You're not dreaming. BYU football finally kicks off this weekend against FCS foe Utah Tech at home in beautiful LaVell Edwards Stadium.
And before your blood pressure begins to spike, please keep in mind that the Cougars, who approach a season with tremendous expectations and a roster capable of reaching the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington and perhaps even a berth in the College Football Playoff, couldn't have asked for a more favorable tune-up game to open the season.
Utah Tech was horrific in their week zero matchup against the reigning FCS National Champions, Montana State, where they were routed in a 54-0 shutout.
With no disrespect to Montana State, BYU is a better football team. They should have no problem stifling the Trailblazers in Provo this weekend, and should have plenty of freedom to field a variety of lineups and shake the rust off of a veteran roster.
Among the names to watch is LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and a power back who refuses to go down. Martin was named the preseason favorite to repeat as OPOY, and is poised to serve as the workhorse of this BYU offense. If he can repeat his production from a season ago, he'll be in a strong position to challenge Jamaal Williams' school record of total rushing yards.
Bear Bachmeier has the benefit of a full year to learn Aaron Rodericks' offensive system, which has unlocked his game beyond what we saw in his freshman year, according to reports from practice. Furthermore, Bachmeier slimmed down over the offseason, trimming out some what made him an immensely challenging quarterback to bring down in favor of a sleeker, more well-balanced model. As a sophomore, Bachmeier carries the burden of leading what should be a very competitive BYU offense.
Kelly Poppinga is the final name at the top of my list. Following in Jay Hill's footsteps is not a minor task. Hill revolutionized the Cougars' defense and baffled quarterbacks from across the Big 12. There's good reason why Kyle Whittingham recruited Hill to join him in Ann Arbor -- Jay Hill is an exceptional defensive coach.
Still, BYU lost minimal production from last year's stout defense, despite their DC's departure. That's a major vote of confidence in Poppinga's capabilities in Hill's stead, and that should be reassuring.
How to watch BYU Football vs Utah Tech
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MT
Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
Channel: ESPN+
Streaming Link: FuboTV
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