BYU wrapped up the “training camp” portion of their preseason this week. Now, it’s time to prepare for their first game on September 5 against Utah Tech. BYU football is in the middle of one of its most exciting eras in the history of the program. Let’s dive into 26 reasons for Cougar fans to be excited about the 2026 season.
1. It’s Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff or Bust.
That certainly is a fun feeling. But also, it will likely lead to some angst and stress. Isn’t being a football
fan fun? BYU is looking for its first outright conference championship since winning the Mountain West in 2007. They have never played in BCS/New Year’s Six/College Football Playoff game either. It’s time.
2. Season 2 of the Bear Bachmeier Show
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier put together the most impressive season by a freshman quarterback in BYU history, winning 12 games and passing for over 3,000 yards. What will he do for an encore?
3. New offensive weapons
The biggest turnover on BYU’s roster came at the pass-catching positions. Gone are Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston, and Carsen Ryan. Kyler Kasper transferred from Oregon hoping to be one of Bachmeier’s top weapons. Not to be outdone is USC transfer Walker Lyons at tight end. Jojo Phillips returns to Provo and could become Bachemeier’s top weapon given his size and speed. Don’t sleep on the young bucks Legend Glasker and Jaron Pula either.
4. LJ Martin’s pursuit of history
Martin returns to the Cougars after putting together a 2025 campaign that ended with him earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. He rushed for a league-high 1,305 yards. He is now 1,361 rushing yards away from passing Jamaal Williams as BYU’s all-time leading rusher. Even if he just gets to 1,000, he will finish second all-time. He’s also a dark horse candidate for the Doak Walker Award.
5. Notre Dame comes to Provo
The Fighting Irish finally make that return trip to Provo that they have owed (yes, it’s a new agreement and this is technically not honoring the past one). Notre Dame comes to Provo for the first time since 2004, which is also the last time the Cougars defeated the Golden Domers. They likely will be a top five team when they arrive. LaVell Edwards Stadium might have its best atmosphere since the 1990 Miami game.
6. Cosmo
Who wouldn’t want to see a (Mascot) Hall of Famer?
7. Start of Fourth Quarter Show at LaVell Edwards Stadium
If you have attended a game at LaVell Edwards Stadium recently, you know what I’m talking about. Turbulence. The fire dancers. The light show. LaVell’s House is truly a house of horrors for the opponents and it gets downright scary during night games after the whistle blows to end the third quarter.
8. Speaking of LaVell’s House: Come for the Football, Stay for the Views
LaVell Edwards Stadium has one of the most beautiful backdrops, forget in just in college football, downright in any sport. Especially around sunset against the Wasatch Front. Soak it in.
9. The ROC
If you are not a BYU student or you don’t have a ROC pass, sit somewhere where you can get a full view of the ROC (Roar of Cougars) section. They are one of the biggest, finest student sections in college football.
10. Power conference schedule
Forget just Notre Dame, how great is it to be in a power conference? BYU enters year four of the Big 12 and I’m still pinching myself. Arizona, Iowa State, Arizona State, Baylor, and Cincinnati all come to Provo this year. Current BYU students have zero idea how good they have it.
11. Kelly Poppinga as DC
It was cetainly a turbulent offseason as BYU had to replace Jay Hill at defensive coordinator. After doing such a stellar job with the Cougars defense over the last three seasons, he joined Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan. Poppinga takes over, previously being the team’s special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach. How different will the defense look? Can he replicate similar success to his predecessor?
12. Cade Uluave
That’s it. Just Cade Uluave. He comes to BYU from Cal to replace Jack Kelly at linebacker. There’s a scenario where he is even better.
13. Evan Johnson and his NFL prospects
“Schmev” could have left BYU after last season and likely signed on with an NFL squad for training camp. Instead, he returns to Provo as one of the most proven defensive backs in the Big 12. He could build a case as one of the more underrated cornerback prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
14. Is 4 Coming?
It has been roughly 2,550 days since the last time Utah beat BYU. After Utah owned the series for most of the Independence and PAC-12 era, the Cougars have flipped the script in the Holy War in the 2020s decade. The Cougars finally exorcised the demons in 2021. They now have won three straight, including a thriller the last time they played in Salt Lake City at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah is foaming at the mouth. Can BYU keep it up?
15. Other Streaks at Stake
The Holy War isn’t the only winning streak BYU currently has. They have beaten Arizona five times in a row since the Wildcats beat BYU in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl. The Cougars have beaten UCF three times in a row. BYU has never lost to Cincinnati in four games.
16. Revenge time
While BYU has winning streaks against several of their 2026 opponents, they have a bone to pick with a few as well. They are yet to beat Kansas as a member of the Big 12. In fact, they have never beaten Kansas, dating back to their first matchup in 1992. Notre Dame has beaten BYU four straight times. The 2022 matchup in Las Vegas was such a raw deal for the Cougars. Originally, it was supposed to be in Provo. The Fighting Irish finagled their way into making it a “neutral site” game in Las Vegas as part of the “Shamrock Series.” It’s payback time.
17. Kalani Sitake
To say it’s been an eventful offseason for coach Sitake would be like saying Sodalicious is a drink store- massive understatement. First, it was the Penn State saga. Kalani nearly put pen to paper on heading to Penn State to join Kyle Whittingham in the Big 10. BYU stepped up their game to retain him. Recently, there have been rumors about those promises from BYU leadership going unfulfilled. Cougar fans will be watching Sitake closely. Why? Because he’s the most perfect man for the BYU job in this current era of college football. He deserves to be a Cougar for life.
18. Fantastic uniforms
BYU is in their golden era for uniforms. The white facemasks. The royal accent. BYU needs to stick with the “stretch Y” logo on the helmet and their collection of white, royal, and navy lids. Simple is beautiful.
19. BYU’s radio broadcast
Greg Wrubell and Hans Olsen do a great job as voices of Cougars football on the radio. Whether I’m driving or want to ignore the annoying national TV broadcast, I love putting them in my ear during an exciting BYU game.
20. BYU thriving in the NIL era
Some thought the era of NIL and college football players making piles of money while playing would doom BYU. Instead, it’s accelerated its growth. The Cougars are very competitive in NIL. That’s more than the likes of Utah, TCU, Arizona, and even more than South Carolina and Arkansas.
21. Cougar Tails
I mean, have you had one before?
22. Late night kickoffs
Some people hate them. Our Cougar fans on the east coast certainly earn their stripes during football season. Some games aren’t even starting until well past 10pm ET. But there’s something special about the Cougars at night, especially at home. There’s a bit more magic and mystique. Your house is quieter. Maybe the kids are asleep. Yet your basement is roaring with the sounds of a BYU football game. Something to look forward to all day as the late night approaches. The Vampire Cougs come out to play again.
23. Faletau Satuala continuing his meteoric ascent
The four-star defensive back out of Bountiful is only getting better each season. Last year, he was named to the Third Team of the All-Big 12. He led the team with 84 tackles along with three interceptions. He’s poised to take another leap this season, having already been named to the preseason First Team All-Big 12 list.
24. Aaron Roderick cooking with an experienced offense
Between Bachmeier entering year two, an offensive line with a few stalwarts returning, LJ Martin, and a couple of Power-Four-level transfers, Roderick has plenty of talent and experience to work with. He enters year six of being BYU’s offensive coordinator.
25. Kevin Doe’s underdog story
A former walk-on wide receiver, Doe is ascending the depth chart now at cornerback. He was a track athlete and BYU staff saw him run the 100 meter and decided to give him a shot on the football team. At 6-foot-3, if he can harness that talent and speed into technique as a defensive back properly, the sky is the limit.
26. Incoming freshman class could make immediate impact
Legend Glasker is making waves at camp at receiver. In fact, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the three-star, All-State Utah stud will be getting targets early in the regular season. The defensive player of the Pula twins Jaron and Kennan, which is Kennan, should be seeing the field early at safety as well. During camp, the aforementioned star safety Satuala was sidelined for a stretch. He will likely get significant snaps, even if Satuala stays healthy.
