BYU’s 2026 football season officially kicked into gear Tuesday, as players and coaches reported to fall camp at the Student Athlete Building in Provo.
The Cougars will take the practice field for the first time in camp on Wednesday as they begin ramping up for the September 5 season opener against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Before the first workout, the team handled the usual camp-opening routine after a busy offseason of strength and conditioning work, individual training and player-run practices and activities. Players attended their first official team meetings, picked up fall practice gear and wrapped up the day with a team activity at Splash Summit.
Head coach Kalani Sitake is entering his 11th season at the helm. He has compiled an 84-45 record over the past decade, including a 23-4 mark across the last two seasons.
There are some notable changes on the coaching staff heading into camp. Kelly Poppinga has been promoted to defensive coordinator for 2026, while defensive tackles coach Sione Po'uha now also carries associate head coaching responsibilities. The new faces on staff include defensive pass game coordinaror and safeties coach DeMario Warren, linebackers coach Chad Kauha'aha'a and cornerbacks coach Lewis Walker.
On offense, the staff stays intact in its current roles. Aaron Roderick, Fesi Sitake, TJ Woods, Kevin Gilbride and Harvey Unga all return. Justin Ena has shifted from linebackers coach into a full-time special teams coordinator role.
BYU also plans to keep fans plugged into camp with post-practice interviews, offense, defense and special teams previews, plus photos and videos from practice. Additional content will highlight the program’s history, the past decade under Sitake, BYU’s game day atmosphere and events, Cougars in the NFL, The Church’s missionary program and more.
In Other News...
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Key Starting Jobs Still Up For Grabs
BYUs fall camp opens with more certainty at quarterback than at several other spots, with Bear Bachmeier projected to take the first snap if the Cougars were lining up for a game today. Beyond that, plenty of the depth chart still feels unsettled, and the early days of camp will be about sorting through a few of the rosters most important competitions. Wide receiver, left guard, defensive end and special teams roles are among the jobs still waiting to be claimed, which gives the first weeks of practice real weight.
The interesting part for BYU is that the projected lineup is built largely on experience and what players showed most recently, but it is still only a projection. Camp has a way of changing those assumptions quickly, especially when a veteran holds off a younger challenger or a new name pushes into the conversation. For now, the Cougars enter August with a clear sense of where the core starts, and just as clear a list of spots where the race is still wide open. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is Battling Bluebloods For A Recruit Fans Will Want Up Front
Samiu Taukiuvea has become one of the more closely watched recruiting battles on BYUs board, with the West High School standout drawing attention from a long list of major programs while staying firmly in play for the Cougars. The high-profile recruit already holds scholarship offers from schools such as Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, a sign that BYU is chasing a player plenty of bluebloods also believe can fit at the next level.
For BYU, the appeal is obvious: Taukiuvea has built a strong relationship with the staff, giving the Cougars a legitimate chance to stay in the mix as he weighs his future. He has not committed anywhere yet and is planning to take visits before making a decision, which means this recruitment should remain one to watch for a while as schools keep making their case. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Could Matter Fast
BYUs fall camp opened with a familiar August theme for a program trying to build depth fast: freshmen who are not waiting around for a future window. Several newcomers are already in the mix for immediate roles or at least meaningful competition, with the staff taking a close look at who can help early and who can simply make the two-deep sturdier before the season gets rolling.
Among the names worth watching are safety Kennan Pula, who is starting his college career in the secondary, along with cornerback Jordyn Criss, offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo and defensive tackle Ulavai Fetuli, all of whom could become useful pieces if the need arises. The kicking situation also adds an extra layer to the camp intrigue, while the running back room has enough interest that a freshman could force his way into the conversation behind the established options. [Read more 🡒]