The 2026 BYU Cougars football team represents Brigham Young University (BYU) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars are led by 11th-year head coach Kalani Sitake and play their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 2, 2026, it was announced that defensive coordinator and safeties coach Jay Hill would depart to take the same position at the University of Michigan. The next day, defensive pass game coordinator and longtime cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford would follow Hill to help coach the Wolverines. On January 8, 2026, defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga was promoted to be the new defensive coordinator, while defensive tackles coach Sione Po'uha was promoted to associate head coach, replacing Hill in that role. Demario Warren was also hired from Boise State as the new defensive pass game coordinator, and initially also as cornerbacks coach to replace Gilford. However, nearly a month later, Lewis Walker was hired away from North Dakota State to coach the cornerbacks, while Warren was assigned to oversee the safeties. That same day, BYU announced the promotions of Justin Ena to special teams coordinator, and senior defensive analyst Chad Kuaha'aha'a to outside linebackers coach. Poppinga and Po'uha's positional coaching roles were also further defined and adjusted, with Po'uha now overseeing the entire defensive line and Poppinga moving to coach the inside linebackers.
2026 recruits Name Pos. Height Weight Hometown NotesBrock Harris TE 238 St. George, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Adam Bywater LB 210 Holladay, Utah Mission prior to enrolling TJ Johnson DB 180 Fort Worth, Texas Jax Tanner OL 275 Meridian, Idaho Mission prior to enrolling Graham Livingston WR 180 Providence, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Kaue Akana DB 200 Orem, Utah Mission prior to enrolling Bott Mulitalo OL 290 American Fork, Utah Justice Brathwaite DB 190 Gilbert, Arizona Nehemiah Kolone DL 265 Stillwater, Oklahoma Devaughn Eka RB 190 Lehi, Utah Braxton Lindsey DL 230 Rogers, Arkansas Matthew Mason DB 190 Las Vegas, Nevada Sefanaia Alatini DB 199 Mountain View, California Mission prior to enrollingLegend Glasker WR 175 Lehi, Utah Parker Ord TE 215 Frisco, Texas Mission prior to enrollingTy Goettsche TE 225 Englewood, Colorado Mission prior to enrollingLopeti Moala DL 255 Orem, Utah Mission prior to enrollingTerrance Saryon WR 175 Portland, Oregon Ryder Lyons QB 225 Folsom, California Mission prior to enrollingJaron Pula WR 195 Highland, Utah Kennan Pula DB 195 Highland, Utah Gage Tanner LB 225 Meridian, Idaho Cole Shulman P 175 Nashville, Tennessee Journee Tonga RB 198 Lawndale, California
2026 returned missionaries Enoch Watson QB 202 Jett Nelson WR 210 Matthew Fredrick TE 230 David Tangilanu DL 255 Owen Borg LB 200 Blake Lowe LB 205 Talitu'i Pututau OL 260 Adney Reid DL 225 Micah Beckstead RB 210 Josh Davis TE 225 Owen Geilman QB 225 Lance Reynolds DB 190 Brody Laga K 170 Jake Alexander OL 270 Devoux Tuataga DL 265 Asher Young WR 205
2026 other additions Name Pos. Height Weight Year Previous school Kyler Kasper WR 210 Transfer from University of Oregon Walker Lyons TE 245 Transfer from University of Southern California Zak Yamauchi OL 325 Transfer from Stanford University Paki Finau OL 319 Transfer from University of Washington Jr Sia OL 325 Transfer from Utah State University Cade Uluave LB 235 Transfer from University of California, Berkeley Jake Clifton LB 222 Transfer from Kansas State University Jayven Williams DB 185 Transfer from Mississippi State University Roger Saleapaga TE 245 Transfer from University of Oregon Seth Shigg DB 182 Transfer from Army University Daniel Taumoepeau LB 220 Transfer from Eastern Washington University Rayden Heintz LS 210 Transfer from Snow College John Sanders QB 190 Transfer from Antelope Valley College Fisher Ingersoll WR 195 Transfer from Texas Christian University
2026 departures Name Pos. Height Weight Year Reason Talan Alfrey DB 205 Graduation Mory Bamba DB 190 Graduation Jayden Dunlap DB 185 Graduation Ethan Erickson TE 245 Graduation Will Ferrin K 175 Graduation Garrison Grimes LS 220 Graduation Isaiah Jatta OL 315 Graduation Jack Kelly LB 242 Graduation Austin Leausa OL 315 Graduation Logan Lutui DL 260 Graduation Enoch Nawahine RB 205 Graduation Kaufusi Pafoke DL 345 Graduation Chase Roberts WR 210 Graduation Carsen Ryan TE 250 Graduation John Taumoepeau DL 300 Graduation Tanner Wall DB 205 Graduation Sam Vander Haar P 220 Graduation Cole Hagen QB 185 Graduation Emerson Geilman QB 207 Mission Tyler Payne LB 220 Mission Andrew Williams OL 295 Mission Weylin Lapuaho OL 310 Transfer Lamason Waller III WR 190 Transfer Dominique McKenzie WR 180 Transfer Jake Griffin OL 305 Transfer Marcus McKenzie DB 185 Transfer McCae Hillstead QB 195 Transfer Ikinasio Tupou OL 295 Transfer Tucker Kelleher TE 225 Transfer Sani Tuala DL 270 Transfer Sione Hingano OL 300 Transfer Tayvion Beasley DB 185 Transfer Max Alford LB 230 Transfer Choe Bryant-Strother LB 240 Transfer Parker Kingston WR 185 Carter Hancock WR 170 Quinn Hale WR 175 Naki Tuakoi LB 220 Anthony Olsen TE 250 Cody Hagen WR 185 Cole Clement TE 240 Rowan Reay WR 190 Ephraim Asiata LB 210 Kaden Chidester OL 325
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs. Utah Tech (FCS)
Statistics UTUBYU First downs 11 29 Plays–yards 56–184 68–521 Rushes–yards 25–49 48–308 Passing yards 135 213 Passing: –– 15–31–3 17–22–0 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 26:45 33:15 Team Category Player Statistics Utah Tech PassingBronsen Barben12/22, 115 yards, INT RushingAce Chatman12 carries, 38 yards, TD ReceivingDarnell O'Quinn3 receptions, 41 yards BYU Passing Bear Bachmeier16/20, 198 yards, 3 TD RushingDevaughn Eka8 carries, 59 yards, TD ReceivingLegend Glasker3 receptions, 65 yards, 2 TD
vs. Arizona
Statistics ARIZBYU First downs 19 17 Plays–yards 62–327 56–365 Rushes–yards 31–97 30–148 Passing yards 230 217 Passing: –– 23–31–1 16–26–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 33:41 26:19 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona Passing Noah Fifita 23/31, 239 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kedrick Reescano 15 carries, 49 yards Receiving Giovanni Richardson & Cole Rusk 5 receptions/2 receptions, 48 yards BYU Passing Bear Bachmeier 16/26, 217 yards, 3 TD Rushing LJ Martin 20 carries, 98 yards Receiving Legend Glasker 3 receptions, 74 yards
at Colorado State
Statistics BYUCSU First downs 21 17 Plays–yards 58–559 65–302 Rushes–yards 41–332 24–82 Passing yards 227 220 Passing: –– 12–17–2 25–41–1 Time of possession 33:24 26:36 Team Category Player Statistics BYU Passing Bear Bachmeier 12/16, 227 yards, INT Rushing LJ Martin 15 carries, 176 yards, 3 TD Receiving Legend Glasker 5 receptions, 131 yards Colorado State Passing Hauss Hejny 6/10, 80 yards, TD Rushing Durell Robinson 6 carries, 29 yards, TD Receiving Cedric Ross 4 receptions, 85 yards
at TCU
Statistics BYUTCU First downs 15 14 Plays–yards 62–216 55–259 Rushes–yards 38–154 30–72 Passing yards 62 187 Passing: –– 11–24–0 18–25–1 Time of possession 32:57 27:03 Team Category Player Statistics BYU Passing Bear Bachmeier 11/24, 62 yards Rushing Bear Bachmeier 15 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kyler Kasper 2 receptions, 22 yards TCU Passing Jaden Craig 18/25, 187 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeremy Payne 14 carries, 77 yards Receiving Kari Ashley 6 receptions, 108 yards, TD
vs. Iowa State
Statistics ISUBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa State Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Notre Dame
Statistics NDBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
at UCF
Statistics BYUUCF First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics BYU Passing Rushing Receiving UCF Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Arizona State
Statistics ASUBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Arizona State Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
at Utah
Statistics BYUUTAH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics BYU Passing Rushing Receiving Utah Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Baylor
Statistics BAYBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Baylor Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
at Kansas
Statistics BYUKU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics BYU Passing Rushing Receiving Kansas Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Cincinnati
Statistics CINBYU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cincinnati Passing Rushing Receiving BYU Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Coaching staff Kalani Sitake Head coachSione Po'uha Associate head coach/defensive line coachKelly Poppinga Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coachAaron Roderick Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coachJustin Ena Special teams coordinatorTJ Woods Run game coordinator/offensive line coachFesi Sitake Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coachHarvey Unga Running backs coachKevin M. Gilbride Tight ends coachDemario Warren Defensive pass game coordinator/safeties coachLewis Walker Cornerbacks coachChad Kauha’aha’a Outside linebackers coach
Roster
Depth chart
References