Six BYU football players were named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team on July 6, 2026, led by senior running back LJ Martin, who was voted the conference's preseason offensive player of the year. The selections follow a successful 2025 campaign in which the Cougars achieved a 12-2 record and reached the Big 12 Championship game for the first time in three years of conference membership.
Martin Leads Preseason Honors
LJ Martin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from El Paso, Texas, enters the 2026 season as the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Martin's 2025 season was marked by significant statistical achievements, including 1,305 rushing yards, which ranked 11th nationally. His average of 100.38 rushing yards per game was 12th in the nation, while his 120.0 all-purpose yards per game ranked 13th.
In addition to his conference honors, Martin was recognized as a first-team All-Big 12 selection by Pro Football Network, Pro Football Focus, and Sports Info Solutions. He also received Pro Football Network All-America Second Team honors and was named a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. His 1,305 rushing yards last season represent the seventh-most single-season total in BYU history.
Offensive Line Anchors Success
The BYU selections for the preseason team include both offensive and defensive standouts. Senior center Bruce Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound player from Kamas, Utah, was named to the team after serving as a full-time starter last year. Mitchell, who was a Rimington Trophy candidate during the 2025 season, earned All-Big 12 honors from both Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Network.
With Mitchell anchoring the offensive line, BYU's offense ranked in the top 25 in 10 different offensive statistics during the 2025 season. These included ranking 9th nationally in time of possession, 12th in rushing first downs, 12th in sacks allowed, and 13th in rushing touchdowns. The offense also ranked 18th in rushing plays of 10+ yards and 19th in total plays of 10+ yards.
Defensive Backfield Recognition
The defensive side of the ball is represented by four players on the preseason roster. Senior cornerback Evan Johnson, a 6-foot, 185-pound player from Monterey, California, joins the list following a 2025 season in which he recorded 47 tackles, five interceptions, one sack, and seven passes defensed. Johnson's five interceptions tied for the most in the Big 12 and led the BYU team. He was named Sports Info Solutions First-Team All-Big 12 and received All-Big 12 honors from Pro Football Network and the league.
Junior safety Faletau Satuala, from Bountiful, Utah, was also selected. Satuala recorded 84 total tackles, 47 solo takedowns, one sack, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions in 2025. His performance earned him second-team All-America honors from the FWAA and third-team All-Big 12 honors. Satuala was also recognized as the Lott Trophy Player of the Week and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week during the previous season.
Front Seven Standouts
The defensive front and linebacker corps are represented by Keanu Tanuvasa and Cade Uluave. Tanuvasa, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle from Mission Viejo, California, was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention following the 2025 season. During his junior campaign, he started all 14 games and recorded 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, and one blocked kick.
Linebacker Cade Uluave, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound transfer from Cal, was also named to the preseason team. Uluave, a 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy candidate, earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2025 after recording 237 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles during his tenure with the Bears. He was previously named a first-team Freshman All-American by the FWAA, College Football News, and The Athletic in 2023.
Conference Context and Season Opener
The Big 12 Conference announced the full preseason team, which includes 29 individuals selected by media representatives covering the 16 member institutions. Texas Tech led all programs with seven selections, while BYU followed in second place with six. Houston had three selections.
Other preseason awards included Texas Tech's A.J. Holmes Jr. as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker as Preseason Newcomer of the Year. BYU is scheduled to begin its 2026 season against Utah Tech on Saturday, Sept. 5, at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
