BYU’s opener was exactly the kind of first-week tune-up you’d expect against Utah Tech: a 63-7 runaway that let the Cougars look fast, physical and mostly in control from start to finish. But while the score at LaVell Edwards Stadium told one story, plenty of eyes in the press box were glued to something far messier in Ann Arbor, where Michigan’s wild finish against Western Michigan had people talking about clocks, chaos and one extra second.
The Michigan ending was dramatic enough on its own. It also turned controversial when the game management staff appeared to be working from a different clock than the broadcast, which opened the door for one more play and, eventually, Michigan’s answered Hail Mary to escape with the win.
The bigger problem for the Wolverines, though, was what came before that finish: they looked awful for the first 59:59. Kyle and former BYU quarterback Jason Beck, now Michigan’s offensive coordinator, have plenty to clean up.
That clock mess brought back a memory of former Orem High coach Alex Jacobsen. While covering a playoff game in Salt Lake, Jacobsen watched a home team try to bleed the final minutes away and quipped, “I hope that clock operator isn’t a math teacher at this school.”
As for BYU, the game produced a few perfectly rational overreactions.
Legend Glasker made the strongest possible first impression. In a feature for BYU Game Day, he was asked what kind of play would get him fired up, and he said: “Something like a jet sweep, maybe.
We have a lot of those in the playbook, or just a deep post. I’ve got to be ready for all of it.”
He was, in fact, ready for all of it.
Glasker not only looked prepared for the college game, he practically predicted how he would score his first touchdown - and his third. The coaches clearly weren’t kidding about how much work he’d put in since arriving in January.
It’s only one game, and he’s got some company in the conversation for best freshman ever, with names like Austin Collie, Luke Staley, Harvey Unga and Aaron Francisco coming to mind. Still, Game 1 gave everyone a strong reason to notice.
There was also a less flattering takeaway on the other side of the ball: the idea that BYU’s depth is simply loaded everywhere might be overstated. The defense held Utah Tech in check for about 2 1/2 quarters, but once the 2s, 3s and 4s entered, the drop-off showed up fast.
Utah Tech’s third-quarter drive went 15 plays, 75 yards and took 7:45 off the clock, and the fourth-quarter march covered 14 plays, 60 yards and 7:34. Those two drives accounted for 135 of the Trailblazers’ 184 total yards, and their only touchdown came on the first one.
Yes, the Cougars were playing a vanilla defense at that point. Still, if the gap between the starters and the backups is that wide, it’s at least worth noting.
It’s harder to draw a firm conclusion about Kelly Poppinga’s first game as BYU’s defensive coordinator. The regular rotation only got a few series, and starting linebacker Isaiah Glasker was held out, though it appears he’ll be 100 percent next week against Arizona.
There’s also the injury situation at safety, where Raider Damuni may be out for a significant stretch. Utah Tech’s offense didn’t offer much resistance, and Noah Fifita will be a much better test next week.
That’s when the picture gets clearer.
For now, though, the Cougars can live with a start that looked about as clean as a season opener should. They handled an inferior opponent the way they were supposed to, and there wasn’t much in Game 1 that felt out of place. It’s only 1-0, but that’s still the right place to begin.
The run game, meanwhile, was the loudest statement of the afternoon. LJ Martin, Sione Moa, Devaughn Eka, Journee Tonga, Preston Rex, Logan Payne and Charles Miska helped BYU pile up more than 300 rushing yards and average 6.7 yards per carry. Harvey Unga’s work with that group is showing up.
One other detail from the day stood out: the BYU student section stayed put through the entire blowout. Kalani Sitake said after the game that several players who transferred in from power conference schools said they had never seen anything like it.
The internet, naturally, had fun with the Michigan finish. Brian Fagan posted: “Prior to Western Michigan, college football teams were 110,352-0 when leading at the end of regulation, dating back to 1869.”
Another favorite image making the rounds was a road sign that read: “Welcome to Ann Arbor. Set your clocks back one second.”
And in the spirit of keeping score on everyday annoyances, there was also a fresh installment of “Get Off My Lawn.” Former Cougar and radio host Ben Criddle apparently thinks the author is a little too old-school about where college sports are headed, and the label has stuck.
One gripe: radio commercials that use car-crash sounds or honking horns. “There out to be a law against playing car crashing sounds or horns honking on radio commercials.
Nearly gives me a heart attack every time and I start getting flashbacks to getting t-boned back in 2020.”
There was also this confession: “I miss my Honda Pilot.”
And, yes, the vow for the season is to avoid the BYU football cookies in the press box. That said, a mint brownie did happen at halftime. As it should.
In Other News...
BYU Defense Suddenly Faces A Bigger Question After Opening Win
BYUs opening win over Utah Tech came with a familiar August reminder that the first game can change a teams outlook in a hurry. The Cougars handled the result, but veteran safety Raider Damuni went down with a leg injury and had to be carried off the field, turning what should have been a clean season debut into a concern for the defenses early depth and experience.
Kalani Sitake said the program is still waiting on an MRI to get the official diagnosis, leaving the immediate status of one of BYUs more trusted defensive pieces unclear. The Cougars were already being careful with linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who sat out as a precaution so he could be rested for Arizona, so the next few days now carry a little more weight as BYU sorts out who will be available and how much change the defense might need to absorb. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Will Learn A Lot From Kalani Sitake Tonight
BYU opens its 2026 season tonight against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and the game should offer an early look at how Kalani Sitake intends to steer this team. After a year of talking about the need to compete at the highest level, Sitake enters the opener with a clear mandate to show that the Cougars are not just aiming to win, but to do it with a sharper edge and a more aggressive feel from the start.
For BYU, the bigger question is what those coaching decisions signal about the programs broader ambitions. The Cougars have spent plenty of time trying to earn more respect in the College Football Playoff picture, and the opener should tell fans a lot about how Sitake plans to attack that challenge. Even against an overmatched opponent, the way BYU handles the night may reveal how serious it is about making a real national statement. [Read more 🡒]
College GameDay Just Gave BYU Fans A Big 12 Reason To Believe
ESPNs College GameDay season kickoff offered BYU fans a little bit of national validation before the real grind of the Big 12 begins. The panel spent time sorting through the conference race and debating the teams most likely to be standing at the end, with the conversation framed around prospects, matchups and how quickly the league could sort itself out once the season gets rolling.
For Cougar fans, the encouraging part was simply hearing BYU in the mix rather than on the outside looking in. The predictions were split across the studio, with some of the biggest names on the set landing on a different favorite and Pat McAfee going his own way, which only underscored how open the conference feels. Still, BYU being mentioned as a title pick on a stage like that is the kind of attention that can travel a long way through a fan base. [Read more 🡒]