BYU heads into the 2026 season with real expectations, and that means the spotlight is going to fall on a handful of players who can swing the whole thing. The Cougars open Saturday against Utah Tech, ranked inside the top 15 and sitting among the two favorites to win the Big 12. That kind of status brings pressure, but it also clarifies exactly where the season will be won or lost.
Start up front, where BYU has stability in four spots on the offensive line. Four of the five starters have already taken snaps for the Cougars, so the group isn’t being rebuilt from scratch.
The new piece is Washington transfer Paki Finau, who already has college experience after appearing in multiple games for the Huskies last year. If he can match what Isaiah Jatta gave BYU a season ago - and even raise the level a bit - the line has a chance to be better than it was in 2025.
That left tackle spot is the one that will tell the story.
The same idea applies on defense, where BYU needs the front to become a real problem for opponents. Keanu Tanuvasa is the name to watch there.
He’s the leader of the defensive line, and BYU is counting on him to be the kind of disruptive tackle he was when he played against BYU in 2024. The talent is there, and the flashes have already shown up.
What matters now is doing it more consistently. Another year in the system should help him settle into that level.
He doesn’t have to pile up sacks to matter, either. His job is to bother the quarterback, squeeze the pocket and make life miserable in the backfield.
If he does that, the defense has a chance to move from good to great.
Replacing Jack Kelly is another major assignment. Kelly is the player BYU won’t get back, and he’s the toughest defensive loss to cover.
The Cougars answered by bringing in Cal transfer Cade Uluave, a four-star addition who is one of the fastest players on the defense and already proven at this level. Kelly was BYU’s best pass rusher, but Uluave doesn’t need to duplicate that role to make an impact.
He could give the run defense a real lift, and that would let others do more damage rushing the passer. If that happens, BYU’s defense gets better.
Then there’s LJ Martin, who is set for a heavy workload. The senior running back is the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and he has a shot to become the school’s all-time leading rusher.
If he can do in 2026 what he did in 2025, while an offense that thsould be able to throw the football more takes another step, BYU becomes a nightmare to defend. The big key is health.
As long as Martin stays healthy, the production should be there.
But everything ultimately comes back to Bear Bachmeier. If BYU is going to break through and win the Big 12, the quarterback has to carry a massive part of that load.
Bachmeier was excellent as a true freshman last season, but there was still room for growth. Against Texas Tech, he had trouble protecting the ball and keeping drives alive.
That wasn’t all on him, either. He was under constant pressure, and BYU struggled to run the ball against a Texas Tech defense that was downright dominant in 2025.
Facing that kind of unit demanded more pre-snap diagnosis and more throws that let receivers go get the ball. That was a tall order for a freshman.
The encouraging sign is that he has shown improvement in Fall Camp. He has been making throws he couldn’t make a year ago, including the kind BYU would have needed against Texas Tech. Of all the players on this list, Bachmeier is the most crucial to BYU’s success in 2026.
In Other News...
BYUs Utah Tech Opener Comes With A Price Tag Fans Will Notice
BYUs football opener against Utah Tech is set to come with more than the usual early-season intrigue. An amended contract obtained through a public records request shows Utah Tech will receive $450,000 for making the trip to play at BYUs stadium, a reminder that these nonconference games often carry as much financial significance as they do competitive value.
The agreement also spells out details beyond the payout, including officials assignments and ticket allocations, the kind of behind-the-scenes items that shape how these matchups are staged. Similar arrangements have surfaced in other in-state games, including the University of Utahs contests against Idaho and Utah State, underscoring how common these financial setups have become across the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces Three Pressure Points That Could Define 2026
One of the most interesting parts of looking ahead to BYUs 2026 football season is how much of the forecast hinges on players who are still in the middle of carving out their roles. The early buzz points to a few pressure points that could shape the Cougars trajectory, starting with special teams, where Matthias Dunn is being eyed to step in for Will Ferrin at placekicker. On offense, Bear Bachmeier is expected to keep developing at quarterback, while true freshman Legend Glasker has already made enough of an impression to be part of the conversation at wide receiver.
The defensive side carries its own intrigue, because BYU may need a breakout pass rusher to elevate the unit from solid to dangerous. Put it all together, and the bigger picture gets even more ambitious, with speculation that the Cougars could push toward their first College Football Playoff appearance. None of it is guaranteed, of course, but the range of possibilities speaks to how much is at stake for a program trying to turn promising pieces into something far bigger. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Opener Could Reveal More About This Offense Than Utah Tech
BYUs 2026 opener against Utah Tech is the kind of game that usually looks straightforward on paper, but it carries a few early-season questions for the Cougars anyway. The matchup with the FCS opponent, set for ESPN+, gives fans their first look at a new receiving corps, a chance to see how much work running back LJ Martin might handle, and an opening window into how head coach Kalani Sitake plans to sort through the depth chart before the schedule tightens up.
Utah Tech, meanwhile, arrives with some momentum under Lance Anderson, which makes this more than a pure tune-up even if BYU is expected to be the more talented team. The bigger intrigue may be less about the final score and more about which backups get meaningful snaps, how much of the playbook gets shown, and whether the Cougars can walk away with enough answers before Arizona comes next. [Read more 🡒]