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Too Optimistic Tuesday: BYU ingested the "rat poison" at UCF, but the dosage wasn't fatal

Just when Kalani Sitake's BYU Cougars earn national respect coming off a win against Notre Dame, they squander it with a brutal loss at UCF. While this loss stings, it isn't fatal.
ByD.A. Sweat
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BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake coaches in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and BYU Cougars at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Nov. 22, 2025.
BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake coaches in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and BYU Cougars at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Nov. 22, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Welcome to Too Optimistic Tuesday! This weekly column reminds BYU fans why they should count their many blessings and have an abundance of hope.

Every season in every sport is full of both ups and downs. This column will amplify the "ups" and help fans quickly recover from the "downs". So put on your blue-tinted goggles and just indulge me in some hyperbole while enjoying your BYU fandom for a moment.

BYU ate the "rat poison" Kalani Sitake warned about, but it wasn't fatal

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake borrows from another coaching legend in Nick Saban when referring to the hype and praise that come with a lofty ranking as "rat poison."

This "rat poison" was scattered everywhere in Provo in the week leading up to the trip to UCF. After all, the Cougars were coming off a massive win over Notre Dame while still basking in the glow of ESPN's College GameDay. BYU rocketed up to No. 2 in the country with the win, and coach Sitake warned his team of the pride that could follow.

He warned the Cougars of the danger.

Well -- and DANG IT! -- the Cougars ate the rat poison.

BYU enjoyed exactly seven days of national respect, then fumbled it away with an extremely poor showing at UCF. Call it rat poison. Call it poor tackling, poor running, poor coaching, poor discipline, or whatever you prefer. The reality is the team that made the trip to Orlando last week was simply not the same team that dominated Notre Dame in Provo the week before.

But the dosage of rat poison wasn't fatal

Okay, the purpose of this column is to provide a sense of optimism about BYU sports, especially in a week like this one. This loss will hurt, no doubt, and BYU's path to the Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoffs appearance just became much more difficult. But those goals are still completely in play for the Cougars.

Kalani Sitake's squad may have ingested some rat poison against UCF, but it wasn't a fatal amount.

Bear
Oct 24, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) is tackled during the fourth quarteragainst the Central Florida Knights at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

At 6-1 on the season and 3-1 in Big 12 play, the now-No. 8 ranked Cougars still have a clear path to the Big 12 title game.

The biggest challenge, obviously, will be the November 7th Holy War against rival Utah. A victory in that game would give the Cougars what today would be a second Top 10 win and perfectly position BYU for an appearance in the Big 12 title game.

And based on BYU's history over the past three years, there's no reason to doubt they can potentially run the table from here, reach the Big 12 title game, and still secure a CFP at-large bid even if they falter in the conference title game.

Yes, it stinks that it only took seven lousy days for BYU to eat the rat poison as they reveled in their new stature as a respected, legitimate college football powerhouse. After laying an egg against UCF, the Cougars now begin the arduous climb of reclaiming the respect of the SEC and Big Ten homers.

But the good news is, the Cougars only faltered in Orlando.

And that falter wasn't fatal.

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