Four takeaways from BYU football's season-opening win over Utah Tech

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The BYU Cougars took care of business under the lights at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday. They left no doubt about being ready for the 2026 season with a 63-7 win over Utah Tech.

Kalani Sitake's team went up 42-0 at halftime and cruised in the second half. What did we learn from the home opener? Here are four takeaways from BYU starting the season off in a good direction.

Kelly Poppinga’s defense should be good

BYU's defense won the turnover battle by a count of 4-0 over Utah Tech. Tre Alexander set the tone right after the opening kickoff, snagging an interception on the first play of the game. It was one of two turnovers in the first quarter.

The Cougars held tight and had the Trailblazers scrambling. Next week against Arizona will be an interesting matchup against senior QB Noah Fifita. We'll see how Poppinga’s unit steps up against a better signal-caller.

Evaluating BYU's depth was key

The Cougars were playing third and fourth-string players in a game late into the second half. This gave Sitake and his staff the opportunity to evaluate each position and possibly make adjustments ahead of facing Power Four opponents. The game was well out of reach before BYU started pulling players out. Kudos to Utah Tech for hanging in for the remainder of the game.

The Cougars' offense is going to be a problem

BYU put on a show offensively and ran up stat totals across the board. They did exactly what they were supposed against a lower FCS opponent. With 521 yards, nine touchdowns and no turnovers, you can't do any better. Especially after clearing the bench and the starters coming out early.

Bachmeier has shown progress since BYU beat Georgia Tech in last year's Pop-Tarts Bowl. Being a camp counselor at the Manning Passing Academy gave him a new perspective on where he ranks amongst his peers. Bachmeier completed 16 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He added another score on the ground as well.

Bachmeier was only one key contributor. BYU's rushing attack was led by LJ Martin and freshman Devaughn Eka. Overall, the Cougars racked up 308 yards. If they can stay consistent, this could be a record-setting year in Provo.

Legend Glasker lived up to his name

No player has sparked as much buzz than Glasker. The BYU debut for the Beehive State prospect lived up to the hype from Fall camp. Glasker had five touches with three scores, showing just how elusive he could be. His first career touch was a 9-yard touchdown run. He later had two receiving scores. Not a bad way to break onto the scene in Provo. Glasker ended up with 81 total yards.

BYU faces Arizona for an early Big 12 matchup on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX)