Expectations for BYU football haven’t been as high as they are right now in many, many seasons. The Cougars are coming off an impressive 11-2 season, a No. 13 national ranking, and will be returning a host of starters and contributors from last year’s squad.
Here’s a way-too-early game-by-game projection of how Kalani Sitake’s squad will fare in 2025:
Portland State (home) - Blowout win
This will not be a repeat of BYU’s underwhelming, even distressing, 2017 20-6 victory over Portland State. The Cougars will be up multiple touchdowns at halftime and cruise to an easy tune-up win.
Stanford (home) - Comfortable win
The Cardinal's once proud football legacy is a thing of the past. Stanford is projected to essentially mirror last year’s 3-9 record. It will be disorienting for them to travel to Provo and play in front of fans.
East Carolina (away) - Close win
Frankly, I don’t like this game one bit. I live in North Carolina and know ECU relishes the opportunity to knock off big-time programs. Some of us still have football-related PTSD from 2022 when ECU beat the Cougars 27-24 in Provo. BYU will win a close one this year, but this game makes me really, really nervous.
Colorado (away) - Comfortable win
BYU blew the Buffs out of the water in the Alamo Bowl last year, and that was with Colorado featuring Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. The Cougars were more physical, athletic, talented, and better coached. While it’s not easy to win on the road in the Big 12, BYU has Colorado’s number.
West Virginia (home) - Close loss
Coach Rich Rodriguez returns to West Virginia this year after the firing of the team’s former head coach Neal Brown. The Mountaineers have gone 11-7 in Big 12 play over the last two years and are always a physical, tough team. Maybe I’m still shook by how badly West Virginia physically dominated BYU in a 37-7 beatdown in Morgantown in 2023, but I think the Cougars will suffer their first setback of the season in this one.
Arizona (away) - Comfortable win
The Wildcats struggled in coach Brent Brennan’s first season, going just 2-7 in Big 12 play. While quarterback Noah Fifita returns, Arizona has lost what has been called “a mass exodus” of players, and their roster churn is among the highest in college football. The Wildcats could struggle in 2025.
Utah (home) - Close win
The Holy War seemingly always comes down to the last possession. BYU is riding a two-game winning streak against the Utes and is playing at home, so they’ll come out on top again this year.
Iowa State (away) - Close loss
Call this a “schedule loss”. BYU will be spent after the emotion of the Utah game the previous week, then have to travel to Iowa State to face a Cyclones team that went 11-3 last year, made the Big 12 championship game, and finished the season ranked No. 15. Oh, and Iowa State will be coming off a bye week. That’s a recipe for a loss.
Texas Tech (away) - Close loss
The Red Raiders should be among the teams competing for the Big 12 championship this year. Texas Tech currently has the No. 2 overall transfer class in 2025 with a whopping 13 4-star commits. This is a talented team playing at home, and the Cougars will drop their second straight game in this one.
TCU (home) - Comfortable win
After two straight losses and facing the prospect of slipping out of contention for the Big 12 crown, the Cougars will wax the Horned Frogs in Provo to right the ship.
Cincinnati (away) - Blowout win
Cincinnati went 3-6 in the Big 12 last year and doesn’t have the depth to keep up with a hungry BYU team this late in the season. While road wins are almost never easy, this one will be for the Cougars.
UCF (home) - Blowout win
Entry into the Big 12 title game will come down to the last week of the season. Sitting on a 5-3 conference record, BYU needs a convincing win at home to close out the year and keep their Big 12 playoff game hopes alive. UCF has gone just 5-13 in two seasons of Big 12 play and will struggle again in 2025, offering BYU a perfect way to close out the season with a bang.