BYU’s latest depth chart came with a couple of notable absences Monday, and both were tied to injuries that have already started reshaping the Cougars’ rotation.
Running back Sione Moa and linebacker Siale Esera were both removed from the chart ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Colorado State. Moa went down in the first quarter against Utah Tech and later revealed that he tore both his MCL and PCL. His return this season remains uncertain, but he is expected to miss a significant stretch.
Esera’s situation is less severe, at least based on what Kalani Sitake said this week, but it still appears he’ll be out against Colorado State. The linebacker was injured on the opening drive against Arizona, never returned, and was seen in street clothes on the sideline. Sitake addressed the status this week and said, "More than likely he will be questionable for this weekend, but it's not season-ending...he exited the game and didn't come back...more than likely we'll take him out of the game this weekend," Sitake said.
With Moa out, BYU also adjusted its running back picture. Behind LJ Martin, Preston Rex is now the primary backup, which lines up with what happened against Arizona when Rex handled the reserve snaps. The Cougars’ new chart also includes two true freshmen in Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka.
Tonga has moved quickly since joining the program before Fall Camp, and he’s now listed as the third-string back. He made the most of his first real chances against Utah Tech, finishing with 38 yards and a touchdown on just two carries while forcing multiple missed tackles. Devaughn Eka also flashed in that game, leading BYU in rushing with 59 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.
At linebacker, Esera’s absence opens the door for more work from Jake Clifton, who had been listed as a co-starter alongside him. Even so, the bulk of the snaps are still expected to belong to veterans Cade Uluave and Isaiah Glasker.
In Other News...
BYUs Early Snap Counts Are Already Revealing A Clear Trust Shift
BYUs win over Arizona offered more than a clean result in the standings. It also provided an early look at how this coaching staff is sorting out its rotation, and the snap counts made it clear which players were being leaned on when the game tightened up. Nusi Taumoepeau, Jayven Williams, Cannon DeVries and Tommy Prassas all logged meaningful work, a sign that the staff is already settling into a comfort level with a core group while injuries and game plan decisions continue to shape the rest of the depth chart.
Elsewhere, the distribution told its own story. Tiger Bachmeier and Justin Kirkland saw limited action, which only adds to the sense that this is still a moving picture rather than a finished lineup. For BYU, that matters because September snap counts often hint at who the coaches trust in bigger moments, and who still has to wait for a fuller opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Win Over Arizona Turned On 3 Momentum-Swinging Moments
BYUs 28-17 win over Arizona was shaped by a handful of plays that kept flipping the tone of the game, and the Cougars were the ones who kept making the bigger responses when it mattered. A linebacker takeaway from Cade Uluave helped swing momentum back in BYUs favor, while Kyler Kaspers touchdown catch gave the offense a needed punch in a matchup that never stayed settled for long.
The other turning point came on a fourth-down stop that could have gone the wrong way if not for BYUs challenge, and the replay review ultimately upheld the Cougars stand. Put together, those moments gave BYU a workable cushion and kept Arizona from fully seizing control, which is exactly why this one felt less like a clean run and more like a game decided by a few high-leverage snaps. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Sent An Early Big 12 Message Fans Should Notice
BYUs first Big 12 league game in 2026 arrived with some early conference noise around it, and the Cougars handled their part of the spotlight by beating Arizona. In a Week 2 slate that also saw Oklahoma State knock off No. 6 Oregon, the result gave BYU an immediate foothold in a league that is still trying to define itself early in the season.
The bigger picture around the Big 12 made the win matter even more. The conference has gone 1-2 against the SEC in recent matchups and is just 4-5 against Power 4 opponents overall, so every solid nonconference and league result carries extra weight. BYUs start fits into that broader conversation, especially with Texas Techs win over Oregon State coming with some obvious issues still to sort out. [Read more 🡒]