BYU kicks off the 2026 season with an FCS opponent in Utah Tech (out of St. George, formerly Dixie State University). The game kicks off at 6:00pm MT on ESPN+ this Saturday. The Trailblazers played BYU in 2022 when the Cougars beat them 52-26. Jaren Hall threw for a career-high 456 yards and five touchdowns while running back Chris Brooks ran for 102 yards. This will be the second ever matchup.
Let’s dive into six questions ahead of the opening game of the season. Because six is a significant number
in BYU history (see Marc Wilson, Robbie Bosco, and Luke Staley).
How well does Bear Bachmeier connect with new weapons?
The biggest storyline of the team this offseason has been the turnover at receiver and tight end. Gone are Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston, and Carsen Ryan, who were the top three in total targets last year. The Cougars need to replace 166 receptions between those three. Jojo Phillips is the face of the receiver corps that returns from last season and is likely going to be a top option.
The Cougars got two big transfers from Big 10 schools to help replenish the pantry of pass-catchers. Kyler Kasper joins the receivers from Oregon, standing 6-foot-6. Replacing Ryan at tight end is USC transfer Walker Lyons. Plus, true freshman receiver Legend Glasker made a huge first impression in camp and earned himself a large role early on. These are the four that will likely get the most targets from Bachemeier. This matchup with Utah Tech is important for this new crop of weapons to gel with Bachmeier.
How much does LJ Martin play?
Last season, BYU defeated Portland State 69-0. The Cougars pulled the starters after halftime. That meant Martin only got eight carries (for 131 yards). This season, Martin needs just over 1,300 rushing yards to become BYU’s all-time leading rusher. Will the Cougars let Martin rack up yards against the Trailblazers even if the Cougars pull away early? Given how important him being healthy is to BYU’s entire season, that might not be wise.
What should we know about Utah Tech’s team?
Head coach Lance Anderson enters year three of his time at Utah Tech, with a 3-22 record. They are coming off of being blown out 54-0 by FCS national title contender Montana State. They allowed 307 passing yards and 140 rushing yards to the Bobcats. Bronson Barben is their starting quarterback. He completed just nine passes for 78 yards and two interceptions against Montana State. He also will take off and run when needed, as he led the Trailblazers in rushing yards (with 21).
How much of the playbook on offense and defense will BYU reveal vs. an FCS foe?
Not only does BYU have a matchup with a power conference team the next week after this, but it’s against a conference opponent in Arizona. Just two weeks into the season, the Cougars will play a game that will have major conference title implications. Needless to say, it’s fair to assume the BYU coaching staff will want to hide much of the playbook on both sides of the ball against Utah Tech. Expect the most vanilla of playbooks possible with Aaron Roderick and Kelly Poppinga’s groups.
Which BYU backup will stand out?
If this game goes a similar direction as the Portland State matchup last season, the starters may only play one half. That means the backups will get a long runway to show what they can do. Treyson Bourguet is the backup quarterback for the Cougars. He will likely get a chance to toss it around to the likes of Reggie Frischknecht, Tei Nacua, and Tiger Bachmeier. Look for true freshman Jaron Pula to get some looks as well. His twin brother Kennan Pula will likely get significant snaps at safety once the coaches remove Faletau Satuala.
Once Martin leaves the game at running back, it will be a steady diet of Sione Moa and Preston Rex running the rock.
What is an acceptable margin of victory?
BYU blowing out Portland State last year was something of an anomaly under Kalani Sitake. Typically, his style is to not try and embarrass the opponent by scoring as many points as possible once the game is in hand. In the six seasons of the 2020s decade, the average score of BYU’s game against an FCS school is 55 to 14. Given the high expectations on both sides of the ball this season, it’s fair to expect better than that. Allowing a touchdown to Utah Tech after Montana State shut them out would be disappointing. Expecting a shutout altogether might not be fair. The goal should be exceeding the margin of Montana State’s 54-0 victory over the Trailblazers.
Prediction: BYU 59, Utah Tech 3
