BYU 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the BYU Cougars 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 BYU Cougars roster and what to expect in the Big 12 this season. Can Kalani Sitake build on a 12-2 season and finally get the Cougars over the top after back to back playoff snubs? Is Aaron Roderick’s offense ready to take another step forward behind a veteran offensive line? How much does a full offseason mean for sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier?
How good can Bear Bachmeier be after a 3,560 total yard, 26 touchdown freshman year? Does LJ Martin run his way into one of the best backfields in the Big 12, and can Jojo Phillips anchor the receiver room? Can new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga keep this unit rolling with 69% of the production back? What does a night under the lights at LaVell Edwards Stadium do to a ranked visitor at Provo’s altitude? How does a schedule with Arizona, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Arizona State, the Holy War at Utah and a Kansas trip to The Booth shake out? And where’s the betting value on the BYU Cougars win total, Big 12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Kalani Sitake Keeps Climbing
BYU went 12-2 in 2025. That was not a fluke. Kalani Sitake is now 84-45 in Provo and sits at a 1 out of 10 hot seat. He is also 17-10 against the Big 12 in his career. The Cougars then went 4-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer last year. Some of that is luck. A lot of it is coaching. First, Sitake keeps his teams physical up front. Then he keeps them buttoned up late, which is why the record holds together in close games.
Bear Bachmeier Runs The Offense
Aaron Roderick is back as offensive coordinator. His unit finished 32nd in scoring, 39th in rushing, 74th in passing and 55th in total offense a year ago. Now he gets a real offseason with Bear Bachmeier. The sophomore quarterback put up 3,560 total yards and 26 touchdowns as a freshman. He wears number 47 and runs QB power like a fullback. Around him, LJ Martin is also a beast at running back, and Jojo Phillips leads the receivers. The line then returns Andrew Gentry and Bruce Mitchell. Because of that continuity, BYU brings back 59% of its offensive production. On top of the returners, the portal also delivered receiver Kyler Kasper from Oregon, tight end Walker Lyons from USC and quarterback recruit Ryder Lyons.
Kelly Poppinga Takes Over The Defense
Jay Hill is gone to Michigan. That is a real loss. Kelly Poppinga then steps in as the new coordinator, and he is a BYU guy through and through. The defense was stout last season at 19th in scoring, 30th in rushing, 50th in passing and 35th in total defense. Because of that returning talent, Poppinga inherits 69% of that production. The front features Bodie Schoonover and Keanu Tanuvasa. The back seven also returns Siale Esera, Isaiah Glasker, Therrian Alexander III, Raider Damuni, Evan Johnson and Faletau Satuala. On top of that group, BYU raided the portal for Cal linebacker Cade Uluave.
The Gauntlet Through The Big 12
The 2026 slate does not run from anybody. BYU opens at home with Dixie State, then hosts Arizona. From there, road trips to Colorado State, TCU, UCF and Kansas dot the schedule. Iowa State, Arizona State, Baylor and Cincinnati all come to Provo. Notre Dame then visits LaVell Edwards Stadium for a night game the fan base has circled. Finally comes the Holy War at Utah. That stadium and that altitude are a nightmare for visitors, and the crowd is also one of the best in the sport.
The Bettor’s Angle
The market likes BYU but wants proof. The win total sits at 8.5. The Cougars are also +550 to win the Big 12 and +330 to make the College Football Playoff. Pick Dundee and Moneyline Mac then put the state of the program at a 9 out of 10 and on the rise. The catch is regression. Four one-score wins are hard to repeat, and the Big 12 is also wide open. That is where the value debate lives.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
01:59 Welcome To The College Football Experience
06:18 Why BYU Belongs In College Football
08:12 A Proud 12-2 Program
09:50 Kalani Sitake And The Fullback Coaching Tree
13:11 Sitake’s Record Against The Field
15:49 Robbed Of The Playoff Back To Back Years
20:52 Four And Oh In One Score Games
24:13 The Offense And Aaron Roderick’s Return
24:59 Bear Bachmeier’s Breakout Season
25:35 Returning Production And Portal Additions
29:31 The Defense Under Kelly Poppinga
33:51 LaVell Edwards Stadium And The Best Fans
38:26 Football Legends And The State Of The Program
42:12 The 2026 Schedule Breakdown
51:08 Win Total, Big 12 And CFP Odds
