BYU didn’t reveal much against an overmatched Trailblazers team, but the snap counts still told a clear story about who the Cougars trust, who is climbing, and who is being eased back in.
At wide receiver, the rotation matched the expectation coming out of fall camp. Kyler Kasper and Jojo Phillips led the way, with Legend Glasker, Reggie Frischknecht, and Tiger Bachmeier next in line, in that order. That’s the same hierarchy that showed up on the field, and it suggests BYU sees its top pass-catching group pretty much the way it did a few weeks ago.
The most interesting wrinkle was how often the Cougars leaned on their tight ends. Roger Saleapaga logged 32 snaps and Walker Lyons had 33, right there with Kasper. That points to a clear plan: BYU wants both tight ends on the field as often as its best wideouts.
Glasker also appears to have made a move. The freshman got more run, and that should only continue if he keeps proving he belongs in the top tier of the receiver room. If he locks down a spot among BYU’s top three wide receivers, the passing-game rotation could narrow to a group built around the two tight ends, Glasker, Kasper, and Phillips.
There was also room for younger receivers to get their feet wet. Jaron Pula played eight snaps after missing most of fall camp with an injury, while Terrance Saryon was on the field for 12. Pula, especially, could keep rising once he’s fully healthy and comfortable in the offense.
On defense, BYU held out Isaiah Glasker against Arizona. Kalani Sitake said Glasker could have played, but the decision was made for precautionary reasons. The Cougars clearly wanted him ready to go without any lingering issues when they face the Arizona Wildcats.
Nusi Taumoepeau was also being brought along carefully. After missing the last few weeks of fall camp because of injury, the pass-rusher played only five snaps against the Trailblazers before landing on Monday’s depth chart in a starting role. That looks like a deliberate ramp-up toward Saturday.
The offensive line showed a different kind of stability. Unlike last year, when BYU rotated multiple players at guard, the starting five handled every snap with the first-string offense. That gives the Cougars a settled front, and in the view of this author, that’s a good thing.
In the secondary, true freshman safety Kennan Pula saw more action than any other defender, finishing with 37 snaps. With Raider Damuni out at least through September because of injury, Tommy Prassas and Kennan Pula are next up at safety. Those reps mattered, and BYU made sure Pula got them.
The defensive line, though, looks like the group that may matter most against Arizona. Outside of Anisi Purcell, who played 33 snaps, the core linemen were used sparingly, with Hunter Clegg at 14 snaps and Justin Kirkland at eight. BYU will need that group ready to create pressure on Noah Fifita without living on blitzes.
The backfield added another concern. Sione Moa played just seven snaps before leaving with an injury. His status for Arizona won’t start to come into focus until Wednesday night, when BYU releases its first injury report, and right now the expectation is that he won’t be available.
Moa’s injury history is becoming hard to ignore. This is his third season with the program, and he has already dealt with multiple setbacks: an injury in his first start in 2024, another that cost him multiple games that season, and a 2025 injury in week three that kept him out until the Big 12 Championship game. Now he’s back in the same spot again after leaving this game early.
BYU has already had to count on Moa as Martin’s backup in back-to-back seasons, and injuries have kept cutting into that plan. The Cougars’ depth at running back is being tested again.
In Other News...
BYU Fans Will Love Who's Behind Saturday's Pregame Flyover
A familiar show of pageantry is coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, and this one carries a personal connection for Jimmy Winegardner. The BYU graduate and KC-135 pilot is set to handle the pregame flyover before the national anthem at the BYU-Arizona game, with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m. MDT, adding a little extra buzz to a matchup already carrying plenty of interest.
For Winegardner, the moment has been years in the making, a chance to combine his military role with a place that still matters to him. The KC-135 crew will spend time on training flights around Utah Valley before approaching the stadium from the south, and for BYU fans, it should be a memorable arrival even before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's Arizona Test Could Raise The Stakes Around Kalani Sitake
BYU heads into its game against Arizona with more than a conference test hanging over the night, even as fans are being urged to turn LaVell Edwards Stadium into a blue-and-white Stripe Out. The matchup offers another chance for the Cougars to show they can handle a meaningful early-season check, but it also comes with a familiar backdrop around the program: a coach who has kept the team competitive while navigating a school and sport in transition.
Kalani Sitakes future at BYU remains a live conversation because of the way he has spoken publicly about resources and support, especially after recent administrative changes around the program. In a college football landscape that keeps shifting under everyones feet, the Arizona game feels like more than a standalone date on the schedule, since performances like this can quietly shape how loudly those bigger questions get asked in the weeks that follow. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Different Arizona Team Than Last Season
BYU and Arizona are set to meet for the 28th time on the football field, and this one carries a different feel than the matchup the Cougars saw a year ago. It is only the third meeting as Big 12 rivals, but Arizona arrives with a roster that has been shaped by more than just another offseason, giving the game a fresh layer of intrigue for a BYU program that has now had time to settle into its conference footing.
Arizona Desert Swarms recent look at the Wildcats pointed to a team whose identity is tightening in a few key spots, from defensive pressure and run stopping to the continued development of quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats also have a new piece in Malcolm Hartzog Jr. helping define what they can do on defense, and the way Arizona fans view BYU inside the Big 12 adds a little extra edge to a matchup that already feels like it has more to it than a typical early-season rematch. [Read more 🡒]