The BYU football team opens its 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium, following a dominant 2025 campaign that saw the Cougars finish with an 11-1 record and a berth in the Big 12 Football Championship. The upcoming schedule features a high-profile mid-season nonconference matchup against Notre Dame on Oct. 17 and a regular-season finale against Cincinnati on Nov. 28.
2026 Season Schedule and Matchups
The Cougars' 2026 schedule includes seven home games and five away contests. Following the opener against Utah Tech, BYU will host Arizona on Sept. 12, followed by a road game at Colorado State on Sept. 19. The team will then host Iowa State on Oct. 9, before facing Notre Dame on Oct. 17. The mid-season slate continues with a trip to UCF on Oct. 24 and a home game against Arizona State on Oct. 31.
November features a matchup against Utah on Nov. 7 in Salt Lake City, followed by Baylor on Nov. 14 in Provo. The Cougars will travel to Lawrence, Kansas, on Nov. 21 before returning home to face Cincinnati on Nov. 28. The regular season concludes with the Big 12 Football Championship, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 4, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
According to BYU Athletics, the 2026 slate includes ten power-conference level opponents. The nonconference schedule features Notre Dame, Colorado State, and FCS opponent Utah Tech. The Big 12 portion of the schedule includes nine games, with five played at LaVell Edwards Stadium and four on the road. The schedule includes a bye week at the end of September, with no game scheduled for Sept. 26.
Returning Talent and Award Winners
The 2026 roster features significant returning talent following the 2025 season. Running back LJ Martin, who was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, returns to lead the offense. Martin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound back from El Paso, Texas, rushed for 1,305 yards in 2025, ranking 11th nationally. He was also named a Sporting News Preseason All-America and a Maxwell Award watch list member.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier, the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, returns to lead the Cougars. Bachmeier led the team to an 11-1 record during the 2025 season. The offense also features returning All-American center Bruce Mitchell, who was named to the Rimington Trophy watchlist and the Phil Steele Preseason All-America Second Team.
Defensive standout Faletau Satuala returns as an All-American safety. The defensive unit also features the return of linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Siale Esera, alongside defensive lineman and team captain Keanu Tanuvasa. Other notable returns include cornerback Evan Johnson, who was named a second-team Preseason All-America by Sports Info Solutions.
Roster Composition and Coaching
The 2026 team will feature several high-profile transfers and newcomers. Linebacker Cade Uluave joins the squad from Cal, while receiver Kyler Kasper arrives from Oregon. The roster also includes several players from the freshman class and transfer class who will compete for positions throughout the season.
Individual accolades from the previous season highlight the strength of the roster. In addition to Martin and Bachmeier, the Big 12 announced Kalani Sitake as the 2025 Big 12 Coach of the Year. The Cougars' performance in 2025, which included an 11-1 record, contributed to the program's success, as the team has posted a combined 22-3 record since the beginning of the 2024 season.
Program Background and Context
The upcoming season follows a period of significant achievement for the BYU football program. In 2025, the team secured an 11-1 record and competed in the Big 12 Championship. The program's recent success is marked by a 22-3 record over the last two seasons, which represents the fourth-best record in FBS during that timeframe.
The 2026 schedule includes several opponents that were highly ranked in the 2025 AP Top 25, including Notre Dame (No. 10), Utah (No. 14), and TCU (No. 25). Additionally, the BYU schedule features seven teams that participated in bowl games in 2025, including Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, TCU, and Utah.
Season Preparation
Preparations for the 2026 season began with spring practices that concluded on April 3, 2026. Following spring practices, the team moved into offseason workouts and summer strength and conditioning programs before reporting for fall camp in August. The team's first official game of the 2026 season is set for Sept. 5 against Utah Tech in Provo.
