This stat proves BYU football is ready to compete for a CFP berth, Big 12 title

It isn't easy to win in college football, especially at the Power Four level, but if you could create a program with all the right attributes to directly impact winning at this level, you'd find a team that looks eerily similar to BYU football.

After fending off a tantalizing offer from Penn State, head coach Kalani Sitake is not the only one returning for another season at BYU. Of all 138 FBS programs across the country, the Cougars are ranked third in the nation for returning snap percentage, or the percentage of snaps that returning players participated in a season ago.

In simple terms, BYU football is running it back with many of last season's critical on-field talent, and that is a rare commodity in the world of college football.

Continuity has much more to do with winning than recruiting rankings, stars on player profiles, or the level of perceived talent at a team's disposal. For reference, UMass, which ranked 136 of 136 FBS programs in roster continuity a season ago, finished 0-12 and was largely considered the worst team in the country.

It's not just that key players from last year's 12-2 BYU team will be suiting up for the team again -- though that is inherently valuable in this case -- it's the quality of athletes that BYU footbal will trot out in 2026 that only makes their 3rd place returning snap percentage even more potent.

Key returning players for BYU football in 2026

QB Bear Bachmeier
RB LJ Martin
WR Jojo Phillips
C Bruce Mitchell
OL Andrew Gentry
CB Evan Johnson
CB Therrian Alexander
LB Isaiah Glasker
S Raider Damuni
S Faletau Satuala
DL Keanu Tanuvasa
DL Hunter Clegg

That is an absolutely loaded list of returning players, especially in a year that saw BYU lose its defensive coordinator to Michigan. The Cougars' ship held strong, and they promise to be a force in the greater picture of college football in 2026.

Now, does this percentage alone mean that BYU football is predestined to reach college football nirvana? No, if you'll recall predestination is not a fundamental belief of the LDS faith, and it certainly shouldn't be the belief of any Big 12 football fan. This league is chaos, with unpredictability being its only predictable quality. Counting chickens before they hatch in Big 12 country is like closing your eyes, spinning around, and tossing a lawn dart in your living room -- you're almost guaranteed to find yourself disappointed, or worse yet, the target of a lawsuit.

But there's reason for optimism, and a renewed hope that this edition of Kalani Sitake's crew will have what it takes to breach the exclusive College Football Playoff.

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