No. 14 BYU football opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium, according to a BYU Cougars game week announcement on Aug. 31, 2026. The season opener, scheduled for a 6 p.m. MT kickoff on ESPN+, follows a period of reflection for the program regarding the leadership legacy of legendary former head coach LaVell Edwards.
2026 Season Opener Details
The upcoming matchup features a BYU squad that enters the year ranked 14th nationally. According to BYU Cougars information released Aug. 31, 2026, the Cougars will host Utah Tech, who enters the contest with a 0-1 record. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard via BYU Radio on SiriusXM 166, BYURadio.org, the BYU Radio app, or KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM.
Key players noted in the game week briefing include running back LJ Martin and quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The program also highlighted defensive lineman Justin Kirkland as a focal point for the upcoming contest.
Honoring the Edwards Legacy
The season opener arrives amid a broader cultural celebration of the BYU football program's history. As Deseret News reported on Aug. 30, 2026, two books were released this month honoring the leadership qualities of LaVell Edwards. One of these works, "LaVell's Leadership Playbook" by Dave Hanna, was released to coincide with the start of the football season.
Hanna, who has written slice-of-life columns for the Deseret News since 1998, authored the book based on his observations of the Edwards era. Hanna began working in the sports information office in the fall of 1972, during his senior year at BYU, when LaVell Edwards took over as the Cougars' head coach.
Leadership Principles and Publications
In his new book, Hanna identifies eight fundamental business principles that he observed Edwards consistently employ during his tenure. These principles include competing using unique strengths, instinctively following the game plan, building new and enduring capabilities, and solving problems at their source. Other principles mentioned include handling competition, developing true partnerships, adapting to environmental changes, and never writing off an individual.
"I saw him routinely living up to these eight points and what a difference it made with his players," Hanna noted. Another book celebrating the former coach, "The Leadership of LaVell Edwards" by Mark D. Ogletree and Dave McCann, was released earlier this month on Aug. 3, according to Deseret News reporting.
Reflections on Coaching Style
The discussions surrounding Edwards' leadership continue decades after his coaching tenure ended. As reported by Deseret News, Edwards' daughter, Ann Cannon, noted that while the former coach might have been surprised by the flurry of recent tributes, he likely would have been grateful that his legacy remains important and continues to affect people.
McCann, a veteran sportscaster and Deseret News columnist, suggested that Edwards' reluctance to seek attention was part of his charm. "He did what he did because it was in his fiber, because that's who he was; he didn't do it for any other reason," McCann said in the Aug. 30, 2026, report.
Previous Season Highlights
The 2026 season follows significant momentum for the BYU football program during the 2025 season. In September 2025, the Cougars faced a high-profile schedule, including a sold-out night game against Stanford on Sept. 6, 2025, where they utilized a strong running game led by LJ Martin and a performance from freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Later that month, on Sept. 27, 2025, No. 25 BYU (3-0) opened Big 12 play against Colorado. According to BYUtv, that matchup featured the freshman quarterback Bachmeier and a top-ranked defense, with the Cougars aiming to maintain an unbeaten streak through strong ball security and the rushing of LJ Martin.
Program Momentum and Future
The program's recent athletic success has been a recurring theme in local media. During the 2025 season, BYU's football and basketball programs were featured in various discussions regarding program momentum. On Nov. 18, 2025, BYUtv aired an episode featuring head football coach Kalani Sitake and men's basketball head coach Kevin Young to discuss the momentum within their respective programs.
As the 2026 season begins, the focus remains on the team's performance on the field and the continued influence of the program's historic leadership on current players and staff.
