BYU Sports: Is this the ‘Golden Age’ for the Cougars?

Mar 15, 2021; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Members of the BYU women’s team and coach Diljeet Taylor celebrate after winning the team title during the NCAA Cross County Championships at the OSU Cross Country Course. Team members include Anna Camp, Kaela Cleary, Aubrey Fretheway, Lexy Halladay, Haley Johnston, Sophie Lasswell, McKenna Lee, Anna Martin, Carolina McLeskey, Rachel Morrin, Sara Musselman and Whittni Orton. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

One can make a strong argument that BYU Sports have never been in a better position.

BYU Sports will be playing in the Big 12 in two years. BYU football, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s cross country and women’s cross country are all ranked nationally in the Top 20. BYU men’s and women’s basketball are both looking at having historic seasons as well as men’s volleyball, both track teams and gymnastics. Finally, BYU athletes everywhere are appearing to be winning in the NIL.

In other words, it is a great time to be a BYU fan.

Looking at BYU’s current success, there probably isn’t a time where the entire athletic program has been as solid as it currently is. There have been individual moments where a certain team has been better than they currently are, however, across the board there have never been this many teams performing at such a high level.

Perhaps the best part is that it isn’t like this is a year where there are a bunch of seniors that will perform and then leave after this year, that isn’t happening. In other words, this isn’t 2010-11 BYU basketball where everyone knew there would be a drop off with Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery leaving the team the next year.

This is different.

BYU Football is being led by two sophomore quarterbacks and junior and sophomore receivers. In fact, the Cougars only have one senior starting. BYU women’s basketball is a young talented squad that will miss Paisley Harding, but still be really good for years to come. Both cross country teams are being led by underclassmen and women’s soccer is already playing mostly sophomore and junior players. The list goes on and on.

Normally, at this moment I would say something like, “This won’t last forever, so enjoy it”, but with the positive outlook of things, I can honestly say this is the golden age of BYU sports, and we will see how long it lasts!

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