BYU kicked off its fall football camp this week as players and coaches returned from last-minute trips, vacations and homes for drills. Head coach Kalani Sitake is counting on his team’s experience and culture to propel the Cougars to another season as a Big 12 contender.
At least one analyst, former Cougar Dave Nixon, believes the receivers will prove key for this season.
Here are some of the stories our staff filed leading up to the opening of camp this past week:
- It is playoff or bust for Cougars in 2026 (Jay Drew)
- Poppinga zeros in on new DC role (Dick Harmon)
- What is a reasonable sack total to expect (Dick Harmon)
- Resetting the memory bank for 2026 (Dave McCann)
- Uluave on Bachmeier: ‘He’s a baller’ (Dick Harmon)
- Linebacker arrested on DUI charges (Jay Drew)
- 5 transfers who will play big roles (Dave McCann)
Here are Jackson Payne’s bold predictions for the football team. Jay Drew and I will offer ours below.
Question of the week
With BYU football camp kicking off this week, what are your three boldest predictions for the Cougars in 2026?
Jay Drew: I’ve got to be honest, whenever the subject of preseason expectations comes up, I am always reminded that when big things are expected of our local teams — BYU, Utah and the Utah Jazz — they usually don’t meet those expectations. Look at Utah a few years ago, when the Utes were picked to win the Big 12 in their first season in that league. Didn’t happen. Not even close. BYU basketball was mildly disappointing last year, after fans were saying things like “Final Four or Bust” for the Cougars.
So I hesitate to get too bold with my predictions for the BYU football team in 2026. Here are a few:
- LJ Martin will not reach 1,000 rushing yards, because sidekicks Sione Moa and DeVaughn Eka will emerge as viable threats and take the rushing load off Martin. Moa in particular will have a big year and have nearly as many yards as Martin.
- The Cougars will win one game they are not expected to win — against either Notre Dame or Utah, but not both — and lose one game most fans are expecting them to win. I’m thinking they lose at either TCU or UCF, or both. The UCF game is especially tricky because it comes the week after BYU hosts Notre Dame and UCF will be coming off a bye week.
- BYU’s defense will keep the Cougars in every game and linebacker Cade Uluave will be in heavy consideration for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Dick Harmon: This is a talented, experienced team that should break into the top 11 in the CFP standings and challenge for a Big 12 title again in Arlington. But, history has shown that BYU sports will take its fans right up to the threshold of something big with a lot of fanfare and hope, and then come up short.
Maybe this team changes that. Maybe not.
- Bear Bachmeier will work himself into one of the top 10 quarterbacks the program has fielded and it will be impressive because it isn’t against MWC or WAC competition.
- Look for BYU’s receiving corps to surprise. The freshmen and sophomores will step up and make huge plays. Legend Glasker, and Terrance Saryon, along with Jaren Pula, are dangerous threats and will make names for themselves. I think tight ends Roger Saleapaga and Walker Lyons will give Aaron Roderick a pair of Carsen Ryan-like talent in formations and it will make all the difference for LJ Martin, Bachmeier and JoJo Phillips.
- BYU’s defense will lead the Big 12 in takeaways. Led by a deep and talented linebacker corps and additions Cade Uluave (Cal) and Jake Clifton (Kansas State), the depth will give Isaiah Glasker and Siale Esera needed pressure mates, which will keep all of them fresh.
Cougar tales
Here is a ranking of the top quarterbacks BYU’s defense will face this year from KSL’s Mitch Harper. Former Cougar running back Curtis Brown’s family is mourning the drowning death of his young son. Read about the tragedy here.
BYU sophomore Kihei Akina will be one of three with BYU ties to play in this week’s PGA Tour event in North Carolina.
From the archives
From X-verse
Extra points
- Kohler answer for BYU post play? (Deseret News)
- Taysom Hill still inspires (Deseret News)
- Team Big 12 guys hate to face (Open For Business)
Fanalysts
Comments from Deseret News readers:
BYU performed at my ceiling prediction the last two years. Hope that happens again.
Here is my predictions this year. Basement 10-2; probable 11-1; ceiling 12-0.
The difference between 11-1 and 12-0 will come down to injuries or the lack thereof. If BYU stays healthy they have a great chance beating ND and an even better chance at thrashing Utah. Utah lacks the horses in a rebuild year IMO, but you never can accurately predict that game. — Periloustimes
BYU hasn’t been capable of putting teams away earlier. Or they would do it. They scratch and fight to stay in games to give themselves a shot to win at the end.
They are not a dominating team by any stretch of the imagination.
BYU’s “total offense” ranking last year was No. 55 in the nation and No. 8 in the B12. They weren’t “putting teams away early” because they weren’t capable of that.
They won with defense. And those are generally going to be closer games.
That’s who they are. That’s who A-rod is. And he’s proven that over several years, and several QBs.
Credit Jay Hill with the record of the last two seasons. But he’s gone now. And the new DC has some big shoes to fill. — ArizonaUte
Up Next
- Aug. 8 | 8 p.m. | women’s soccer | Idaho State
- Aug. 12 | 8 p.m. | women’s soccer | @ UCLA
- Aug. 15 | 1 p.m. | women’s volleyball | Blue and White scrimmage
- Aug. 19 | 6 p.m. | women’s soccer | @ Wisconsin
- Aug. 22 | noon | women’s volleyball | Utah Tech
- Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | women’s soccer | USC
- Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | women’s soccer | Minnesota
- Aug. 28 | noon | women’s volleyball | @ Florida State
- Aug. 29 | 3 p.m. | women’s volleyball | @ Florida Gulf Coast