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Sitake taking ‘humble and hungry’ approach into season of high expectations

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BYU Cougars coach Kalani Sitake, argues a call as the Cougars and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

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BYU football’s 2026 spring practices kicked off on Feb. 27, with the first session being held outdoors. This marks the start of preparations following a 12-2 season in 2025 that included a Big 12 championship game appearance and a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. The team is scheduled for 15 practices over the next five weeks, concluding on April 3 with an alumni game rather than a traditional spring scrimmage, allowing for more focused development time and reduced injury risk.

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Head coach Kalani Sitake expressed enthusiasm after the opening practice, highlighting the team’s offseason progress and a “humble and hungry” mindset amid high expectations as Big 12 contenders.

“We’re not in game shape yet, but we don’t have to be now. We’ll have to be in game shape by the time we get to fall camp, but they’re definitely stronger, and a lot of guys are bigger, so we’re going to keep working on that and trying to progress as a team.

“I think the goal is to make sure we’re a better team by the time we finish the 15 practices. I think we’ve got a good feel of things right now and got some great momentum,” said Sitake.

Other developments include final tweaks to the 2026 spring roster, such as position and number changes to build depth. Key storylines emphasize integrating transfers, like linebacker Cade Uluave (from Cal, with 97 tackles in 2025), tight end Walker Lyons (USC) and wide receiver Kyler Kasper (Oregon), alongside early-enrolled freshmen from a top-25 recruiting class. The team is adapting to defensive staff changes post-Jay Hill (now at Michigan), with new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga, safeties coach DeMario Warren and cornerback coach Lewis Walker all focusing on continuity and growth.

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Question of the week: What are the three big storylines one can expect to emerge from spring football after a 12-win season?

Jay Drew: There always seems to be plenty of storylines regarding the BYU football program, whether inside the season or in what was supposed to be a rather quiet offseason after last year’s drama involving quarterback Jake Retzlaff.

Then the bombshell news of receiver Parker Kingston’s arrest on a felony rape charge hit the program, and suddenly, there’s plenty to talk about.

On the football side, how BYU will replace its leading receiver from last year is the main storyline in camp, which opened last Friday. Will Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper step into that role seamlessly, or will guys such as Cody Hagen and JoJo Phillips step up?

Another storyline is the defensive coaching change, as Kelly Poppinga replaces Jay Hill and promises to keep things mostly as they are, with a few minor tweaks. Demario Warren and Lewis Walker have been brought in to coach the defensive backs, and a big topic will be how they will replace starters Mory Bamba and Tanner Wall in the secondary.

A third key storyline revolves around the offensive line, which welcomes back starters Andrew Gentry and Bruce Mitchell, but will have to replace Austin Leausa, Weylin Lapuaho and Isaiah Jatta. Offensive line coach TJ Woods has been a godsend for head coach Kalani Sitake, and I’m sure he will get the newcomers such as Zak Yamauchi, Jr Sia and Paki Finau up to speed as quickly as possible.

A strong offensive line will be the key to the offense’s success in 2026, as returning QB Bear Bachmeier and returning running back LJ Martin are in line to be the big playmakers for offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s group.

Dick Harmon: Spring football is all about training and maintaining as the injured heal. This spring practice is no different for Kalani Sitake’s crew.

The late athletic director Glen Tuckett often told me the biggest challenge in sports is to sustain success, keep the good things going and build on what you’ve accomplished. He said to coast, take for granted or expect success without continued hard work and sacrifice is a recipe for disaster. To me, this speaks specifically to what Sitake needs to do this spring and fall after back-to-back 11-win seasons.

This year, he’ll have the benefit of beginning the season with an expected head start as a ranked Top 25 team. To launch from that platform is a luxury BYU hasn’t had since 2022 (No. 25), and before that, it was 2009. Last year, despite an 11-win season and the Alamo Bowl win over Colorado, the Jake Reztlaff departure prevented BYU from being ranked preseason (also receiving votes status). So building, maintaining and healing are definite priorities this spring.

I think the biggest storyline for me is what Sitake will get out of Kelly Poppinga and his reorganized staff after Jay Hill left for Michigan. Hill simply redirected BYU football during his time. He gave the program a huge boost in recruiting and scheme. Poppinga needs to take that momentum and build on it. A huge disappointment for BYU football would be if the Cougar defense slid backward in 2026.

With so many returning starters and key players this spring and fall, I think pundits will give Sitake the benefit of the doubt and set his team off on solid footing for a big run in the Big 12 and national rankings. The big challenge is to simply not blow it.

Cougar tales

BYU basketball was outrebounded in a road loss to West Virginia, continuing struggles since starter Richie Saunders had a season-ending knee injury. The Cougars have now lost eight of their last 12. Here is our coverage of the challenges for Kevin Young’s squad:

  • Awful rebounding led to a loss to West Virginia (Jay Drew)
  • What WV coach said after beating Cougs (Jackson Payne)

BYU baseball went 2-2 in a series in Southern California, and details are here. Lee Cummard has women’s basketball heading to the Big 12 championships on a winning note. The Cougar men finished fifth at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lubbock over the weekend, with several men winning championship titles. The Cougar women finished second to host Texas Tech with individual titles.

Cougar women finished eighth at the Big 12 swimming championships with 12 school records, while the men finished fifth.

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Comments from Deseret News readers:

The demise of the Y may be the disaster of the college hoops season. We can post on and on but none will have answers. No, the loss of Saunders can’t be the “reason.” Losing Saunders is a great loss for many reasons but not the “one” reason. A concern I’ve had for years is the boatload of assistants that teams now have. It’s embarrassing to see so many assistants, more than players on the floor. What do they do??? With a HC and a boatload of assistants running into each other, one would think SOMEBODY would have a solution to the hoops problem at the Y or at any other school in a downward spiral. University presidents and AD should be ashamed to have lost control of the size of a coaching staff. The same is true for football. The Y hoops players appear to be in a mood of, “Let’s just get this season over and get out of here.”

— Zyme

The coaches may well have lost the team. Something is not right. The continued first-half funk is not a slow-start syndrome, it is malaise, complacency, lack of buy-in, jealousy, why bother because I am a role player, let the stars take care of it?? Or just a big-time fail in recruiting and the nag of injuries? Or all the above.

Another very apparent flaw is a lack of defense. Being out of position, losing your assignment or just being plain lost. If you can’t coach “D,” KY, then get an assistant that can.

Third. BYU is rubbing up hard against elevated expectations and the ensuing letdown. BYU has 20 wins ... good enough in the Pope era but no longer, especially when you now hand out money to play. Time for a rethink and retool.

— RAFU

Up next

  • March 5 | 12:30 p.m. | women’s basketball | Utah at Big 12 tournament
  • March 5 | 3 p.m. | baseball | Cal Baptist
  • March 5 | 6 p.m. | softball | @ Arizona
  • March 6 | TBA| men’s tennis | @ Boise Invitational
  • March 6 | TBA | diving | NCAA qualifier, Flagstaff
  • March 6 | 3 p.m. | softball | @ Arizona
  • March 6 | 7 p.m. | gymnastics | Iowa State
  • March 7 | noon | softball | @ Arizona
  • March 7 | noon | women’s tennis | @ Utah
  • March 7 | 1 p.m. | baseball | Cal Baptist
  • March 7 | 2 p.m. | women’s volleyball | UNLV
  • March 7 | 3 p.m. | gymnastics | West Virginia
  • March 7 | 4 p.m. | women’s volleyball | Utah Tech
  • March 7 | 8 p.m. | women’s volleyball | Jessup, Rocklin, California
  • March 7 | 7 p.m. | men’s basketball | Texas Tech

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