BYU football has officially returned to campus for the start of the 2026 fall camp, headlined by a roster featuring multiple preseason All-Americans. The start of the 2026 season follows the program's significant transition into the Big 12 Conference, a move that began with the announcement of the 2023 inaugural Big 12 schedule.
Preseason Standouts and Honors
The 2026 preseason roster includes several standout performers recognized by national analysts. Cornerback Evan Johnson has been named a second-team Preseason All-America by Sports Info Solutions. Additionally, running back LJ Martin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound athlete from El Paso, Texas, has been named a Sporting News Preseason All-America after rushing for 1,305 yards to rank No. 11 nationally in 2025.
Other notable preseason honors include Bruce Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound senior from Kamas, who was named to the Rimington Trophy watchlist. Mitchell also earned Phil Steele Preseason All-America Second Team and Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Third Team honors. Sports Info Solutions has also named four Cougars to its Preseason All-Big 12 Team: Evan Johnson, Bruce Mitchell, Faletua Satuala, and LJ Martin.
Defensive Recognition
The defensive and special teams units are also seeing individual recognition as the team begins training. Safety Faletau Satuala, linebacker Isaiah Glasker, and linebacker Cade Uluave have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List, appearing among 68 contenders for the national defensive player of the year award.
Further accolades include Bruce Mitchell and Tanuvasa being named to the Outland Trophy watch list, an award presented annually to the best college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. Additionally, the Maxwell Award watch list includes BYU players Bachmeier and Martin.
The Big 12 Transition
The current 2026 campaign marks a new chapter for the program following its historic entry into the Big 12. In January 2023, BYU announced its inaugural football schedule as a member of the conference, joining Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.
At the time of that announcement, BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe expressed excitement about the new era, noting the challenge of weaving four new teams into an unprecedented 14-team Big 12 schedule. The 2023 schedule was designed to include teams such as Oklahoma and Texas, both of which were founding members of the conference before departing for the Southeastern Conference prior to the 2024 season.
2023 Conference Results
The 2023 Big 12 season was characterized by high-stakes matchups and significant conference movement. The season saw Texas emerge as the conference champion after defeating Oklahoma State 49-21 in the championship game held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 2, 2023.
During that 2023 season, the conference expanded to 14 members. The preseason rankings for the 2023 season had placed BYU at No. 11 in the preseason poll. The season concluded with Texas as the champion and Oklahoma State as the runner-up.
Athletic Leadership and History
The leadership at BYU Athletics remains under the direction of Tom Holmoe, who was named Director of Athletics on March 1, 2005. A former Cougar defensive back from 1978-82, Holmoe played for the San Francisco 49ers, where he won three Super Bowl championships in 1984, 1988, and 1989. He also earned a fourth Super Bowl ring as a defensive backfield coach for the 49ers in 1994.
Under Holmoe's tenure, the BYU athletic program has achieved significant milestones, including capturing four national championships and 133 conference regular-season and postseason championships. The program has maintained an average ranking of 36th in the annual NACDA Learfield Directors' Cup, including a No. 1 finish for fall sports in the fall of 2022.
Looking Forward
As the 2026 season begins, the Cougars are focused on building upon the momentum of recent years. The program continues to oversee a large-scale athletic operation involving 21 intercollegiate sports and more than 600 student-athletes.
Season Outlook
The BYU football program's return to fall camp marks the beginning of a highly anticipated season, as the team seeks to navigate the competitive landscape of the Big 12 Conference.
