Big 12 Breakdown and The Big Question For Each School : #2 BYU
By Cade Welty and Sean A Dillon
We’re breaking down the Big 12 as we get closer to the 2026 season. We’re breaking down each team getting closer and closer to #1. Today we look at Houston.
#16 – Iowa State #15 – Colorado #14 – Kansas #13 – cincinnati #12 – Oklahoma State #11 West Virginia #10 UCF #9 Baylor
#8 – TCU #7 – Arizona State #6 – Arizona #5 – Houston #4 – Kansas State #3 – Utah #2 – BYU # 1 – ???
BYU: Conference Title Time?
BYU, a football program that is often forgotten or not given the same confidence as others has now geared themselves into a conference contender. Coming off a 12-2 season that saw their first Big 12 title game appearance and Pop Tart Bowl game win over Georgia Tech. Unfortunately for BYU their two losses were to the same team in Texas Tech which ended their chance at competing in the College Football Playoffs (CFP).
BYU joined the Big 12 conference in 2023 and already have reached the title game the same amount of times as the team that won it last year in Texas Tech. The Cougars are often doubted due to them being an unknown commodity in the college football landscape. In their three seasons they have a conference game winning percentage of .630% which ranks them 4th in those three years behind Texas Tech and Iowa State both who appeared in the title game during that span.
What defines this season as a success?
The Cougars have yet to make a college football playoff appearance since the adoption of the playoffs in 2014 but after four 10 or more win seasons since 2020 the Cougars have struggled to take the next step. Sure they have the bowl wins with a 4-1 record in bowl games in the same time period. But that elusive conference title or CFP appearance has been difficult to obtain recently.
Now for BYU they have been in the running to be in the CFP in their last two seasons but have come up short both times. Last season they were a CFP rank of 7th before immediately losing to Texas Tech and had to live on the bubble. In 2024 they were a CFB high of 6 before losing back to back games to unranked Kansas and #21 Arizona State. Now why bring up those stats if we are talking about this year and what defines it as a success.
It comes down to ending the season with positive momentum. Over their past two years their record was 23-4 with those loses coming at the end of the regular season. Their record in the month of November in those two seasons is 5-3. If we include their 2023 campaign that saw a 2-7 conference record then their record in November would be 5-7. But for this question and narrative we will exclude that as it wasn’t a title contention season.
This isn’t meant to be a direct attack towards the program but merely the area that needs to improve if they want to continue their CFP aspirations.
More with Less:
In a recent interview head coach Kalani Sitake discussed how the Cougars have been able to win more with less.
“We’ve been given the challenge of doing the most with the least.”
“These are very simple demands of people that our opponents have in the conference … .not even Texas Tech…The others So if we can get an even playing field with that stuff, then I should be able to do more.” All of this from a tweet by On3.
This quote and statement speaks volumes to what they have accomplished with less resources than their opponents. BYU also almost Sitake after a bidding war between them and Penn State that was won by BYU due to the backing of Crumble Cookie owner Jason McGowen.
Doing more with less, a look at the 2026 roster.
The 2026 roster returns 13 productive starters with 8 of them being on the defense. That 2025 defensive unit ranked 19th in the FBS only allowing 19.1 points per game. Returning the entire secondary backed by senior safety Raider Dumani who recorded 43 tackles and one INT in 2025. Then returning two defensive lineman who helped the Cougars reach 30 sacks last year, throw in a LB and you have a top returning unit.
For the portal players added to the defense they went out and got a top LB transfer in Cade Uluave from Cal. In his 2025 season Uluave recorded 97 total tackles with 42 of them being solo tackles and 3 sacks. The only quote on quote downside to the No.3 LB according to The Athletic is he doesn’t create turnovers. But if that is your only downside you are probably a really good player. Jake Clifton LB and Jayven Williams round out the transfer players for the BYU defense.
BYU Offense:
Onto the offense and how it will rely heavily on Preseason Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin. The top running back in the Big 12 rushed for 1,305 on 235 carries and 12 touchdowns. Martin will have to either repeat or put up better results behind a semi new offensive line as they returned two guys from 2025. BYU had a top unit in the country and because of that were able to start a true freshman at QB Bear Bachmeier.
In 2025 Bear struggled to find consistency but showed flashes of brilliance with his feet and arm. In a thrashing of Iowa State Bear threw for 300 plus yards and ran for 49 on the ground. The now sophomore QB should develop nicely but against “Elite” defenses in 2025 he threw 5 interceptions (only had 7 total all year). Those defenses were one game against Arizona and two against Texas Tech. The receiving room is made up of two transfers from Oregon: a WR, TE and the lone returner of Jojo White.
Finally:
For BYU it isn’t about proving the world wrong or you can do more with less. It is proving to everyone that you are a favorite for the Big 12 title and a contender for the College Football Playoffs. To reach those goals they need to show they can turn up the heat in November and not fall to the cold like the rest of the pack. If they handle business we will see them in Arlington again.
BYU 2026 Football Schedule :
Conference Games *
9/5/2026, Utah Tech , Time : 7:00 P.M. CT
9/12/2026, Arizona *, Time : 2:30 P.M. CT
9/19/2026, at Colorado State , Time : 6:30 P.M. CT
10/3/2026, at TCU *, Time : TBA
10/9/2026, Iowa State *, Time : 9;15 P.M. CT
10/17/2026, Notre Dame, Time : TBA
10/24/2026, at UCF * , Time : TBA
10/31/2026, Arizona State *, Time : TBA
11/7/2026, at Utah *, Time : TBA
11/14/2026, Baylor * , Time : TBA
11/21/2026, at Kansas * , Time : TBA
11/28/2026, Cincinnati * Time : 8:00 P.M. CT
Sean’s Thoughts:
If you expected anyone other than BYU sitting at #2, I’ve got some prime beachfront property in Provo to sell you…right next to the Creamery on Ninth hmm, 150 Swirl!
Sure, they’ve got a new DC, a reloaded front seven, and a wide receiver room experiencing more turnover than a Bachelor season finale. But Kalani Sitake is a HEAD COACH on a mission. Bear Bachmeier’s late season injury against Texas Tech rendered him totally ineffective, leaving a sour, make that a bear taste in Sitake’s mouth to close out last year. Keeping Bear away from the MASH* 4077 is crucial.
BYU isn’t going to need the man, the myth, the legend Scott Sterling taking footballs to the face to pull off wins this year, they just need cold, hard cash. Sitake whining about “doing the most with the least” sounds like a vintage Spike Dykes rant, but AD Brian Santiago needs to open the Church’s purse strings until Brigham Young himself cries uncle (or at least until Santiago has to post on Cougarboard under a fake burner account again).
The schedule looks like a Big 12 gauntlet, but BYU gets to host Arizona, Arizona State, Notre Dame, and Iowa State. However, there will be no time for “soaking” on the road as the vibes get downright hostile with away trips to TCU, Kansas, and the Holy War in Salt Lake.
BYU should be facing our #1 team at the Big 12 Championship again unless something or someone buys off-brand Cougar Tails or replaces Sitake Rocky Road this fall.