BYU’s 2026 schedule is loaded with quarterbacks who can change a game in a hurry, and a few of them arrive in Provo carrying plenty of buzz. With Kelly Poppinga taking over as defensive coordinator, the Cougars will spend plenty of time chasing down transfers, dual-threat playmakers and a couple of established stars.
The toughest name on the list is Arizona’s Noah Fifita, who comes to Provo on September 12 at 1:30 p.m. (MT).
Arizona’s communications staff already kicked off the Noah Fifita for Heisman campaign at the Big 12 Media Days earlier this month, and there’s a real case for the hype. Fifita was the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback a year ago after throwing for 3,228 yards and 29 touchdowns in the first season with Seth Doege as offensive coordinator.
Now Doege is back, giving Fifita continuity in an offense that should be explosive. Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said the BYU-Arizona game will be the best game in America in week two of the college football season, and the quarterback matchup is a big reason why.
No. 2 is Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, who brings a different kind of pressure to Provo on October 17. In his first full season as the Irish starter, Carr helped Notre Dame go 10-2 while throwing 24 touchdowns against only six interceptions.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback is already being talked about as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft because of his poise in the pocket. It’s been 20 years since Notre Dame had a first-round quarterback, with Brady Quinn the last one.
Quinn also happens to be the last Irish quarterback to lead Notre Dame into a game at BYU in Provo.
Utah’s Devon Dampier lands at No. 3, and BYU will see him again on November 7 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. When Dampier transferred from New Mexico to Utah last year, the big question was ball security.
He answered it, finishing with a 5-1 TD-INT ratio while also rushing for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns. He played through injuries last season, including in the loss at BYU last October, and the 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior should be even better this year.
TCU’s Jaden Craig checks in at No. 4 ahead of the October 3 trip to Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Josh Hoover is off to Indiana, and Craig steps in after earning Ivy League first-team quarterback honors last season at Harvard. He passed for 2,889 yards and brings good size at 6-3, 230 pounds.
With Gordon Sammis now the offensive coordinator after his run at UConn, Craig could wind up being one of the surprise quarterbacks in the Big 12.
At No. 5 is UCF’s Alonza Barnett, who faces BYU on October 24 at Acrisure Bounce House. He’s the only quarterback on this list who has reached the College Football Playoff, doing it with James Madison, where he won Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors last season. Barnett is 21-6 as a starting quarterback, and he now takes over in Orlando.
DJ Lagway of Baylor comes in at No. 6 for the November 14 game in Provo. The question with Lagway is which version shows up - the quarterback who looked like the face of college football after his freshman year at Florida, or the one who was slowed by injuries during his sophomore season. He’s healthy now, and he inherits a Baylor offense that ranked in the top five nationally in passing a season ago.
Cincinnati’s JC French is next at No. 7, with the November 28 game in Provo on deck. French spent two seasons as a starter at Georgia Southern before transferring to Cincinnati, and his arm strength stands out. Over the past two seasons, he passed for 5,760 yards.
Arizona State’s Cutter Boley slots in at No. 8 for the October 31 matchup in Provo. The Sun Devils brought him in from Kentucky, where he started 10 games last season. The question now is whether Kenny Dillingham can turn Boley into the kind of quarterback he made out of Sam Leavitt after that transfer from Michigan State.
Jaylen Raynor of Iowa State is No. 9, with the Cyclones visiting Provo on October 9. Raynor arrives after being the starter at Arkansas State, and if Iowa State is going to generate much offense this year, it will have to come through him. He’s a dual-threat quarterback stepping into a new-look program.
Colorado State’s Hauss Hejny is No. 10 before the September 19 game at Canvas Stadium. Hejny, a former TCU and Oklahoma State quarterback, is expected to open the Rams’ new era in the Pac-12 as the starter. He only had one start at Oklahoma State last year, but he looked good before a season-ending injury ended his season.
Kansas rounds out the top 11 with Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall tied together at No. 11 for the November 21 game at David Booth Stadium. The quarterback battle in Lawrence looks wide open as the Jayhawks try to replace Jalon Daniels. Ballard is not much of a dual-threat, while Marshall brings more running ability.
At No. 12 is Utah Tech’s Deacon Hill, who comes to Provo on September 5. Hill, formerly of Wisconsin and Iowa, is healthy again after missing all of last year with an injury. Utah State transfer CJ Tiller is also in the mix, but Hill gets the edge here after starting four of the first five games for the Trailblazers in 2024.
In Other News...
Big 12 Coaches Are Suddenly Chasing BYU Instead Of Texas Tech
BYU has spent plenty of time this offseason being discussed in the same breath as the Big 12s usual heavyweights, but a new anonymous coaches survey from Athlon Sports pushed the Cougars into an even brighter spotlight. Several league coaches praised BYUs physical style, the quality of the coaching and the financial backing behind the program, a combination that has clearly earned respect inside the conference walls.
The bigger takeaway is how quickly the conversation has shifted away from the team that had been drawing so much offseason attention, Texas Tech. Some coaches in the survey went as far as to suggest BYU could be the team to beat in the Big 12 in 2026, which is a sign of how much confidence the Cougars have built, even if it still says nothing about how the race will actually play out once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Enters A New Era With One Big Defensive Challenge
Kelly Poppinga is stepping into the defensive coordinator role at BYU at a moment when the program is trying to keep its edge after Jay Hills departure to Michigan. The hire gives the Cougars a familiar voice charged with preserving the high-energy culture that helped define the defense, while also blending in returning players and newcomers as the staff resets around a new play caller.
Poppinga has made it clear that pressure will be part of the identity, with sacks an obvious measuring stick for how fast the unit adapts. Even so, he has also pointed out that finishing plays depends on more than just effort, with matchups and coaching adjustments shaping what the defense can actually produce when the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fall Camp Opens With Pressure On Bear Bachmeier And His Targets
BYUs 2026 fall camp is getting underway with the usual first-step routine, as players report for meetings and equipment fitting before practices begin Wednesday. Even with media access limited, there will still be enough of a window to take in meaningful portions of practice, and the first few days should offer an early read on the pieces that matter most as the Cougars start sorting out their depth chart.
The biggest eyes will naturally be on Bear Bachmeier, whose development sits near the center of everything BYU wants to accomplish on offense. Up front and across the defensive line, experienced players could help set a more physical tone, while the receiver room brings its own layer of intrigue as the Cougars look to replace departing starters and establish who can separate from the pack once camp really starts to settle in. [Read more 🡒]