Ryan Smith isn’t trying to hide where his allegiance sits.
The Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner, a BYU graduate, remains a familiar presence around Provo, often showing up in the “Hollywood seats” beside the BYU bench at men’s basketball games in the Marriott Center. Big game, lesser-known opponent - Smith is usually there.
In a recent appearance on Front Office Sports’ Portfolio Players, Smith was asked about the NIL money he’s committed to his alma mater and whether the spending habits of other high-profile donors, like Mark Cuban at Indiana or Larry Ellison at Michigan, change how he approaches BYU.
Smith made clear that his support is rooted in where he came from.
“I’m sure there’s some scenario when I’m no longer here, they’re going to get a big chunk of whatever I’ve got. I mean, there’s no secret to that,” Smith said to Front Office Sports about his donations to BYU.
“But that’s the right thing to do because that’s where it all started. It’d be really weird if they didn’t.
You’ve got to remember where you came from, and I came from there.”
He also pushed back on the idea that BYU’s backing comes down to one major benefactor. Smith pointed to what he described as a broad and active base of alumni donors helping support the school’s athletics program.
“As far as, you know, putting your thumb on the scale and really helping, the fortunate thing about BYU is -people don’t know this- but we have one of the largest alumni that’s out there, most active. … There’s a couple of schools out there from an entrepreneurship standpoint, but the roster is deep.
And that’s why BYU is in the spot that they are in, because it’s not just me. It is a lot of people.
“Where some of these schools have one person who’s taken on their full-time job to go do some sort of NIL. That’s not BYU.
It’s a lot of people. Similar to probably Notre Dame.”
In Other News...
BYUs Defensive Rotation Is Already Creating A Bigger Opportunity
Through three games, BYU has already shown a clear willingness to spread the workload around, especially on defense, where the snap counts point to a rotation that keeps bodies fresh and options open. The Cougars have also used the bye week to take a longer look at who is ready for more, while on offense the workload has been led by familiar pieces and complemented by targeted usage for players such as wide receiver Legend Glasker.
The bigger question now is how that rotation changes once the season resumes, particularly with injuries forcing the staff to keep sorting through depth. A younger safety like Kennan Pula is among the names positioned to benefit if the coaching staff decides to expand the defensive group even further, and BYUs approach suggests those opportunities may come sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Inherited The Big 12 Pressure Fans Have Wanted
Week 4 of the Big 12 season brought the kind of shakeup BYU fans have been waiting to see, with several results reshaping the conference race in a hurry. Cincinnati handed Kansas State its first loss, Oklahoma State went into West Virginia and came away with a win, and Utah took care of Iowa State on the road, all of which tightened the pressure at the top and made every upcoming league game feel a little heavier.
For BYU, that kind of chaos is part opportunity, part test. The Cougars now find themselves in a conference where every week can alter the standings, and the next round of matchups will say plenty about who can handle the grind when the league starts sorting itself out. Week 5 brings another chance for teams to prove they belong in the conversation, and BYU is right in the middle of the conversation fans have been eager to have. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Is About To Face Its Biggest Big 12 Test Yet
BYU keeps sitting at the top of the Big 12 conversation as the league turns to Week 5, a spot that reflects both the Cougars strong start and how unsettled the conference picture still is. The latest power rankings, compiled from ballots by KSL Sports reporters, also put Utah right alongside BYU near the top, while Oklahoma State climbed to fourth after a road win that has changed the feel of the race early in the season.
The bigger question now is whether BYU can hold that position when the schedule starts to tighten and the leagues midtier challengers begin pressing harder. Power rankings are only a snapshot, but they capture the stakes pretty well in a conference where recent results matter and every week can reshape the order, especially with marquee matchups looming across the Big 12. [Read more 🡒]