BYU

Pregame comparisons use preserved published forecasts. Results include wins and losses.

2026 rates aggregate verified completed-game box scores. EPA is expected points added per play.

The offense starts with sophomore Bear Bachmeier, the established QB1 after leading BYU to 12 wins as a true freshman. His experience in Roderick's system should let the Cougars build rather than reset, and his rushing ability forces defenses to account for him beyond the pocket. It also exposes him to additional contact. Senior Treyson Bourguet and freshman Enoch Watson remained in an unresolved competition for the backup role after spring, leaving BYU with less certainty behind Bachmeier than it has at starter. His health and growth as a passer are central to the entire season.

LJ Martin supplies the offense's clearest identity. Roderick said BYU intends to give the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year roughly 20 carries per game, with Sione Moa capable of sharing the field and Devaughn Eka pushing for work. Martin missed spring after December shoulder surgery, however, and Jovesa Damuni sustained a serious spring injury. Their timelines remained unclear entering this preview. A veteran line led by All-American center Bruce Mitchell, Andrew Gentry, Kyle Sfarcioc and Sonny Makasini is built to support the run-first plan, although Makasini's return from noncontact work is another health point to watch.

The greatest offensive uncertainty is at receiver. BYU must replace Chase Roberts, Carsen Ryan and Parker Kingston, then lost projected contributor Cody Hagen to medical retirement. JoJo Phillips and Tei Nacua bring talent but less established production, while Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper offers another possible answer. Their development will help determine whether Bachmeier can turn the passing game into a dependable complement to Martin. Transfers Walker Lyons from USC and Roger Saleapaga II from Oregon give Roderick experienced tight ends who can reinforce the running game and provide bigger intermediate targets while the receiver rotation settles.

Poppinga inherits enough defensive continuity to evolve rather than rebuild. Keanu Tanuvasa, Anisi Purcell and Justin Kirkland anchor the interior, with Bodie Schoonover, Viliami Po'uha, Tausili Akana and Nusi Taumoepeau returning on the edges. BYU did not seek transfer help for the front, reflecting confidence in its depth, and Tanuvasa's role as a captain gives the transition an established leader. The challenge for Poppinga is to add pressure and disguise without sacrificing the communication, run defense and takeaway potential that powered the unit in 2025.

Linebacker and the secondary offer both proven pieces and unresolved questions. Cal transfer Cade Uluave joins Isaiah Glasker and Siale Esera, and Poppinga praised Uluave's daily playmaking during spring. Glasker missed spring with an injury and was expected back within weeks of an April update, but his readiness for full-contact work was not established. BYU also told The Salt Lake Tribune that Ephraim Asiata's team status was under evaluation after a DUI charge reported July 29, so his availability cannot yet be assumed. Behind them, All-American safety Faletau Satuala and veteran corner Evan Johnson lead an experienced secondary that also returns Raider Damuni and Tre Alexander and adds Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams.

The schedule gives BYU an opening sequence against Utah Tech and Arizona at home before a trip to Colorado State. Pressure rises sharply in October: the Cougars visit TCU, host Iowa State and Notre Dame, travel to UCF and return home for Arizona State. November brings the rivalry trip to Utah, followed by Baylor at home, Kansas on the road and Cincinnati in the finale. That stretch will demand more than star power; it will test the backup quarterback, the running-back rotation, the rebuilt receiving corps and Poppinga's ability to adjust from week to week.

BYU does not need a wholesale transformation to make 2026 meaningful. It needs Bachmeier to progress, Martin and the offensive line to emerge healthy, new targets to become reliable and Poppinga's changes to strengthen rather than unsettle an experienced defense. Mitchell, Tanuvasa, Uluave and Satuala give the Cougars consequential players through the middle of the roster, while Sitake's emphasis on retention and veteran leadership provides organizational steadiness. A precise record forecast would overstate what is known, but the season's dividing line is clear: BYU has a strong foundation, and its depth must now prove sturdy enough for the schedule ahead.

Final · team–opponent

W 28–17