BYU Football Preview 2026: Can the Snubbed Cougars Grab a CFP Spot?
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BYU got totally hosed.
Actually, it’s more like the Cougars weren’t judged the same way Alabama was, and as a result, they finished 12th in the final regular season rankings and missed out on a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.
So now the program knows what it has to do this season. Be better than 11-1 going into the Big 12 Championship, and/or win it this time around.
BYU Has Everything It Needs to Reach the College Football Playoff
© Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Let me explain.
BYU lost to one team last year – Texas Tech – and it got roasted in both games 29-7 and 34-7 in the Big 12 Championship.
Along the way, it gave Utah one of its two losses on the year, destroyed a solid TCU, won at Arizona, and if we’re really going to do this like the College Football Playoff committee was supposed to, BYU beat Stanford 27-3.
That was the same Stanford team that beat Florida State 20-13. The Seminoles made Alabama look awful in a 31-17 loss in Tallahassee.
Like BYU, the Tide were rocked in their own conference championship loss, and with ten wins, ended up ninth in the CFP rankings.
No, the system isn’t rigged. It’s more like there’s a general ignorance when it comes to the Big 12 compared to the SEC and Big Ten.
So when a Power Four team like BYU wins 11 games, ends up beating five teams that finished with eight wins or more, and whose only crime was losing twice to a team ranked fourth in the final CFP rankings, it needs to be even splashier.
It’ll be tough to win 11 regular season games again in a tougher Big 12, and it’s asking too much of anyone to be even better than BYU was last season.
But head coach Kalani Sitake didn’t take the Penn State job, he’s still around, and he has won ten or more games in four of the last six seasons.
And he has a team that should be too good for the College Football Playoff committee to ignore.
BYU Quick Hits
- Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (11th year: 84-45)
- Best Case / Worst Case: Win the Big 12 Championship and/or go to the College Football Playoff/Struggle to get to six wins
- Key Player: Bear Bachmeier, QB Soph.
- 2025 Record: 12-2
- Biggest Question: Do the Cougars have enough talent, and not just experience, to take that next step to get into the CFP?
BYU Key 2025 Stats
- Fourth Quarter Scoring: BYU 131, Opponents 68
- Time of Possession: BYU 32:43, Opponents 27:17
- Red Zone Scores: BYU 53-of-59 (90%), Opponents 38-of-54 (70%)
Offense
Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick keeps on cranking out great attacks.
It wasn’t always smooth, but it seemed like BYU was finding a way to take over when needed game-in-and-game-out.
This year’s team is loaded with talent and experience, and now the consistency should be there along with the production.
What’s Working
The backfield will be among the best in the Big 12. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier is a baller’s baller, working his way to over 3,000 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes, and over 500 on the ground with 11 scores in his freshman season.
Now he knows what he’s doing.
Senior running back LJ Martin stuck around for another year after tearing off over 1,300 yards with 12 scores.
Sione Moa is another big, tough back who can hammer away – he’ returns after only seeing time in four games.
The offensive line will be a rock. Three starters are back – tackle Andrew Gentry should be the best blocker up front, if it’s not center Bruce Mitchell.
There’s great help coming in with Paki Finau a ready-made left tackle from Washington, and Jr Sia a versatile option from Utah State.
The tight ends should be stars. It’s not a stretch to call the signings of Walker Lyons (USC) and Roger Saleapaga (Oregon) two of the team’s bigger signings.
Lyons caught 20 passes last year, but he has the tools to so a whole lot more, and with Saleapaga, it’s just about getting him the opportunity after being buried on a deep Duck depth chart.
What Needs Work
The receiving corps could use a little oomph. Leading receiver Parker Kingston has been off the team and out of the university after dealing with legal issues – the charges were later dismissed.
Second-leading receiver Chase Roberts is a Las Vegas Raider, and tight end Carsen Ryan is a Cleveland Brown.
Now things are a bit thin, with Jojo Phillips back after making 14 catches, and Tiger Bachmeier coming off a seven-grab year.
The team needs Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper to be outstanding on the outside.
The Cougars couldn’t overcome turnovers. There wasn’t a giveaway problem, but things got tough when they screwed up.
Out of the 16 turnovers, 14 came in five games. Two games were the losses to Texas Tech, and the other three were close fights.
The backup quarterback situation is a concern. Bachmeier is a great runner, but he also takes a ton of big shots. Now, top backup McCae Hillstead is gone to Utah State.
Treyson Bourguet was good for Western Michigan, but he’s only thrown two passes since 2023, both for the Cougars last year, and the offense doesn’t want to rely on freshman Enoch Watson yet.
Player to Watch
LJ Martin, RB Sr.
The 6-2, 225-pound Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year ran the ball more than anyone in the conference with 236 carries, and he added 36 catches to the mix. He’s a tough back, but he’s coming off a shoulder injury.
With everything right now, the star back with 2,541 career yards and 23 scores, and 57 catches, should be more of a national star.
© James Guillory-Imagn Images
Defense
There’s no shifting anything with the bumping up of Kelly Poppinga to the defensive coordinator role.
The defense had its down moments, but overall it was fine and allowed just 19 points per game.
There’s a chance to be totally dominant now with a loaded group of veterans returning.
What’s Working
The linebacking corps is loaded. It was already a great situation, and now it got a lot better with Cade Uluave coming in from Cal after making 100 tackles last season.
Isaiah Glasker is a great all-around playmaker at one spot – he was third in tackles with 67 stops – and Siale Esera is a huge 6-3, 250-pound presence to clean up everything against the run.
The third down stops should continue. Texas Tech was the best in the Big 12 at getting off the field, but it had a dominant pass rush that made things easier.
BYU was able to get into the backfield, and it should do it again. However, it was second in the conference on third downs simply by being great at stepping up in the money moments, allowing teams to convert just 33% of their chances.
The time of possession battle. If it seemed like BYU was always doing big things late, it’s partly because it owned the clock and was fresher against worn-down defenses.
The Cougars kept the ball for almost 33 minutes per game, and outscored teams 131-68 in the final frame.
The defense did its part, too, with all of those third down stops.
What Needs Work
The pass rush could be better. It wasn’t awful, and the pressure came from all over the place, but leading pass rusher Jack Kelly is done after coming up with ten of the team’s 30 sacks.
There were too many dry spells without much pressure.
The defense played with fire a bit too often. It’s great to be wonderful in the red zone – Ohio State won a national championship a few years ago partly because of its defensive dominance inside the 20.
But as good as the BYU defense was, it had games when it was saved by takeaways and other big plays in key moments.
The D allowed over 380 yards of total offense six times, and that doesn’t include the two losses to Texas Tech.
It would be nice if the defensive tackles could be better stars. They’re very big and very experienced, but they’re mostly in place to gum things up.
Keanu Tanuvasa was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 performer, but if he and Justin Kirkland can become dominant, the defensive production will go up several notches.
Player to Watch
Isaiah Glasker, LB Sr.
One of the nation’s top hybrid linebackers, he made 137 tackles with 6.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
It’s all there – including the players around him – to be an even more dangerous pass rusher.
Keys to the Season
- Be a bit better offensively before the fourth quarter.
- All of the experience and talent on defense needs to come together and be even stronger.
- Stop fumbling so much and always win the turnover battle.
Player Who Needs To Shine
Bear Bachmeier, QB Soph.
The 6-2, 230-pounder is built more like a fullback than a high-powered passer, and he sometimes plays like it. He’s a tough-as-nails runner, but the Cougars need him to stay healthy.
There were glimpses of potential greatness as a midrange passer, and now in his second year, he has to be more consistent.
Biggest Concern
The wide receivers have to be terrific.
The tight ends should be great, and the offense will be mostly about the running game, but with all the turnover at wide receiver, the Cougars need players to rise and shine right away.
There’s good potential, but the proven production is mostly not there, and the depth is paper-thin.
Biggest Game
Arizona, September 12
The trips to Utah and TCU will be the Cougars’ make-or-break moments, but for the most part, the Big 12 schedule works out great.
However, lose to Arizona in Week 2 – the conference opener – and it’ll take something special to win out and get to the Big 12 title game.
Transfer Portal
The Cougars got a few key star parts needed to potentially make that one little jump from Big 12 title contender to a true College Football Playoff player who could make some noise.
As mentioned before, tight end was a great position focus, and the interior of the offensive line got some help. The losses weren’t bad enough to get into a twist over.
Best Signing
Cade Uluave, LB (Cal)
No, he won’t be the pass rusher that Jack Kelly was at the Rover position, but the former Cal Bear will make more plays overall.
Uluave made 237 tackles over the last three years with six sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss at Cal.
Biggest Loss
Max Alford, LB (Michigan)
This is more about projection than production.
Alford played three years at Utah State before coming to BYU, and he only made 62 tackles over his four years. There’s a whole lot of upside, though, and now he’ll be a part of Kyle Whittingham’s linebacker rotation at Michigan.
Other Names to Know
- Kyler Kasper, WR (Oregon)
- Jake Clifton, LB (Kansas State)
- Paki Finau, OG (Washington)
CFN Season Prediction
Can BYU do it all again, only better?
Last year’s schedule wasn’t easy, and the Cougars still managed to beat everyone but Texas Tech. This time around, the barrier has been removed.
Texas Tech isn’t on the BYU schedule, but the better way to put it is that BYU isn’t on the Texas Tech schedule – the Cougars might actually be better than the Red Raiders.
CFN Prediction: 10-2
Arizona is nasty, but the Big 12 opener is in Provo.
Getting Arizona State at home is a break, too, and it’s a huge plus to not face Houston or Kansas State this year – the Cougars miss Colorado, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia, too.
There are landmines, though. Going to TCU will be a problem, and having to go up the road to Salt Lake City to face Utah hurts. And then there’s the big one – Notre Dame.
Beat the Irish, and the College Football Playoff committee can’t ignore the Cougars this time around.
Related: Utah Football Preview 2026: Can Morgan Scalley Finally Get the Utes to the Playoff?
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