As BYU wraps up preparations for its Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup against Georgia Tech in Orlando, one thing is clear: this team is showing up-physically and mentally.
While bowl season often brings questions about player opt-outs and motivation, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake made it clear this week that the Cougars are on track to take the field at full strength. When asked if any players were planning to sit out-whether to rest, recover, or prepare for the NFL Draft-Sitake said the expectation is full participation across the board.
“There is still time between now and the game, but they’re practicing,” Sitake said. “I think the biggest issue is, can we get guys healthy and 100% by the time we get to the game?
Is there enough practice time to get them ready? Right now, I think we’re on a good trajectory for that.”
That trajectory includes quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who missed early bowl practices nursing an ankle injury but was back on the field Wednesday and made available to the media afterward. His message? He’s trending in the right direction.
“Feeling good, feeling prepared, and the team is looking good,” Bachmeier said. “I have been out here, slowly increasing in the reps I get, and feeling good.”
That’s a positive sign for BYU, especially given how important Bachmeier’s presence is to this offense. His ability to extend plays and manage the game has been a key factor when healthy, and having him under center could be a difference-maker against Georgia Tech.
Running back LJ Martin is another name to keep an eye on. Martin is reportedly considering declaring for the NFL Draft, though no official decision has been made. For now, he remains with the team and part of the bowl prep process.
On the defensive side, linebacker Isaiah Glasker is another Cougar working his way back from injury. Glasker has been battling an ankle issue since late September-an injury that’s lingered since BYU’s game against Colorado.
Once viewed as a strong NFL prospect, Glasker’s draft stock has taken a hit this season, largely due to the injury limiting his impact. But he’s not letting that distract from the task at hand.
“This off week…has been good. It really allowed my body to recover,” Glasker said.
As for his future? Glasker’s keeping things in perspective and staying focused on the now.
“It’s really just up in the air right now,” he said. “I’m trying to just focus on the bowl game and then figure out from there. I talk to my parents all the time, and I feel it’s in my best interest just to wait.”
That kind of mindset-one that’s locked in on the present-could be a big factor in how BYU performs in Orlando. Motivation is always a wildcard in bowl season.
Some teams treat it like a business trip. Others treat it like a formality.
And sometimes, it’s hard to tell until the first snap.
But this BYU squad seems to genuinely enjoy playing together, and that chemistry has been a consistent theme throughout the season.
“We just like to have fun. We just like to play with our players on the field,” Bachmeier said. “I think that’s self-explanatory in itself in how motivated we are to play this game.”
For Glasker, there’s more on the line than just a win-there’s pride in representing the Big 12, a conference that’s often overlooked in national conversations.
“People overlook the Big 12 and how talented we are,” he said. “If we catch this win, then we can really make a difference for the Big 12. I feel that if we get a win here then we can really show the [CFP] committee what the Big 12 is all about.”
Sitake echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the value of bowl games beyond the scoreboard. For him, it’s not just about one more game-it’s about one more opportunity to grow.
“Like I said before, they love football. It is another opportunity to play,” Sitake said.
“Obviously, everybody’s going for the playoffs, but the truth is, we have an opportunity to play again, and we have an opportunity to practice again. Those bowl practices [last year] were really good in our development for this year, and this year’s will be the same thing for next year.”
So while the Pop-Tarts Bowl may not be part of the playoff picture, don’t expect BYU to treat it like anything less than a meaningful moment. With a healthy roster, a motivated locker room, and a chip on their shoulder for the Big 12, the Cougars are heading to Orlando with something to prove-and they look ready to do just that.