Yesterday and today are the Big 12 Media Days for Football. Yesterday, Utah was part of the 8 teams that were focused on. Today BYU is part of the 8 teams focused on. Of course, both teams have had a lot to say about their most hated rival.

Kalani Sitake Main Focus

Kalani Sitake was interviewed by the ESPN crew and was the main focus on the stage for all of the media reporters. I want to hit on just the few notes that stood out to me. You can also check out the BYU Sports Nation episode of them at the Big 12 Media Days.

QB Battle

One of the questions that was asked was about the QB battle and where it was right now. Kalani said that there wasn’t a deadline for the team to decide yet but that there are 4 QBs that are on the roster that have started and played college football.

The other two are Treyson Bourguet, who is a transfer from Western Michigan and is only a Sophomore and McCae Hillstead, a transfer from Utah St who is also only a Sophomore. I was particularly impressed with Hillstead when I watched his highlights. He’s only 5’10 but he has a really strong arm, not the most accurate, but is very athletic and can scramble and run with ease.

New 4 Schools

Kalani was also asked about the new 4 additions to the Big 12 and what he likes about them. He specifically talked about Utah for most of this segment. Kalani said that he is happy to have Utah back on their every year schedule. He says it makes recruiting more fun and competitive in Utah because now recruits can see who is the better team. Kalani also is very excited to go to Utah and play in Salt Lake. He was especially adamant about how fun it would be to win there.

12 Team Playoff

Kalani only talked about this for a short time, but it was interesting. He said that with the playoff now being 12 teams, it opens the door wider for BYU. It makes the playoff more transparent for BYU. They now know exactly what they have to do to get into the playoff and that is winning the conference or be in the next highest ranked 7 teams. He was particularly excited about that.

Spring Ball Recap

The last thing that Kalani touched on was how physical and determined that BYU was practicing at during spring ball. He said they had a very focused mindset. The players and coaches know now what the Big 12 is all about. They know how it works. So BYU was very focused in Spring ball after a not very good first impression in the Big 12.

Sitake especially noted how physical BYU was and noted that it all starts in the trenches. BYU’s offensive line was atrocious last year and this year they return 3 of the 5 starters and hired a new offensive line coach that has a good reputation. Sitake was especially excited for that physicality on the offensive line that he has been seeing.

BYU Gifted Bulletin Board Material

Yesterday, Cam Rising, the starting QB for Utah, who is returning this year after sitting out all of last year because of an injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl the previous year, said some interesting comments about BYU. He was asked about BYU and playing them this year and he said that he cant wait and is ready to go and kick BYU’s ass. Now there is some profanity, sorry, but I wanted to get his exact quote.

Could you imagine if BYU goes into Salt Lake and beats Utah and Rising at home? I am not counting on it, but you never know how a season is going to go…bold comments to make when the season hasnt even started.

Today, Rising was talking with BYU Sports Nation and he said that he doesn’t really like BYU and that he is part the red part of Utah which he thinks is the good side. Im all for this! That is what the rivalry is all about.

Its the same thing when Max Hall said that he hated Utah, their staff, and their fans and when Tyler Huntley said that BYU is so poo poo. Its what fuels the fire! Rising continued saying that he hates seeing the Y everywhere and that he doesnt really care for BYU. That is great! The rivalry seems to be alive and booming more than ever now that BYU and Utah are back in the same conference.

BYU Football Update

Following up on last week’s newsletter, BYU was picked to be 13th in the Big 12. That is low, especially for a BYU program that has been pretty consistent over the past decade. BYU basketball was picked super low in the preseason poll and look at how well they did in their first year. I hope that BYU football does the same.

We have the same head coach and same offensive and defensive coordinators and not much else has changed. I feel that BYU could have a better season than last year. I predict something along the lines of 7-5 with a bowl game. Nothing earth shattering, but something to show that BYU football is getting better is all I am asking for.

In case youre wondering about when BYU plays Utah, they will play on November 9th in Salt Lake. I wish it was on Thanksgiving weekend which is when the normal rivalry weekend is for college football, but maybe in future years that will happen.

Could you imagine all of those mixed family fanbases having to eat dinner together a couple of days before they play each other in one of the biggest rivalries? Man, that would be fun. But before then, BYU will kick off Fall Camp on July 31st with their first game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on August 31st at 6:00pm on ESPN+. Everyone, breath, we are about a month and a half from college football starting! We have almost made it!

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