BYU Football Preparing for Final Month in Packed Big 12 Race

The BYU Cougars football program is preparing for the biggest final month in history. After nearly making the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons, Kalani Sitake has put together the right roster and personnel to compete. Now they'll try to win a potential three-team race.

The Cougars lost to one team twice last season, which was Texas Tech. After the stunning loss to UCF on Saturday, it's time for BYU to refocus and finish strong. Sitake's team is right there and is considered a frontrunner in the conference. Next up will be Arizona State, who makes the trip to Provo.

"Looking forward to getting back to work and focusing on the next challenge, which is Arizona State here at home. And we're excited about that game," Sitake said.

"They have a really good team. You look at what they were able to do last weekend. So they have some momentum, and we've got to gain some. So it helps being at home, but looking forward to the matchup, and looking forward to seeing how we can grow and progress through this week and through the preparation, and get ready for this matchup."

Just one week after the Cougars’ monumental win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, a trip to Orlando brought BYU back down from the clouds. UCF gave them everything they could handle and bounced the Cougars from the ranks of the unbeaten.

“I wish I could sit here and just complain about the stuff that we did,” Sitake said. “But UCF put us on our heels and put us in some uncomfortable positions."

The loss likely doesn’t eliminate the Cougars from College Football Playoff contention, but it does make the picture interesting. Maybe this will be the first time, over the course of three seasons, BYU will advance into the postseason bracket. More needs to be done for the team to compete at a higher level. This was part of what Sitake addressed during the offseason. The promises of more staff and NIL support has to become a priority. Before the season, resource limits were holding back the program.

Read More: BYU Football Releases Updated Depth Chart Ahead of Arizona State Game

"There's probably a collection of things that I'm looking at," Sitake said prior to the season. "We've been given the challenge of doing the most with the least, right? And so you have your own culture to help you win. But I think there's a way to increase your chances of both. I think there's a way that you can get deep culture and be really strong as a football team, and there's an opportunity that you can get to players that you normally wouldn't have access to."

Sitake understands the entire process that goes into running a top-tier program, which includes strength and conditioning, sports science and nutrition as key components. Money does a lot, but resources go further. He wants people to understand that side of the new era as well.

"I still want more resources for these guys. Because then for me, the frustrating part is, like, yeah, we've been able to do so much, and it was like, okay, keep doing it... but we can do way more at a faster rate," Sitake added.

"I'm not going to be the one that's making high demands. These are very simple demands. So people that are opponents have in the conference and not even Texas Tech, the others. So, if we can get on an even playing field with that stuff, then I should be able to do more."

If the Cougars have been able to go 29-5 over the past two-plus seasons, imagine what they could do by going above and beyond.

For the first time since 2024, Arizona State and BYU will meet on the gridiron. This comes a week before the Holy War matchup with No. 6 Utah, who is one of the final three undefeated teams in the country.

The 8th-ranked Cougars and Sun Devils will meet on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.