BYU walked into 2026 carrying the kind of preseason buzz it hasn’t had in four decades, and the Cougars backed it up immediately. They ripped through Utah Tech in the opener, snagging an interception on the first snap, piling up five rushing touchdowns from five different players and cruising to a 63-7 win that was over almost as soon as it started.
That was the kind of complete performance that keeps a team moving up the board. BYU’s defense smothered Utah Tech and forced four turnovers.
The offense stayed balanced, finishing with 308 passing yards and 198 rushing yards. And special teams got in on the act too, with Cannon DeVries opening the second half by taking the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
Now the real test arrives fast. BYU opens league play by hosting Arizona at 1:30 p.m. MT on FOX, and this one will tell us a lot more about where both teams stand.
In my annual season preview magazine Pick Six Previews, I picked BYU to finish second in the Big 12 and slotted the Cougars at No. 17 in the preseason rankings. After the opener, they climbed to No.
- Arizona, meanwhile, is in that crowded middle of the Big 12 after a major jump under Brent Brennan, who helped turn a 4-8 team in 2024 into a 9-4 group in 2025.
The Wildcats did that with the nation’s top-rated pass secondary, but that unit is gone now, and quarterback Noah Fifita is the headliner returning for 2026.
My Game Grader numbers reflect how close these two teams have been on paper, even if their 2026 outlooks are different. Over the 2023-25 stretch, BYU checked in at 55.3 and Arizona at 55.6.
In 2025, the teams were nearly even again, with Arizona at 63.6 and BYU at 63.4. For 2026, though, BYU sits at 64.9 while Arizona drops to 54.5.
BYU’s opener gave a strong preview of what the offense can look like with Bear Bachmeier at the controls. He was almost flawless against Utah Tech, completing 16 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns while also running in a score. He also showed his mobility on a long completion to tight end Roger Saleapaga.
The Cougars leaned on screens as well, and two of them turned into touchdowns for Jojo Phillips and Legend Glasker. Glasker’s day stood out in a big way: the freshman scored on his first three touches and became the first BYU receiver to score three times in a game since Puka Nacua did it against Arkansas in 2022.
That’s the kind of receiver and tight end production BYU appears to have upgraded, but Saturday will offer a much better gauge. Arizona’s pass defense was elite last season, leading the nation in opponent QB rating, and four members of that secondary eventually went to the NFL draft. The talent drain in the back end is a real question now, and BYU’s pass-catchers should have chances to win downfield.
Arizona does still bring some punch up front. The Wildcats have four players on the NFL draft watchlist: linemen Tre Smith, Leroy Palu and Chase Kennedy, along with linebacker Taye Brown. That front will get a real look against a BYU offensive line that will need to hold up better than it did on some of the downfield shots in the FCS opener.
When Arizona has the ball, the story starts with Fifita. He became Arizona’s first all-conference quarterback in 50 years, already owns the school record for passing touchdowns and is now chasing Nick Foles for the career passing yards mark. The Wildcats also lost their top two receivers, but the new group looks promising, with All-Big 12 Tre Spivey, the speedy Isaiah Mizell, and transfers Rodney Gallagher, who started at West Virginia, and DJ Jordan, a former Top 100 prospect from USC.
BYU’s defense, though, is built to make life difficult. The Cougars were strong on that side last season and return as one of the most veteran units in the country.
Kalani Sitake and new coordinator Kelly Poppinga put a major emphasis on retention this offseason, and they brought back seven defensive starters. They also added a big piece in All-ACC Cade Uluave from California.
There was one hit in the opener: safety Raider Damuni suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out through October.
The matchup in the trenches leans BYU’s way. Arizona’s offensive line lost three starters and its lone all-Big 12 honoree, and the Cougars should be in position to stuff the run and force the Wildcats into a more one-dimensional game.
That’s why BYU looks like the more proven program heading into this first real Big 12 test. The Cougars won the 2025 meeting, return more starters at 17 to 10, and added more playmakers through the transfer portal. They’re also bringing back the strongest pieces of an 11-win team, while Arizona’s best calling card from last season - that No. 1 secondary - is now in the pros.
And there’s one more edge for BYU: LaVell Edwards Stadium. It’s been a tough place to win, and over the last three seasons the Cougars are 16-3 at home, including 12-6 against the spread.
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BYUs Frontcourt Addition Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
BYU has quietly added another layer to its frontcourt with the arrival of Serbian center Petar Ostojic, a 19-year-old seven-footer who already brings professional experience from Serbian leagues. For a roster still taking shape, the move gives the Cougars a bigger body in the paint and a player who can develop behind Jaxon Kohler, a spot that could matter even more if the season starts with questions at center.
Kohlers eligibility for the upcoming season remains unresolved, with a hearing set for Sept. 29, and that uncertainty is what gives Ostojics addition extra weight. If BYU ends up needing immediate size and depth, the Cougars may find that this understated pickup ends up carrying more significance than it first appeared to have. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Secondary Is Still Waiting On One Crucial Return
BYUs defense came out of its season opener with a lopsided win over Utah Tech, but the secondary was left sorting through the fallout after safety Raider Damuni went down with a severe leg injury. The Cougars have already had to reshuffle some things behind the scenes, and defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga has been clear that Damunis absence has forced others into bigger roles sooner than planned.
There is at least a timeline now, and it gives BYU some reason for patience. Poppinga indicated Damuni is aiming to get back after the bye week, with the possibility of returning for either TCU or Notre Dame, while Tommy Prassas has moved into a starting safety spot in the meantime. For a defense trying to stay steady with quarterback Noah Fifita on deck, the next stretch will say plenty about how well the Cougars can hold the line until one of their most important pieces is ready again. [Read more 🡒]
Treyson Bourguet Just Shared Why BYU Means More Than Football
Treyson Bourguet arrived at BYU last year after transferring from Western Michigan, and his role as a backup quarterback has given him a different kind of spotlight than the one most fans usually track. On BYUtvs Sports Nation, he talked about how his time in Provo has shaped more than his game, describing the experience as one that has influenced his life and faith in ways he did not expect.
Bourguet, who said he is spiritual even though he is not a member of the sponsoring faith, spoke openly about football and BYU bringing him closer to Christ. He also pointed to the people around him, thanking teammates and coaches for creating an environment built around a shared desire to be disciples of Christ through football. For BYU, it is the kind of reminder that the programs pull often reaches well beyond the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]