Here’s what BYU has proven us by 3 video games in 2026 season – Deseret News

And similar to that, the primary quarter of probably the most anticipated season in BYU soccer historical past is over. The Cougars have already performed three of their 12 regular-season video games.

Sure, it’s early nonetheless. But the Cougars thus far live as much as preseason expectations as a contender for the Big 12 title and berth within the College Football Playoff.

For the fifth time within the final seven seasons, BYU is within the high 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 ballot, having landed at No. 9 this week after rolling previous Colorado State 41-23 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins final Saturday.

Granted, the diploma of problem ramps up significantly now, starting Oct. 3 when a squad that must be well-rested travels to what has been a home of horrors for them, TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium. It continues with ultra-tough video games in October towards No. 3 Notre Dame, UCF and Arizona State earlier than the massive showdown with undefeated Utah on Nov. 7 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the place nothing ever comes simple for BYU.

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), BYU has performed the 102nd most troublesome schedule, having additionally defeated woeful Utah Tech 63-7 and Big 12 foe Arizona 28-17 earlier than handing the Rams their first loss. BYU’s remaining schedule ranks thirty eighth within the nation when it comes to problem, per FPI.

“Happy to be 3-0, and just really proud of the guys,” was Sitake’s opening remark Monday in his weekly press briefing. “We watched the film and evaluated it and graded it, and we’ve obviously got some work to do still. But for the first three games, I feel good about where we’re at.”

As undefeated BYU (3-0) heads into its solely bye week, now looks as if a great time to pause and replicate upon what we’ve found about Sitake’s eleventh crew in Provo. What simply stands out is that the tradition of accountability and humility stays intact, regardless of the Cougars having gone 26-4 for the reason that starting of the 2024 season.

The Cougars don’t seem like resting on their laurels in any means, kind or style.

“My job is to be really picky, and I know we say it all the time, but we want to be humble and we want to be hungry, and part of that means you still have to pick apart what you’re doing well,” Sitake mentioned. “There’s not a time right now for us to be patting ourselves in the back.

“I think there’s a time when you can (give) praise, but these guys don’t need to be praised as much right now as much as they need just to get to work,” he continued. “And luckily, the leadership on the team handles things like that themselves. … So a lot of really cool things are happening, but there still needs to be more work.”

A couple of early season observations:

BYU has top-notch expertise in all the precise locations

College soccer groups are solely nearly as good as their quarterback, and in that regard BYU is in good arms. Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier has taken his sport to the subsequent degree, notably his throwing sport. Deep throws to freshman Legend Glasker towards Arizona and Colorado State that went for 61 and 70 yards answered questions on Bachmeier’s arm power.

Bachmeier’s passing effectivity score is 186.7 and he’s accomplished 71% of his passes for 642 yards and 6 touchdowns, with only one interception.

Meanwhile, BYU has displayed star energy and explosiveness regarded as considerably missing when the season started. Reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin has picked up the place he left off in 2025, regardless of having had offseason shoulder surgical procedure. The senior is averaging 7.8 yards per carry and 109.3 yards per sport in roughly the equal of two video games.

Then there’s Glasker, second cousin of standout BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker. The freshman receiver has been BYU’s greatest playmaker, with 11 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns and 6 carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns. He’s been the Big 12’s Freshman of the Week twice in three weeks.

Losing backup RB Sione Moa to a season-ending knee harm within the first quarter towards Utah Tech was a giant blow to BYU’s offense, however junior Preston Rex and freshmen Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka have confirmed to be as much as the duty. Tonga has been a pleasant late discover.

“The offense is pretty difficult for our guys to learn. Throughout the next few weeks, especially this week, we’ll start to see them learn the playbook a little bit more,” Sitake mentioned. “It’s one of those things that you can’t really force feed. They just have to come along and get some reps according to their learning (pace). They’ll be ready. I feel really good about the talent that’s there. We have a very talented group of running backs, and Harvey’s done a great job coaching them.”

Cade Uluave leads a very good BYU protection

Just as Legend Glasker has adequately changed Parker Kingston, Cal switch linebacker Cade Uluave has crammed in properly for Jack Kelly, now with the New York Giants. Uluave made what’s arguably the early season defensive play of the 12 months, intercepting Arizona’s Noah Fifita on the Wildcats’ second possession after the standout quarterback led the guests on a 75-yard landing drive on their first.

Uluave returned the decide to the 9-yard line to arrange BYU’s first TD. Tre Alexander, Evan Johnson, Matthias Leach and Hunter Clegg even have interceptions, as BYU’s protection has been opportunistic in that class.

The Cougars’ 5 interceptions is tied for fifth nationally. Since the start of the 2024 season, BYU leads the nation in interceptions, with 44. Notre Dame has had 43 and Texas has had 41.

“I feel like when we execute our defense we have the best defense in the country,” Johnson mentioned after the CSU sport. “We just gotta continue to do those little things that will make our defense even better.”

One of these little issues is avoiding penalties. On his “Coordinators’ Corner” program Monday, defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga mentioned the protection has had 4 main penalties within the pink zone by three video games which have led to touchdowns.

“We have to get that fixed. That’s one of my biggest (goals) this bye week, is to make sure we get everything cleared up,” Poppinga mentioned. “We were so good a year ago in the red zone. We need to respond better in those situations.”

Cannon DeVries is an early breakout star

Not surprisingly, Uluave (14), fellow linebacker Isaiah Glasker (13) and security Faletau Satuala (12) are all within the high 5 in tackles for BYU, regardless of having performed sparingly within the second halves towards Utah Tech and Colorado State. But among the different gamers on the high of the tackles record may shock you.

Sophomore Cannon DeVries additionally has 14 takedowns out of his nickel place, and Mississippi State switch Jayven Williams has 10. Texas switch Tausili Akana leads BYU in tackles for loss, with 4, together with 2.5 sacks. DeVries is No. 2 in tackles for loss, with three.

Additionally, DeVries has emerged as a strong kick and punt returner, with a 100-yard kickoff return for a landing towards Utah Tech and 100 punt return yards.

New particular groups coordinator Justin Ena likes what he’s seen from that group, together with kicker Matthias Dunn and punter Fuller Shurtz. BYU is fourth within the nation in web punting (47.3 yards per punt) and Shurtz is averaging 48.1 yards per punt, fifth-best within the nation.

“I think we are in a good spot,” Ena mentioned. “We are always making sure we are nitpicking the little things because that’s going to matter the most.”

Undisciplined play, weak cross rush might derail a dream season

If there’s been a knock on BYU’s protection, it’s that it has allowed game-opening landing drives in two of three video games earlier than settling in. Also, as Poppinga talked about, there have been too many private fouls and penalties, most of them committed by backups.

“I was really pleased with how we played defensively for three quarters (against CSU),” Poppinga mentioned. “We had some (issues) in the fourth quarter. … Those guys didn’t meet the standards and play the defense that we need to play.”

Penalties on either side of the ball haven’t stored the Cougars from comfortably profitable three video games, however they’ve been talked about by Sitake as being a difficulty that might show dangerous transferring ahead. BYU is 81st in penalty yards per sport (59.6 ypg).

“We just have to be better as a team,” Sitake mentioned. “There are some guys that are backups committing the penalties, but those guys are one play away from getting in the game. So they need to be ready for it.”

The Cougars didn’t document a sack towards Colorado State, and have solely 4 sacks in three video games. Akana emerged towards Arizona with 2.5 sacks, however Siale Esera is the one different Cougar with a sack, and he’s been injured. Against higher offenses and quarterbacks in upcoming video games, BYU might want to discover a higher cross rush or it’ll get carved up by the likes of Notre Dame’s CJ Carr and Utah’s Devon Dampier.