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 enjoy your BYU fandom for a moment.
While BYU's lopsided loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game was a dispiriting letdown, it shouldn't prevent Cougar fans from realizing where Kalani Sitake's team sits right now and how incredibly bright the program's future is.
BYU has knocked on the College Football Playoffs door for two straight seasons
Last year the Cougars finished conference play with an 10-2 record and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings. This year they went 11-1 through conference play and rose as high as No. 7 in the CFP standings. While the Cougars get punished and disrespected by the CFP and its media shill, ESPN, for any missteps, at least BYU has been in the conversation.
At some point in the near future BYU will go from knocking on the door to kicking it in. The more the corrupt cartel of the CFP selection committee, AP voters, and ESPN have to acknowledge BYU's presence, the wider that door opens. The Cougars aren't there yet -- and getting dominated twice by Texas Tech doesn't help their case -- but Kalani Sitake's team is now a regular part of the CFP discussion.
Unprecedented institutional support
Senior leaders of BYU's administration and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appear to be all-in on fielding competitive sports teams.
Coach Kalani Sitake was recently locked-up with a lucrative, market-appropriate contract that should keep him in Provo for years to come. His agreement with BYU's brass reportedly included increased funding for his staff plus an additional $10-$15 million in NIL support.
Going in to next year BYU's football staff will have access to unprecedented levels of funding, which should enable them to land top talent like never before in program history.
The step-change in high school recruiting
Speaking of landing top talent, BYU's class of 2026 is likely the most talented class in the program's storied history. The Cougars class of 2026 currently boasts eight 4-star recruits and is ranked No. 21 in the country. To put that in perspective, from 2022 to 2025 BYU's recruiting ranks were 56, 58, 44, and 43. After years of good-but-not-great recruiting results, the Cougars suddenly have the No. 2 class in the Big 12.
BYU is also cleaning up in the Beehive State when it comes to high school recruiting with six of the Top 11 talents in the state committing to the Cougars.
Yes, the loss to Texas Tech was a setback, but it wasn't fatal.
BYU is 22-4 over the last two years, has been in the Top 10 in the CFP at some point in both seasons, and has all the institutional support it needs to be a perennial contender.
The future has never been brighter for BYU football.