BYU has a real shot to do something it has never done before, and Josh Pate thinks the setup is there for the Cougars to break through.
On "Josh Pate's College Football Show," Pate pointed to BYU as a team that could reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The Cougars came close last season, finishing 12-2 and just outside the playoff rankings, but their path was blocked by Texas Tech. BYU went 12-0 against everyone else and then lost both meetings with the Red Raiders, getting outscored 63-14 in those games.
That near miss is part of why the case for BYU feels so strong heading into this season. The Cougars are bringing back 64% of their production from last year, which ranks No. 18 in the country. They also kept head coach Kalani Sitake, who was reportedly close to leaving his alma mater for the Penn State head coaching job before deciding to stay and push the program forward.
"I am betting with this schedule, and that roster, (BYU) is a legitimate playoff threat," Pate said. "I imagine the vibe out there, too.
Just picture them, regardless of what happened out there with Texas Tech, picture them in isolation, and the only team they couldn't beat last year was Texas Tech, and otherwise ran the table. Then they kept most of their players, including their quarterback...
I'd think the vibes are pretty high."
The schedule is a big part of the appeal. ESPN's Football Power Index lists BYU with the No. 55 schedule in college football, and the Cougars avoid Texas Tech entirely this year. Their toughest game is a home matchup with Notre Dame on Oct. 17, though that game does not count in the Big 12 standings and would not impact their chances of reaching the Big 12 Championship Game.
If BYU takes advantage of that combination of experience and schedule, the Cougars should be in the Big 12 title picture again. And if they can avoid the kind of late-season slip that cost them a year ago, Sitake's team has a clear path to the first College Football Playoff berth in school history.
In Other News...
BYU Football Is Crossing A Uniform Line Fans Never Expected
BYU football is about to put a new kind of mark on its uniforms, and it is one fans have not seen before. Beginning with the 2026 season, Entrata will become the Cougars first-ever jersey patch sponsor, with the Utah-based property management software companys logo set to appear on game jerseys as part of a broader partnership that also brings branding and community engagement efforts.
The move signals how far the college athletics landscape has shifted, even for a program with a distinct identity like BYUs. Athletic director Brian Santiago said there was plenty of interest from corporate sponsors, but the school did not disclose financial terms, leaving the full scope of the deal to come into focus later as the patch becomes part of the teams look. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Know This Name And His Rise Just Got National
John Henry Daleys ascent has gone from familiar to national in a hurry. The senior edge rusher put together a breakout 2025 season at Utah, leading the nation in tackles for loss and earning first-team All-America honors before an Achilles tendon injury cut short his year. For anyone who has followed his path, the production only confirmed what had been building for a while: Daley is the kind of disruptive defender who can change the feel of a game from the edge.
Now at Michigan, Daley is working his way back and aiming to be fully ready for the 2026 season, a timeline that matters even more with the Wolverines facing a demanding schedule. Michigan also needs answers up front after losing its top three defensive linemen to the NFL Draft, which leaves Daley positioned to become one of the most important returning pieces on that side of the ball if his rehab keeps trending in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Football Just Crossed A Major Branding Line
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The most visible piece will arrive with the 2026 season, when the program is set to debut a jersey patch as part of the deal. For BYU, it is another sign of how college football branding is evolving, and for the program and its partner, the hope is that the relationship builds something that resonates with fans while also carrying a broader impact in Utah. [Read more 🡒]