This will be BYU head coach Kalani Sitake’s tenth season at BYU (which is wild because it still feels to me like he’s BYU’s "new coach"). Coach Sitake is 72-43 at BYU and has been with BYU through ups and downs -- but thankfully mostly ups. That has been in no small part because of his coaching ability in leading the Cougars year in and year out.
When looking at nine seasons of college football, I decided to keep it simple. There’s nothing simpler about football than a team’s record, the points they score, and the yards they gain to get those points. The yards are from passing, rushing, special teams returns, and defensive yards like interception returns. The points come in just as many ways.
In 2016, BYU gained 6,578 yards and scored 384 points, averaging 506 yards and 29.5 points per game. This was good enough for a 9-4 record.
In 2017, the Cougars struggled to score, gaining 5,246 yards and scoring 228 points. This average of 403.5 yards and 17.5 points per game led to them to a 4-9 record, the first losing season under Coach Sitake.
In 2018, Coach Sitake’s team improved, gaining nearly the same yardage with 5,482 yards but improved tremendously with 366 points, a 138 point increase from 2017. Their average of 421.6 yards and 28.1 points per game led them to a 7-6 record and six game improvement.
In 2019, BYU improved their yardage by nearly 1,200 yards, gaining 6,734 but their points stayed nearly the same with 370. Their average of 518 yards and 28.4 points per game, left them with the same record as the year before.
In 2020, the Cougars put it all together. Their 6,751 yards was roughly the same as 2019, but their 522 points was an 152 point improvement. Their average of 562.5 yards and 43.5 points per game led them to an 11-1 record, their first year with only one loss since 1996.
In 2021, Coach Sitake’s team stayed in the ballpark of 2020, with 6,484 yards and 430 points, an average of 498.7 yards and 33.1 points per game. It was against tougher competition, with BYU playing and beathing the most power conference teams ever on their schedule and went 10-3.
In 2022, BYU gained 6,302 yards and scored 405 points. This put them just a little above the total average of the all their games since 2016 with 484.7 yards and 31.1 points per game. BYU rode this to 8-5 in their last year of independence.
In 2023, the Cougars struggled in their first year in a power conference. They had the fewest yards ever under Coach Sitake and the second fewest points with 4,629 yards and 277 points. Averaging 385.7 yards and 23.1 points per game, led them to a 5-7 record, the second losing season of the past decade.
In 2024, Coach Sitake’s team broke the record set by the 2021 team for the most power conference teams played and beaten by BYU in a single season. They had 6,050 yards and 405 points, averaging 465.3 yards and 31.1 points per game as they went 11-2 and should’ve been in the playoff (You’ll never convince me SMU deserved it more than BYU).
Quarterbacks
Experience at quarterback has been huge for BYU’s success under Coach Sitake. When the Cougars are starting a quarterback in his second or more straight seasons, they are 37-14. When they’re starting a quarterback who had not started the previous season, they are 35-29. So, Bear Bachmeier, Aron Rodrick, and Kalani Sitake will be fighting against some odds this season.
Above Average
In the 115 games of the Kalani Sitake Era, BYU averages 471.7 yards and 29.4 points per game. In seasons when they are below both of those averages, they are 16-22. In seasons they are above both, they are 29-9. When they are above at least one or more they are 47-17. Lastly, under this coach the Cougars average an 8-5 season with a bowl victory. His mentor, national champion, BYU, and college football legend LaVell Edwards averaged about 9-3 a season.
Gotta Have Em
Coach Sitake’s teams have been very good at finding the necessary yards and points in whatever way they can, and not relying on only a particular facet every season. In 2016, they ran the ball and returned picks for a lot of yards, and went 9-4. In 2021, they relied heavily on the running game. In 2020, the Cougars were very balanced in passing and running the football. In 2024, BYU was solid at passing and running the football, but is probably 9-4 or 8-5 without having the best special teams unit in college football.
Starting on Saturday, whether it is L.J. Martin running the football, Bear Bachmeier passing it to Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston returning it, the defense led by Jack Kelly, or Will Ferrin putting it through the uprights, BYU will find ways to get the yards and points they need to have a winning season and continue to play at a high level in this era of Cougar football.