BYU football is breaching the horizon as we are now officially one week away from the 2026 season. It's odd anticipating a year in which nearly every critical contributor from last year's excellent team is returning for one final season. Kalani Sitake rejected an offer from Penn State to stay in Provo, and seeing players like Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin, Bruce Mitchell, Isaiah Glasker, and Evan Johnson stick around for one last run is incredibly encouraging.
So I'm going to do something that I promised myself I would never do again: believe.
Believe that BYU football can build upon a proven track record of success. Believe that the Cougars are a playoff-caliber football team. Believe that with another year of experience, this edition of BYU football can do everything their predecessors acheived and more.
I believe this is a team that can win the Big 12 Conference. They're capable of representing the league in the College Football Playoff, either as an auto-bid or an at-large. This is a team who can stand toe-to-toe with anyone in the country and come out swinging.
Historically, this optimistic view has broken my heart, and consistently so. But this year feels different.
So I'm immortalizing this hope right here in this article. I'm capturing the exact moment I believed in this team -- hopefully it pays off.
BYU football 2026 predictions: game-by-game projections
Game 1: vs Utah Tech
This is a free space. BYU should walk all over FCS Utah Tech, despite the Trailblazers' head start in Week 0.
BYU football has never lost a game to an FCS opponent, and that doesn't change in 2026.
BYU Wins, 1-0.
Game 2: vs Arizona
Neither Kalani Sitake nor Arizona head coach Brent Brennan are happy to be opening Big 12 play in Week 2, but the Cougars have the benefit of home field advantage on their side.
Noah Fifita is the best quarterback in the Big 12 today, by my estimation, and the Wildcats won't go down easy. They may be one of the better teams in the conference, but BYU starts hot.
BYU Wins, 2-0.
Game 3: at Colorado State
The first road test for BYU, and against a lesser opponent for the second straight season (for those of you who remember the Cougars' trip to East Carolina last year). Colorado State is entering its first season as a member of the newly-reformed Pac-12, but they're no match for a BYU team with a head full of steam.
BYU Wins, 3-0.
Game 4: at TCU
This game is incredibly frightening for BYU, as its the first game they could reasonably be expected to lose. The Cougars are not often at their best in Fort Worth, dropping 11-44 the last time they entered the Frogs' house.
But last year proved that BYU holds the power against TCU, and they escape a brutal home battle in a nailbiter.
BYU Wins, 4-0.
Game 5: vs Iowa State
Iowa State was a perennial loser before Matt Campbell inspired a revolution. Campbell is with State College now, though, and it could take some time for the Cyclones to become a winner once more.
BYU hands their guests a lopsided party favor.
BYU Wins, 5-0.
Game 6: vs Notre Dame
Both teams have a lot to prove after being the final two teams snubbed from last year's 12-team playoff, and though BYU's home field advantage tempts me to pick the upset, Notre Dame enters this game prepared and disciplined.
BYU Loses, 5-1.
Game 7: at UCF
The first game of the second half of the season, and a pivotal one. It's important that the Cougars remain focused following an emotional game against Notre Dame -- win or lose -- and a road trip against UCF could either begin a downward spiral or set Kalani's crew back on track once more.
I expect the latter in an uncomfortable, ugly game in Orlando.
BYU Wins, 6-1.
Game 8: vs Arizona State
It's. A. Trap... Game. A road duel with a dangerous Utah team is right around the corner, and Kenny Dillingham's Sun Devils would be more than happy to play spoiler against a likely high-ranked BYU team looking forward to the Holy War.
BYU leans on its home field advantage and wins with relative comfort here.
BYU Wins, 7-1.
Game 9: at Utah
After losing nine straight in the series with Utah, BYU has flipped the script by winning the last three matchups. With newly-appointed head coach Morgan Scalley still working through some growing pains, Kalani Sitake pushes the streak to four.
BYU in a classically tight Holy War in SLC.
BYU Wins, 8-1.
Game 10: vs Baylor
Never too high, never too low, BYU football could be at risk of dropping an easy one against a well-coached Baylor team, even if this game is played in LaVell's house.
BYU handles the Bears, but they stand at risk of an upset.
BYU Wins, 9-1.
Game 11: at Kansas
Though BYU hasn't had much fun against Kansas since joining the Big 12 (currently 0-2 vs the Jayhawks as peers), this isn't the same KU team that stomped BYU in '23, nor is it the same scrappy bunch that knocked off 6th-ranked BYU in a streak of upsets back in '24.
BYU makes a statement and picks up their 10th win of the year.
BYU Wins, 10-1.
Game 12: vs Cincinnati
Cincinnati might be the worst team in the Big 12 Conference this season, and BYU will be licking their chops on senior day, excited to finish their season with an exclamation mark.
BYU Wins, 11-1.
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