The BYU Cougars football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the BYU Cougars football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, all-purpose yardage, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Cougars represent Brigham Young University as a member of the NCAA Division I FBS Big 12 Conference.
Although BYU began competing in intercollegiate football in 1922, these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since 1922, seasons have increased from 6 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. The Cougars have played in 16 bowl games since then, allowing many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. Similarly, the Cougars have played games at Hawaii 16 times since 1978. When a team plays at Hawaii, they are allowed to schedule another game beyond the usual limit. From 2018 through 2025, players were allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. In 2024 and 2025, postseason games did not count against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics. A more recent change that will have a major effect on future career leaderboards was introduced in 2026 with full implementation starting with the 2027 freshman class. Going forward, redshirting will be prohibited, but players will have five years of full athletic eligibility, provided that they are no older than 19 when they first enroll in a postsecondary institution—with a caveat especially relevant to BYU. This rule change specifically maintained the NCAA's longstanding practice of not counting time spent on religious missions against athletic eligibility. With most male LDS Church members, including many future BYU players, going on missions immediately after high school graduation, their eligibility clock will not start until after they complete their two-year mission term. Players who had remaining eligibility under previous rules at the end of the 2025 season will benefit from the new rule. Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four. The Big 12 has held a championship game during two different periods—first from 1996–2010, and since 2017. Should BYU qualify for this game in any season, it will be assured of playing at least 14 games.
These lists are updated through Week 5 of the 2026 season. Active players are listed in bold.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Ty Detmer15,0311988 1989 1990 19912Max Hall11,3652007 2008 20093John Beck11,0212003 2004 2005 20064Jim McMahon9,5361977 1978 1980 19815Robbie Bosco8,4001983 1984 19856John Walsh8,3901991 1992 1993 19947Kevin Feterik8,0651996 1997 1998 19998Steve Young7,7331981 1982 19839Zach Wilson7,6522018 2019 202010Marc Wilson7,6371977 1978 1979
+ Single season1Ty Detmer5,18819902Jim McMahon4,57119803Ty Detmer4,56019894Robbie Bosco4,27319855Ty Detmer4,03119916Steve Sarkisian4,02719967Max Hall3,95720088Steve Young3,90219839John Beck3,885200610Robbie Bosco3,8751984
+ Single game1John Walsh6191993 Utah State2Ty Detmer5991991 San Diego State3Robbie Bosco5851985 New Mexico4Ty Detmer5761989 Penn State5Marc Wilson5711977 Utah
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Ty Detmer1211988 1989 1990 19912Max Hall942007 2008 20093Jim McMahon841977 1978 1980 19814John Beck792003 2004 2005 20065Robbie Bosco661983 1984 1985John Walsh661991 1992 1993 19947Marc Wilson611977 1978 19798Steve Young561981 1982 1983Zach Wilson562018 2019 202010Gifford Nielsen551974 1975 1976 1977
+ Single season1Jim McMahon4719802Ty Detmer4119903Ty Detmer351991Max Hall3520085Steve Young331983Robbie Bosco331984Steve Sarkisian331996Brandon Doman332001Max Hall332009Zach Wilson332020
+ Single game1Marc Wilson71977 Colorado StateJim McMahon71981 Colorado StateMax Hall72008 UCLA
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Jamaal Williams3,9012012 2013 2014 20162Harvey Unga3,4552006 2007 2008 20093Curtis Brown3,2212002 2004 2005 20064Jamal Willis2,9701991 1992 1993 19945Tyler Allgeier2,9042018 2019 2020 20216LJ Martin2,8852023 2024 2025 20267Taysom Hill2,8132012 2013 2014 2015 20168Lakei Heimuli2,7101983 1984 1985 19869Jeff Blanc2,6631973 1974 1975 197610Luke Staley2,4931999 2000 2001
+ Single season1Tyler Allgeier1,60620212Luke Staley1,58220013Pete Van Valkenburg1,38619724Jamaal Williams1,37520165Taysom Hill1,34420136Ronney Jenkins1,30719987LJ Martin1,305 20258Jamaal Williams1,23320139Harvey Unga1,227200710Harvey Unga1,1322008
+ Single game1Jamaal Williams2862016 Toledo2Eldon Fortie2721962 George Washington3Tyler Allgeier2662021 Virginia 4Taysom Hill2592013 Texas5Ronney Jenkins2501998 San Jose State
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Luke Staley411999 2000 20012Tyler Allgeier362018 2019 2020 2021Harvey Unga362006 2007 2008 20094Jamal Willis351991 1992 1993 1994Jamaal Williams352012 2013 2014 20166Taysom Hill322012 2013 2014 2015 20167Curtis Brown312002 2004 2005 20068Lakei Heimuli301983 1984 1985 19869LJ Martin262023 2024 2025 202610Pete Van Valkenburg241969 1970 1971 1972Ronney Jenkins241996 1998
+ Single season1Luke Staley2420012Tyler Allgeier2320213Eldon Fortie141962Waymon Hamilton141981Lakei Heimuli141985Curtis Brown1420057Ronney Jenkins131972Harvey Unga132007Tyler Allgeier13202010Pete Van Valkenburg121972Jamal Willis121994Brian McKenzie121997Jamaal Williams122012Jamaal Williams122016LJ Martin12 2025
+ Single game1Eric Lane51979 Utah StateLuke Staley52001 Colorado StateJamaal Williams52016 ToledoTyler Allgeier52021 Virginia5Dick Felt41952 San Jose StateJohn Ogden41964 Western MichiganRonney Jenkins41998 San Jose State
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Cody Hoffman2602010 2011 2012 20132Dennis Pitta2212004 2007 2008 20093Austin Collie2152004 2007 20084Matt Bellini2041987 1988 1989 19905Margin Hooks1891997 1998 1999 20006Phil Odle1831965 1966 1967 19687Gordon Hudson1781981 1982 19838Chase Roberts1702022 2023 2024 2025 9Reno Mahe1661998 2001 200210Eric Drage1621990 1991 1992 1993
+ Single season1Austin Collie10620082Jay Miller1001973Cody Hoffman10020124Reno Mahe9120015Dennis Pitta8320086Andy Boyce7919907Phil Odle7719678Mitch Mathews7320149Dax Milne70202010Chris Smith681990
+ Single game1Jay Miller221973 New Mexico2Mitch Mathews162014 Nevada3Phil Odle141966 UTEPReno Mahe142001 HawaiiPuka Nacua142022 Boise State
Receiving yards
+ Career1Cody Hoffman3,6122010 2011 2012 20132Austin Collie3,2552004 2007 20083Eric Drage3,0651990 1991 1992 19934Dennis Pitta2,9012004 2007 2008 20095Margin Hooks2,8411997 1998 1999 20006Matt Bellini2,6351987 1988 1989 19907Chase Roberts2,5862022 2023 2024 2025 8Phil Odle2,5481965 1966 19679Gordon Hudson2,4841981 1982 198310Mark Bellini2,4291982 1983 1984 1985 1986
+ Single season1Austin Collie1,53820082Cody Hoffman1,24820123Andy Boyce1,24119904Reno Mahe1,21120015Dax Milne1,18820206Jay Miller1,18119737Chris Smith1,15619908Eric Drage1,09319929Chris Smith1,090198910Dennis Pitta1,0832008
+ Single game1Jay Miller2631973 New Mexico2Gordon Hudson2591981 Utah3Phil Odle2421966 UTEP4Glen Kozlowski2411985 Boston College5Andy Boyce2351990 New Mexico
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Cody Hoffman332010 2011 2012 20132Austin Collie302004 2007 20083Eric Drage291990 1991 1992 19934Phil Odle251965 1966 19675Mitch Mathews242012 2013 2014 2015Isaac Rex242019 2020 2021 2022 20237Glen Kozlowski231981 1983 1984 1985Mark Bellini231982 1983 1984 1985 19869Gordon Hudson221981 1982 198310Mike Chonsiter212004 2007 2008 2009Dennis Pitta212004 2007 2008 2009
+ Single season1Clay Brown151980Austin Collie1520083Mark Bellini1419854Andy Boyce1319905Eric Drage121992Jonny Harline122006Isaac Rex122020
+ Single game1Cody Hoffman52012 New Mexico State2John VanderWouden41976 Colorado StateKirk Pendleton41983 New MexicoLuke Ashworth42010 Colorado State
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Ty Detmer14,665 1988 1989 1990 19912Max Hall11,569 2007 2008 20093John Beck11,059 2003 2004 2005 20064Taysom Hill9,7422012 2013 2014 2015 20165Jim McMahon9,723 1977 1978 1980 19816Steve Young8,817 1980 1981 1982 19837Robbie Bosco8,299 1983 1984 19858Zach Wilson8,2942018 2019 20209John Walsh7,736 1991 1992 1993 199410Kevin Feterik7,723 1996 1997 1998 1999
+ Single season1Ty Detmer5,022 19902Jim McMahon4,627 19803Ty Detmer4,433 19894Steve Young4,346 19835Taysom Hill4,282 20136Robbie Bosco4,141 19857Max Hall4,072 20088Brandon Doman4,045 20019Ty Detmer4,001 199110Steve Sarkisian3,983 1996
+ Single game1Ty Detmer6031991 San Diego State2Virgil Carter5991966 UTEP3John Walsh5971993 Utah State4Ty Detmer5941989 Penn State5Marc Wilson5821977 Utah
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Ty Detmer135 1988 1989 1990 19912Max Hall101 2007 2008 20093Jim McMahon94 1977 1978 1980 19814John Beck88 2003 2004 2005 20065Taysom Hill 75 2012 2013 2014 2015 20166Steve Young74 1981 1982 19837Zach Wilson712018 2019 20208Robbie Bosco70 1983 1984 19859Marc Wilson69 1977 1978 1979John Walsh69 1991 1992 1993 1994
+ Single season1Jim McMahon53 19802Ty Detmer4519903Zach Wilson4320204Steve Young411983Brandon Doman4120016Ty Detmer391991Max Hall3920088John Beck382006Ty Detmer38198910Robbie Bosco351984Max Hall352009
+ Single game1Marc Wilson81977 Colorado StateJim McMahon81980 Utah State
All-purpose yardage All-purpose yardage is the sum of all yards credited to a player who is in possession of the ball. It includes rushing, receiving, and returns, but does not include passing.
BYU does not list a complete top 10 in all-purpose yardage over any time frame (career, season, game), only listing the top 5 for each. It also does not break down its leaders' performances by type of play.
+ Career 1 Cody Hoffman 5,015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Curtis Brown 4,996 2002 2004 2005 2006 3 Austin Collie 4,649 2004 2007 2008 4 Harvey Unga 4,540 2006 2007 2008 2009 5 Jamaal Williams 4,468 2012 2014 2015 2016
+ Single season 1 Austin Collie 2,112 2008 2 Luke Staley 2,004 2001 3 Harvey Unga 1,882 2007 4 Curtis Brown 1,864 2006 5 Pete Van Valkenburg 1,838 1972
+ Single game 1 Austin Collie 366 2007 Tulsa 2 Pete Van Valkenburg 306 1972 Wyoming 3 Eldon Fortie 303 1962 George Washington 4 Luke Staley 300 2001 Utah State 5 Tyler Anderson 296 1993 Utah State
Defense
Interceptions
+ Career1Dave Atkinson201970 1971 1972 19732Bobby Roberts181965 1966 1967Dan Hansen181969 1970 1971 19724Derwin Gray141989 1990 1991 1992Kai Nacua142013 2014 2015 20166Tom Holmoe131978 1979 1980 1981 1982Brian Mitchell131987 1988 1989 1990
+ Single season1Gene Frantz91962Dave Atkinson919713Dan Hansen81970Dave Atkinson81972
Tackles
+ Career1Shad Hansen4081989 1990 1991 19922Rod Wood3941976 1977 19783Larry Carr3891972 1973 19744Glenn Redd3821978 1979 19805Rocky Biegel3711988 1989 1990 1991
+ Single season1Shad Hansen19319912Rocky Biegel19219913Rod Wood15719784Sid Smith14919755Glen Redd1481980Bob Davis1481988
+ Single game1Dan Hansen251971 New Mexico2Derwin Gray221991 Penn State Jared Lee221999 Air Force4Dan Hansen211970 Colorado State5Ted Nelson201970 Arizona State
Sacks
+ Career1Brandon Flint33.01980 1981 1982 19832Jan Jorgensen30.02006 2007 2008 20093Randy Brock28.51991 1992 1993 19944Mekeli Ieremia27.01974 1975 1976 19775Bronson Kaufusi26.52012 2013 2014 20156Jim Herrmann26.01981 1983 1984Kyle Van Noy26.02010 2011 2012 2013