive, but give me Notre Dame in a close game.

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BYU’s Defense Will Take a Slight Step Back Under New Coordinator Kelly Poppinga

One of the storylines of the offseason in Provo was the news that former DC Jay Hill would be following former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to Ann Arbor. No matter how you attempt to slice and dice it, that’s a big loss for BYU. Hill orchestrated some dynamite defenses and made big waves on the recruiting trail.

Sitake did the reasonable thing and promoted Kelly Poppinga to the full-time defensive coordinator role. BYU returns 69% of last season's production, sixth best in all of college football. In theory, that should go a long way in ensuring this group doesn’t fall off a cliff.

The defense should be good again, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that unit might take a small step back in Hill’s absence.

BYU Will Get a Rematch With Texas Tech in the 2026 Big 12 Championship Game

Nothing is ever a guarantee in the Big 12 Conference. Year to year, this league has perhaps the most volatility out of any league in the sport.

But for all the talk about the topsy-turvy nature of the league, there are at least a few likely contenders for the Big 12 title in 2026. Texas Tech should be considered the favorite, even with the Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal. That next cluster features teams like BYU and Utah. Then come potential dark horse candidates like Houston, Arizona State, Arizona and maybe Oklahoma State.

The Big 12 should be extremely fun again this season. Everywhere you look, there are great storylines, and you can talk yourself into a lot of potential scenarios.

That said, I’m going chalk. Give me a Texas Tech-BYU rematch with a College Football Playoff berth on the line in the Big 12 Championship game.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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