Things appeared to be going all too well for the upcoming BYU football season despite the countless haymakers thrown their way over the past season. A major setback has struck Kelly Poppinga's defense as star safety Faletau Satuala suffered a fractured foot during a recent workout -- he could be sidelined for as long as eight weeks, according to Deseret News' Jay Drew.
"According to a source close to the situation, Satuala is currently in a cast and has been moving around campus in a knee scooter. The source said Satuala 'most likely' will not be available to practice when the Cougars begin preseason training camp on Aug. 5. Players report to camp on Aug. 4."
Satuala was honored as a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America following a spectacular sophomore season. Now, as a junior with expectations greater than ever, Satuala's setback could cost him valuable minutes at a critical position.
Here's the good news: BYU football's season-opener against Utah Tech doesn't kick off for another 12 weeks, allowing Satuala plenty of time to recover during the projected 8-week stretch, plus a few buffer weeks for good measure.
A fracture is no small injury, however, and if Satuala endures any setbacks in his rehabilitation, it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss the season-opening battle against the Trailblazers on September 6th, or the conference opener in week 2 against an exceptional Arizona Wildcat passing game, led by veteran gunslinger Noah Fifita.
The Cougars' leading tackler on last season's squad, Satuala is one of the many returning producers holding Poppinga's defense together despite the exit of Jay Hill, who will join Kyle Whittingham this season in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
BYU football approaches a season of tremendous expectations. At the end of last season, head coach Kalani Sitake declined an offer to take over the Penn State program. Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin return in the backfield for the Cougars after pushing one of the Big 12's most potent rushing attacks in 2025.
BYU is knocking on the door of the College Football Playoffs -- a promised land that keeps changing the locks the moment it appears the Cougars are ready to enter -- and it will likely take an undefeated regular season and/or a victory in the conference championship game to breach the threshold of the national championship bracket in 2027. Keeping a talent like Satuala healthy and available will be critical down the stretch for a team that, while deep on the defensive side, needs every advantage it can get.
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