The 2025 season was one to remember for BYU football - not just for what happened between the lines, but for the way Cougar Nation showed up, showed out, and made a difference far beyond the field. Now, thanks to the newly released 2025 BYU Football Impact Report, we’ve got the numbers to back up the storylines that defined a remarkable year in Provo.
Let’s break down the key figures that paint a full picture of BYU’s impact on the field, in the stands, and across the college football landscape.
8.99 Million Viewers: BYU’s Biggest Stage Yet
BYU fans already knew the Cougars were becoming a national draw, but the numbers from 2025 take that to another level. The Big 12 Championship showdown between BYU and Texas Tech pulled in 8.99 million viewers - the most-watched non-College Football Playoff game BYU has ever played in.
That viewership topped even the Cougars’ 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl win over Colorado, which previously held the high-water mark with 8 million viewers. And it wasn’t a one-off: BYU’s 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance also drew 8.7 million sets of eyes. The Cougars aren’t just playing big games - they’re commanding national attention when they do.
85,519 Fans: A Big 12 Title Game Crowd That Delivered
When BYU and Texas Tech met in Arlington for the Big 12 crown, the stage was massive - and so was the crowd. AT&T Stadium packed in 85,519 fans, nearly 30,000 more than the previous year’s title game between Arizona State and Iowa State.
It was a fitting scene for a conference championship that felt like a turning point for BYU’s program in the Big 12. The Cougars didn’t just show up - they showed they belonged.
$80,000 in a Day: Cougar Nation’s Heartfelt Giving
One of the most powerful moments of the season didn’t happen on the scoreboard. A few weeks before BYU and Texas Tech met for the first time in 2025, tragedy struck the Red Raiders’ extended family. Maddie Ortiz, wife of Texas Tech’s team barber Ivan Ortiz, was critically injured in a car accident.
BYU fans caught wind of the Ortiz family’s GoFundMe - and responded in a big way. Donations jumped from $6,000 to $63,000 in a single day, eventually hitting $80,000 by nightfall. As of early February, the fundraiser had reached nearly $195,000 - far surpassing the original $25,000 goal.
Texas Tech fans returned the compassion ahead of the Big 12 title game, donating over $110,000 to support Katie Cornia, who was seriously injured in a crash that claimed the life of her husband, Gavin - a devoted BYU supporter. In a sport often defined by rivalries, this was a reminder of the humanity that unites fans on both sides.
70,143 Cougar Tails: A Sweet Season at the Concession Stand
It wouldn’t be a BYU home game without the iconic Cougar Tail - and in 2025, fans devoured them in record fashion. A total of 70,143 of the giant maple bars were sold during the season. For context, that’s enough Cougar Tail to stretch from sea level to the top of Mount Timpanogos - eight times over.
Even more impressive? BYU sold its one-millionth Cougar Tail last season. That’s a whole lot of sugar-fueled fandom.
63,789 Fans Per Game: LaVell Edwards Stadium Roars Back
Home-field advantage was alive and well in Provo. BYU averaged 63,789 fans per game at LaVell Edwards Stadium - the program’s highest average attendance in over 15 years.
The 2025 season featured five sellouts, and four games topped 64,000 in attendance. That kind of support doesn’t just look good on paper - it creates a real edge on game day, and BYU fans brought the energy every Saturday.
26,500 Fans, 32,000 Pounds of Food: Cougs Care in Action
BYU fans didn’t just show up - they gave back. Through the Cougs Care tailgates held at road games, 26,500 alumni and fans teamed up to donate more than 32,000 pounds of food, 8,000 books, hundreds of coats and shoes, and $5,000 in cash donations.
It was a season-long effort that showcased the community spirit that defines Cougar Nation, no matter the zip code.
118 Points: Will Ferrin’s Big Year
Kicker Will Ferrin quietly had one of the most productive seasons in the country. He led the Big 12 with 118 points, finishing 10th nationally in scoring. He also knocked through 23 field goals - tied for eighth in the country - and was a steady force for BYU all season long.
In a league where every point matters, Ferrin was a difference-maker.
3,000 Yards, 11 TDs: Bear Bachmeier’s Breakout
True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier didn’t just take the reins - he made history. He became the 15th BYU quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, and only the second true freshman to do it.
But Bachmeier didn’t stop there. He was one of just 28 FBS quarterbacks with at least 3,500 yards from scrimmage in 2025 - and the only true freshman in that group. He also set a new school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 11.
It was a debut campaign that put him in elite company - and gave BYU fans plenty of reason to believe in the future.
5 INTs: Evan Johnson Locks It Down
Cornerback Evan Johnson tied for the Big 12 lead with five interceptions, matching TCU’s Jamel Johnson and Texas Tech’s Brice Pollock. That mark also placed him among the top 22 players in the country in picks.
In a conference loaded with high-powered offenses, Johnson’s ball skills and instincts made him a key piece of BYU’s defensive identity.
3 National Pregame Shows: BYU in the Spotlight
The Cougars didn’t just play in big games - they were the center of attention. Three BYU matchups in 2025 were selected as host sites for national pregame shows, nearly doubling the program’s all-time total.
“Big Noon Kickoff” returned to Provo for the second straight year, and later followed BYU to Cincinnati. Then in November, ESPN’s “College GameDay” made the trip to Lubbock for the Cougars’ clash with Texas Tech.
Before 2024, BYU hadn’t hosted a national pregame show since 2020. Now, they’re becoming regulars in the national conversation.
A Season That Resonated Beyond the Field
From record-setting performances to record-breaking generosity, the 2025 BYU football season was about more than wins and losses. It was a year that showcased what makes college football special - the passion, the pageantry, and the people.
Cougar Nation showed up in every way imaginable. And if the numbers from the 2025 Impact Report are any indication, this program isn’t just growing - it’s thriving.