Brutally Honest BYU Pod

BYU drops a painful Holy War to Utah, and Josh and Nate are working through it. Four interceptions, missed opportunities, and a comeback that fell just short—what decided this game, and what needs to change?

But the season isn’t over. With BYU landing at No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, there’s still plenty to play for. We discuss the renewed playoff hope, whether we actually want another shot at Utah, and why Baylor is anything but a routine bounce-back game.

Plus: why the Holy War belongs on rivalry weekend, Kendra’s unintentionally devastating postgame snack selection, our Baylor score predictions, and some early BYU basketball takes.

Would you rather get a rematch with Utah in the Big 12 Championship or take an at-large playoff spot? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to Brutally Honest BYU Pod for unfiltered BYU talk with Josh and Nate. Cougs by a billion. Forever.

#BYU #BYUFootball #GoCougs #HolyWar #CollegeFootball #CFP #Big12

The best—and worst—game of the year is here. Bring on the Holy War.

Josh and Nate are leaning into the nerves, the rivalry, and some serious 1996 vibes as BYU heads to Salt Lake City to face Utah. We explain why we like this matchup for the Cougs, why Bear Bachmeier and the passing game should take center stage, and what BYU’s defense can do to make life difficult for Devin Dampier.

Plus: LJ Martin’s availability, Preston Rex’s return, the special teams concerns we can’t ignore, and why recent struggles against UCF and Arizona State haven’t shaken our confidence.

We also get into what makes this rivalry personal, where passionate fandom crosses the line, Morgan Scalley’s approach compared with Kyle Whittingham’s, and why “it’s just another game” will never work for us. There’s even time for a uniform rant and a score prediction that requires Utah to finish with negative points.

BYU fans: confident, terrified, or both?
Utah fans: give us all the smoke. Drop your predictions below.

Subscribe to the Brutally Honest BYU Pod for more unfiltered BYU football talk.

#BYUFootball #HolyWar #BYUvsUtah #GoCougs #CollegeFootball

A week after beating Notre Dame, BYU leaves Orlando with a crushing 39–31 double-overtime loss to UCF—and plenty of questions. Josh goes solo this week to break down the missed opportunities, predictable playcalling, and why the travel and emotional-letdown excuses aren’t cutting it.

Where was the offensive creativity? Why did throwing beyond the sticks feel like a trick play? And was this just BYU’s worst Saturday—or a warning about what’s ahead?

Plus, a message for the Notre Dame fans celebrating in our comments, a look ahead to Arizona State’s Halloween visit to Provo, and Josh and Nate’s score predictions as the Cougars try to get back on track before the Holy War.

Nate is out battling a kidney stone this week. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers—we need our guy back!

👇 What concerns you most after UCF? Leave your take and your BYU–ASU score prediction in the comments.

Subscribe to the Brutally Honest BYU Pod for honest takes, brotherly banter, and the highs and lows of Cougar football.

#BYUFootball #GoCougs #Big12Football #BYUvsASU #BrutallyHonestBYU

Notre Dame fans called us delusional. BYU won 28–24. We brought the receipts.

After a comment section full of guaranteed blowouts, “with what athletes?” and “BYU wouldn’t score 28 against Notre Dame in two games,” Josh and Nate revisit the predictions that aged spectacularly—and give credit to the Irish fans who came back to own it.

We break down what our BYU–Notre Dame preview got right, from the room for mistakes to the late game-winning touchdown drive. Plus: Bear Bachmeier, the supposed talent gap, Cade Uluave’s enormous defensive play, and Nate finishing ONE POINT away from predicting the exact score.

Then we turn toward UCF: an unbeaten home record, a bye week, and a dangerous road test after an emotional win. Can the Cougars keep rolling?

Notre Dame fans: you said you’d be back. We saved you a seat.

Drop your best defense of your pregame take—or your BYU–UCF score prediction—in the comments. Subscribe for more brotherly banter and brutally honest BYU football talk.

#BYUFootball #NotreDameFootball #CollegeFootball

BYU vs. Notre Dame could be the game that changes everything for the Cougars. With #2 Notre Dame coming to Provo and College GameDay in town, are the Fighting Irish walking into a trap at LaVell Edwards Stadium?

On this episode of The Brutally Honest BYU Pod, Josh and Nate break down why they're feeling surprisingly confident about BYU's chances against Notre Dame—and why the Irish might not be ready for what awaits them in Provo.

After two imperfect victories, has BYU actually made all the right mistakes at the right time? We discuss what Aaron Roderick needs to do differently, whether BYU's defense can match Notre Dame's physicality, and why the Cougars might finally be ready to prove they belong among college football's elite.

We're also getting into:

• 🏈 Why Notre Dame might be getting too much credit for playing BYU's brand of football
• 🔥 The offensive wrinkles BYU could unleash against the Irish
• 👀 Whether beating Notre Dame would finally earn BYU national respect
• 😈 The ultimate BYU fan dilemma: Would you rather beat Notre Dame or Utah?
• 🎯 Going for two with the game on the line—and the play we'd call
• 📺 The best (and worst) College GameDay signs for BYU vs. Notre Dame
• 🌟 Who should be College GameDay's celebrity guest picker in Provo?
• 🏟️ Our official BYU vs. Notre Dame score predictions

THE BIG QUESTION: Would you trade a win over Notre Dame for a guaranteed win over Utah? Tell us in the comments. We have some strong opinions.

Whether you're a lifelong BYU fan, a Notre Dame fan looking for some bulletin-board material, or just a college football fan excited for a massive matchup, you're in the right place.

👍 Like the video if you believe BYU can pull off the upset.

🔔 Subscribe to The Brutally Honest BYU Pod for weekly BYU football discussion, bold predictions, questionable hypotheticals, and two brothers who take Cougar football entirely too seriously.

Go Cougs! 🔵⚪

#BYUFootball #NotreDameFootball #BYUvsNotreDame #CollegeFootball #BYUCougars

The charge? Making winning football look painfully boring. The defendant? BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. The jury? You.

After BYU’s win over TCU, Nate brings the case against A-Rod’s conservative play calling, while Josh argues that the results—and his work with Bear Bachmeier—deserve more credit. Is he holding the offense back, or doing exactly what it takes to win?

Plus: Nate makes the case for a home playoff game at LaVell Edwards Stadium OVER a first-round bye, we test our BYU jersey-number knowledge, revisit a Loyal Cougars history fumble, and attempt a BYU Mind Meld with wildly mixed results.

We wrap up with Iowa State score predictions and an update on our season-long prediction contest.

Drop your verdict in the comments:
⚖️ Is A-Rod guilty or not guilty?
🏟️ Home playoff game or first-round bye?
🏈 What’s your BYU–Iowa State score prediction?

Subscribe to The Brutally Honest BYU Pod for brotherly disagreements, BYU football talk, and occasional evidence that we know way too much about this team.

Go Cougs!

#BYUFootball #BYU #GoCougs #AaronRoderick #BYUCougars #CollegeFootball #Big12Football #BrutallyHonestBYUPod

Apparently, we’re bozos, tool bags, cornballs—and the two biggest tools on YouTube. We respond to the chaos in last week’s comment section and clarify what we actually meant by “defund the band.”

Then we get into BYU’s 28–17 win over Arizona:

• Was Bear Bachmeier’s throw to Legend Glasker the best BYU deep ball since Zach Wilson?
• How much did the slippery field hurt the Cougars?
• Is Isaiah Glasker looking slower this season?
• Were BYU’s defensive play calls actually bad?
• Are the wide receivers outperforming the tight ends?
• Should molded cleats be outlawed at LaVell Edwards Stadium?

We also debut “Start, Bench, Cut,” update the season-long score prediction standings, recognize some unsung heroes, and preview BYU’s road matchup with Colorado State—including the Rams’ biggest threats, BYU’s growing injury concerns, and our final score predictions.

Nate’s prediction: BYU 41, Colorado State 13
Josh’s prediction: BYU 45, Colorado State 16

Let us know your prediction in the comments!

#BYUFootball #BYUSports #GoCougs #Big12Football #BYUCougars

Utah fans came after Drake Toll—and Josh has had enough.

We open this week’s episode by going scorched earth on Utah’s fan base, its Big 12 entrance, and the rivalry it supposedly doesn’t care about.

Then we turn the brutally honest treatment toward our own side and explain why it may be time to DEFUND the BYU marching band.

We also break down what stood out against Utah Tech, put Nate’s ridiculous BYU quarterback knowledge to the test, introduce our season-long score prediction competition, and preview BYU’s matchup with Arizona.

Is Utah really the worst fan base in college football? Does the Cougar Marching Band improve or hurt the atmosphere at LaVell Edwards Stadium? And will BYU handle Arizona comfortably—or are we getting ahead of ourselves?

Let us know where we’re right, where we’re wrong, and what score you’re predicting this week.

Amen, Max.

Go Cougs.

#BYUFootball #GoCougs #Big12Football

Nate and Josh debate the best way to watch a BYU Football game, give their hot (possibly old man) takes on Cougar uniforms, and give their brutally honest predictions for the tilt against outmatched Utah Tech.

Calling out "Coach Speak," the best and worst moments of our BYU fanhood, and under-the-radar guys to watch out for this season.