Fewer than 90 days remain until BYU starts another football season. It will be the 11th campaign for the Cougars under head coach and one of BYU's favorite sons, Kalani Sitake. While the backbone of BYU football is well known, as are some of his players, new faces may be the story of the 2026 season for the Cougars. Let's see who the starters will be for BYU!
Quarterback: There are no controversies or surprises here. Bear Bachmeier will be in his second season as BYU's field general. The mythical Bear, who threw for over 2,700 yards and 14 touchdowns, and ran for over 500 more and 11 touchdowns, is back at Brigham Young! He will look to continue to rewrite the BYU record books in 2026. The guy backing up Bear is Treyson Bourguet, the man who began his college career at Western Michigan. The senior from Tucson, Arizona, will be Bachmeier's backup and an extra coach on BYU's sidelines. The Cougars are set to rock and roll at quarterback.
Running Back: RB1 is LJ Martin. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, who ran for over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns, will look to do to the rushing records what Bear is trying to do to the quarterbacking records. Martin had a lot of wear on his high miles last year, so relievers at running back will be big, too. Sione Moa, Preston Rex, and Jovesa Damuni, who have all shown moments of brilliance. They will look to make the most of every opportunity to help Martin. BYU will likely be a run-first offense, and that will favor this solid squad of running backs, too.
Wide Receiver: Maybe the position with the most uncertainty for BYU this year. Veteran legend Chase Roberts is gone. A player who played a lot but is in nasty legal trouble is rightly gone. BYU recently lost one of the guys they were planning on having replace those two in Codey Hagen. Hagen's medical retirement from football leaves BYU with lots of questions in the receivers' room. Oregon transfer Kyle Kasper and veteran JoJo Phillips will likely be the starters. They'll have a room full of hungry young guys with familiar names on their heels. Tiger Bachmeier (Bear's older brother) Tei Nacua, (the brother of Kai, Isaiah, Samson, and Puka), Legend Glasker (Isaiah's cousin), and Trey Roberts (younger brother of Chase Roberts) all will look to make a name for themselves to equal their families.
Tight End: While it will be tough to replace Carsen Ryan, who is now playing pro football in Ohio, USC transfer Walker Lyons looks to be up to the challenge. The older brother of a superstar quarterback recruit who is committed to play at BYU after his mission, Walker played in 23 games at USC, where he caught 20 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He will be supported by Noah Moeaki and in goal line situations, Jacob Nye.
Offensive Line: The biggest names returning on the line are center Bruce Mitchell and right tackle Andrew Gentry, who found refuge from a dumpster fire by coming to Provo. Both were key cogs in the team that went 12-2 and will be just as important again in 2026. Kyle Sfarcioc, an interior lineman who transferred from Southern Utah, and helped their fantastic running game from 2025, will likely start, too. Another transfer who will make an immediate impact is tackle Paki Finau. Finau transferred from Washington and is slated to be the critical left tackle, covering Bear Bachmeier's blindside. Trevin Ostler will likely be the Cougars other interior lineman to round out BYU's starters in the trenches.
Defensive Line: BYU has some great talent returning to their defensive front. Nusi Taumoepeau who has been listed as linebacker will likely be an edge rusher since the Cougars linebacker room is so loaded and some depth is needed at defensive end. He'll be opposite of Bodie Schoonover, a senior who will bring experience to the BYU pass rush. Keanu Tanuvasa will be in the middle, with last year's highly sought after transfer Justin Kirkland. Kirkland who was injured in 2025, will look to stop up the interior with Tanuvasa. Hunter Clegg will look to provide some depth to the BYU defensive trenches.
Linebackers: The Cougars will look to have one of the most formidable back sevens in college football this year. They are so strong with Isaiah Glasker, Cal transfer Cade Uluave, and Siale Esera that they can have Nusi Taumoepeau on the edge and Kansas State transfer Jake Clifton provide depth. Glasker could and should have an all-American worthy season and be the heart and soul of this defense. all-American-worthy
Defensive Backs: Despite losing Tanner Wall, the secondary may be the strongest unit on the team. Evan Alexander, Falatau Satuala, and Therrian Alexander III are likely all-Big 12 with the potential to be all-Americans. The fourth starter, Raider Damuni is poised to be an impact player as well. Coaches Demario Warren and Lewis Walker have a lot of talent to work with in the secondary as Kelly Poppinga looks to keep the elite BYU defense rolling in his first year as coordinator.
Kicker: The special teams will have tougher time this season as Coach Poppinga moves over to the defense and the Cougs have to replace all-American Will Ferrin at kicker. Senior Matthias Dunn and freshman Ian Sanches will battle to succeed Ferrin, with Dunn's experience giving him the likely edge to be the Week 1 starter.
Punter: Things are similar as far as a punter goes in replacing someone who did a good job last year. It's tougher in that Braden Gilbert and Fuller Schultz, the two leading candidates, are both freshman. Justin Ena and the the BYU special teams have their work cut out for them this year. The unit which helped BYU win 11 and 12 games in the previous two seasons will have to settle in quickly to stay a viable weapon for the Cougars.
Returner: A familiar name is forecasted to be BYU's primary return man now that Cody Hagen has medically retired. Bear Bachmeier's older brother, Tiger Bachmeier, will have a huge opportunity this season. He'll get shots as a return man and as a wide receiver catching passes from his brother. He should be an asset for a program that has emphasized special teams with much success the past two seasons.
QB: Bear Bachmeier
RB: LJ Martin
RB: Sione Moa
WR: JoJo Phillips
WR: Kyle Kasper
TE: Walker Lyons
LT: Paki Finau
LG: Trevin Ostler
C: Bruce Mitchell
RG: Kyle Sfarcioc
RT: Andrew Gentry
DE: Bodie Schoonover
DT: Justin Kirkland
DT: Keanu Tanuvasa
DE: Nusi Taumeopeau
LB: Cade Uluave
LB: Siale Esera
LB: Isaiah Glasker
CB: Evan Johnson
S: Faletau Satuala
S: Raider Damuni
CB: Therrian Alexander III
K: Matthias Dunn
P: Fuller Shurtz
R: Tiger Bachmeier
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