Sports

What about the No. 9-ranked Cougars is most encouraging? What is concerning?

September 23, 2026

Source: Yahoo Sports · Read on source site

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, left, looks to pass the ball as Colorado State defensive lineman Brandon Kelley (10) pursues during game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colo. | David Zalubowski, Associated Press This article was first published in the Cougar Insiders newsletter Tuesday. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each week.

>Does BYU look the part of a top 10 football team?

>If improvements are made, the Cougars could.

>Fact is, it is way too early to make ranking judgments because some teams have had some real competition and others have simply coasted down freeways with exit signs.

>In some ways yes, in some ways no. Work remains, and it’s on the agenda the next two weeks. You can’t learn much playing against Utah Tech, but the win over Arizona set some lofty expectations for this Kalani Sitake team in 2026. A 3-0 start is good karma after a road win over CSU from the Pac-12, a Group of Five program.

>The best thing going for BYU is that there are very few “if we’d only done this” statements after three games.

>The Cougars have the size and speed to be a ranked team, but to be a top 10 team, it takes consistency, depth, avoiding injuries, and keeping Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin on the field. It takes an explosive offense and smothering defense to be a top 10 team. And it takes players who have bought into the culture to play with great chemistry.

>The No. 9 Cougars have shown these traits at times through the first quarter of the season. It will get tougher with a road game to TCU and a home game against No. 2 Notre Dame coming up.

>On offense, coordinator Aaron Roderick has some combinations of weapons he hasn’t had for some time. On defense, new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga is seeing his philosophy work and, at times, it can be smothering. On special teams, return man Cannon DeVries and field goal kicker Matthias Dunn have the makings of being real stars.

>Here’s our coverage of BYU’s win over Colorado State in Fort Collins this past week:

BYU right where needed to be at 3-0 (Jay Drew) • >Sitake wants to use bye week smartly (Jay Drew) • >LJ Martin: ‘Sky is the limit’ (Dick Harmon) • >3 amazing plays vs CSU (Dave McCann) • >What CSU’s Mora said after game (Jackson Payne) • >BYU looked part of top 10 team (Jay Drew) • >CSU apologizes for vulgar fan chant (Jackson Payne)Cougar Insider predictionsQuestion of the week: After a 3-0 start, what stands out to you about Kalani Sitake’s No. 9-ranked Cougars? Also, what concerns you at this stage of the season and why?

>Jay Drew: I said it after fall camp, and I will say it again: The most notable thing that stands out about this BYU football team after three games is its overall team speed. This has to be the fastest BYU team I’ve covered in my 19 years on the BYU football beat.

>On offense, there’s Legend Glasker, Jojo Phillips and LJ Martin. On defense, there’s Evan Johnson, Tre Alexander and maybe one of the fastest linebackers, sideline to sideline, that I’ve seen at BYU in Cal transfer Cade Uluave.

>On special teams, Cannon DeVries has filled in admirably as a punt returner for Parker Kingston. Across the board, this team has guys who can really move. It’s impressive.

>What should Kalani Sitake and his staff be concerned about through three games? Let’s admit it, BYU’s offensive line has been really good, but the starting right tackle, a veteran, has struggled. That could turn into a bigger problem if not figured out as BYU faces better defensive lines from here on out.

>Another mild concern could be depth in the secondary, particularly at safety. BYU has been able to overcome Raider Damuni’s serious injury with a combination of guys at safety and by playing DeVries and Mississippi State transfer Jayven Williams at nickel, but will need Damuni’s talents against Notre Dame, particularly.

>Dick Harmon: This BYU team is big. It is fast. And in the trenches, it has depth to substitute and keep players fresh, especially linebackers and offensive linemen. This is giving coaches the ticket to rest and hold out players who are banged up, allowing them to heal and avoid further injury. This is big. When you play injured players, you play a gambling game on the season.

>Todd Watkins may have been the fastest receiver I’ve seen at BYU, but his speed was top-end on a straight line. Freshman Legend Glasker has the ability to accelerate at full speed and change directions with a burst that Watkins never had. This is an elite ability and makes him one of the most dangerous players on the field. Mix that with Kyler Kasper on midrange routes and Walker Lyons attacking zone coverages and BYU’s receiver corps looks like a huge threat the Cougars didn’t have last year in two losses to Texas Tech.

>LJ Martin’s ability to crash for yards gives the Cougars a complete package on offense. It forces safeties, linebackers and coordinators to respect the line of scrimmage and frees Kasper and Glasker to attack defenses — and it will only get better in time. Martin is a tremendous key for this team right now and he must stay healthy.

>The penalties accrued in the CSU game are unacceptable, especially holding and false start mistakes. I thought Bear Bachmeier should have been intercepted two times against CSU and another couple of times against Arizona. That isn’t a major concern, because if you sling it, you are going to get picked at times. I expect Bachmeier to clean that up. Some of it was not his fault, but he is better than the pick he threw at CSU’s goal line at the end of the first half.

>There is a lot going for this team right now. Sitake has his team playing on edge — at least for half to three-quarters of a game. He’s got a great culture and his players are following his lead in confidence and chemistry. This will be fun to watch unfold heading to the TCU and Notre Dame games.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake looks on in during game against Colorado State Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Fort Collins, Colo. | David Zalubowski, Associated Press Cougar talesLJ Martin earned honorable mention Earl Campbell Player of the Week honors for his rushing effort in the win over Colorado State. Legend Glasker was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. Women’s soccer drew a 1-1 draw with Arizona in the league opener.

From the archivesFrom X-verseI Saw BYU In Person... Here’s Why They’re The Best Team In The Big 12 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gpb9ZeIZ5w

— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) September 22, 2026Most didn't believe that Legend Glasker could replace the productivity of Parker Kingston.. But look at the stats through three games..

Legend Glasker has been one of the most explosive players in college football:

Receiving

11 receptions 270 yards 24.5 yards per catch 2…

— Ben Criddle (@BenCriddleShow) September 21, 2026ESPN says BYU could lose to BOTH Notre Dame and Utah and still win the Big 12 and make the CFP. 👀

I don’t know about you guys, but I’d rather not test that theory. 😂

Give me Notre Dame. Give me Utah. Win the Big 12.

Leave no doubt. 🤙 pic.twitter.com/baCSUJmebP

— Greg Mortensen (@Morty13) September 22, 2026Extra pointsAnalytics suggest BYU’s offense is potent (S.I.) • >Jimmer MVP in return to 3x3 games (Deseret News) • >No rest for Cougars during bye week (Provo Daily Herald)FanalystsComments from Deseret News readers:

>Some of the postgame chatter was “BYU missed out on a chance to pick up style points with a major blowout.”

>Ummm ... I’m sorry, but do we really think beating CSU by, say, 35 versus 18 early in the season is going to have bowl or playoff implications two months from now? A loss would have. A narrow win, possibly. But this game was never in doubt. CSU didn’t look very good, so running up the score doesn’t tell anyone you’re ready for a major CFP push.

>Did Oregon tacking on a late TD to win 84-0 instead of 77-0, as opposed to taking a knee impress voters? — Swan Ranson