As the BYU football team kicks off its 2025 season this Saturday, the outcome against Portland State seems predetermined to be an easy BYU victory (if it's not, heaven help us all!). Here's how the rest of the season will play out for Kalani Sitake's squad on a game-by-game basis:
Portland State - Blowout win (1-0)
While some of us still have PTSD from BYU's less-than-impressive 20-6 victory over Portland State back in 2017, BYU is in a completely different stratosphere today compare to then. Kalani Sitake is known to take the foot off the gas pedal and not embarrass opponents, and he'll do the same here.
Final Score: BYU 38, Portland State 13
Stanford - Comfortable win (2-0)
The once-proud Stanford Cardinal of Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey has fallen on hard times in recent years, failing to exceed four wins in any of their last six seasons. Former Stanford commits LJ Martin, Bear Bachmeier, and Tiger Bachmeier will all have big days as they face the team from their past.
Final Score: BYU 27, Stanford 17
At East Carolina - Close loss (2-1)
Yes, you read that right - I'm predicting BYU will stumble in Greenville, North Carolina. This has nothing to do with analytics, and more to do with the "vibe" when the Cougars play in the Southeast. I live in Greensboro, North Carolina and can personally attest to the fact that BYU generally lays eggs when playing in Appalachia.
I went to the sloppy loss at Virginia in 2013. In 2017 the Cougars lost 33-17 at East Carolina in the stadium they're now returning to this year. The brutal 2020 loss at Coastal Carolina still haunts BYU fans to this day, the only blemish in their 11-1 season. I went to the unimpressive win at Georgia Southern in 2021 and fretted as BYU nursed a 3-point lead well into the third quarter. In 2022 BYU got blown out by Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia then lost at home a week later to East Carolina - again.
I have no statistics to back up my claim that BYU will lose at ECU. It's just a feeling after enduring too many bad BYU performances in this neck of the woods.
Final Score: ECU 17, BYU 16
At Colorado - Comfortable win (3-1)
Jay Hill proved in last year's Alamo Bowl that he can coach circles around Colorado's staff, and that's when the Buffs had Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Those weapons are gone this year, but BYU still has Jay Hill.
Final Score: BYU 24, Colorado 16
West Virginia - Comfortable win (4-1)
The Mountaineers are traveling across the country for a Friday night 10:30 PM Eastern Time game against the Vampire Cougars? 'Nuff said.
Final Score: BYU 31, West Virginia 17
At Arizona - Close win (5-1)
It's never easy winning on the road in the Big 12. While many pundits predict Arizona will end up toward the bottom of the conference standings, they still have quarterback Noah Fifita who has both talent and experience. The Wildcats are breaking in a new offensive coordinator this season, and the team should be gelling by the time the Cougars visit Tucson.
Final Score: BYU 23, Arizona 20
Utah - Loss (5-2)
Ugh. I hate making this prediction, but I think this is the week that starting a freshman quarterback in Bear Bachmeier costs the Cougs. Utah's defense is legit and will force 2-3 turnovers in this dog fight. BYU's defense will rise up, too, in a low-scoring game where too many mistakes doom the Cougars.
Final Score: Utah 17, BYU 13
At Iowa State - Loss (5-3)
Still smarting from the Utah loss, BYU travels to Iowa State to face one of the best teams in the Big 12. It's another learning experience for BYU's young quarterback in another low-scoring slobberknocker.
Final Score: Iowa State 21, BYU 16
At Texas Tech - Close win (6-3)
After a much-needed bye week, BYU gets its best win of the season on the road in Lubbock. While many analysts have Texas Tech at the top of the Big 12 power rankings because of their No. 2 transfer class in the country, I think it's going to be harder for this team to come together as a unit than most people realize. Football is a team game; a bloody, beautiful ballet. It's hard to learn the dance moves with a bunch of transfers, and I think Texas Tech is beatable.
Final Score: BYU 24, Texas Tech 23
TCU - Loss (6-4)
Coming off a big win the week before, the Cougars return home only to lay an egg against TCU. Quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for 6,157 yards with 42 touchdowns over the last two seasons for the Horned Frogs, and he picks apart BYU's secondary in a deflating loss.
Final Score: TCU 34, BYU 27
At Cincinnati - Blowout win (7-4)
BYU's defense redeems itself from the previous week against TCU. Bear Bachmeier now has 10 starts under his belt and he navigates the BYU offense to perfection. The Cougars offense pounds the run to set up the pass and obliterates the Bearcats.
Final Score: BYU 38, Cincinnati 17
UCF - Comfortable win (8-4)
The Cougars have one game left to try to get to eight wins and a better bowl game. UCF travels to the elevation of Provo with just four wins and will be ineligible to make a bowl game. BYU comfortably handles a UCF squad that's ready to call it a season.
Final Score: BYU 27, UCF 13
In the end, the 2025 BYU Cougars will go 8-4 in an up-and-down season behind a freshman quarterback. But this season will prepare the Cougars for a massive year in 2026 as Bear Bachmeier makes the sophomore leap and leads the Cougars to the College Football Playoffs.
The foundation will be laid in 2025. The mansion will be built in 2026.