Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast

The BYU football team was at the 2026 Fan Fest in Farmington, Utah. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper caught up with linebacker Siale Esera at the Fan Fest and his thoughts on what it means to play for Cougar Nation.

Also in this episode, Mitch shared his takeaways from the Fan Fest.

Other topics discussed include BYU basketball missing out on Michael Ruzic to LSU and BYU football landing a commitment from Granger High defensive lineman Maa'imoa Havili.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

It's hard to believe, but Kalani Sitake has been the head coach of the BYU football program for 10 seasons.

During those 10 years, he's coached some excellent players.

Who are the best?

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper ranks the 10 best players who have played for Sitake.

The list is loaded not only with the best players in the Sitake era but also with some of the best in BYU football history.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake recalled his talks with Penn State to On3's Pete Nakos. In Sitake's commentary, he noted, "It all works out the way it's supposed to." How critical was it for BYU to retain Sitake?

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper explores that. Sitake turning down Penn State led to the Nittany Lions hiring former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell.

Campbell's old employer, ISU, made some headlines when AD Jamie Pollard said the SEC/Big Ten should break away. Would that be a good thing?

Athlon Sports has Bear Bachmeier on the cover of the 2026 preview on the West Coast. They rolled out their preview, and Mitch shared some initial thoughts.

Then, finally, some news and notes from the basketball recruiting trail, as BYU basketball was well-represented at various Live Period events on the circuit over the weekend.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

Along with hosting Cougar Tracks every day, KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper also hosts Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL NewsRadio (Saturdays, Noon-3 pm MT).

Beginning May 16, 2026, a new era of Cougar Sports Saturday will begin as Mitch welcomes his new co-host, Nate Slack.

Get to know Nate in this episode of Cougar Tracks. They discuss Nate's background, his connection to BYU sports, his passion for Cougar Athletics, and they also share thoughts on the upcoming football and men's basketball seasons.

Follow Nate on X: @nateslack5.

You can subscribe to the Cougar Sports Saturday podcast feed: https://sports.ksl.com/podcast_results?i=1498&n=Cougar+Sports+Saturday+%28BYU%29

This episode closes out with the final stop on the BYU football opponent spring tour. The last opponent breakdown is the Cincinnati Bearcats.

It's year four for Cincinnati in the Big 12 and with head coach Scott Satterfield, are they ready to take another jump in the standings?

To break down the Bearcats, Neil Meyer of Front Office News and the Bearcat Blitz Podcast hopped on to break down the Bearcats in 2026.

BYU hosts Cincinnati in Provo for the regular season finale on Saturday, November 28.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

The NFL schedule was released for the 2026 season on Thursday night. It was an opportunity to start planning the ultimate football road trips for the 2026 BYU football season.

Luckily for Cougar fans, there are some solid road opportunities that line up with an NFL game for the upcoming fall.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper broke it all down.

BYU football spring opponent tour continues as Mitch welcomes Henry Greenstein of the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports to get to know the Kansas Jayhawks.

BYU travels to Lawrence on November 21st this fall.

Then, he closed out this episode of the show with a recruiting update as BYU football offered 2029 quarterback Jake Matsen from American Fork High School.

They also issued an offer to Moa Havili from Granger High School for the class of 2027. The other intriguing recruit to monitor is UCLA signee Weston Port, who is currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He announced that he was de-committing from the Bruins and would open up his recruitment.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

May 13 marked the one-year anniversary of Brian Santiago's hiring as BYU's athletics director. How has BYU athletics performed in the first year under Santiago?

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper highlighted the wins and areas for improvement needed in the Santiago era.

Mitch also discussed his visit to Cougar House 14 in Elk Ridge, Utah.

The spring BYU football opponent tour continues as we look at the Baylor Bears. Craig Smoak from 365 Sports, host of The Smoak Show, hopped on the program to discuss the outlook for year seven under Dave Aranda.

Then, finally, will Ryan Smith and the Utah Jazz move up to get BYU star AJ Dybantsa?

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

Former BYU basketball star AJ Dybantsa is in Chicago at the 2026 NBA draft combine. All eyes are on Dybantsa. Will he emerge as the No. 1 overall pick to the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA draft?

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his thoughts and also discussed the commentary from Wizards GM in regards to Dybantsa.

The 2026 BYU football opponent spring tour continues. On this edition, we look at the Utah Utes.

Utah Insider for KSL Sports, Steve Bartle joined the show to give the lowdown on year one under head coach Morgan Scalley.

BYU travels to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

On this episode of Cougar Tracks, KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper breaks down the KSL Sports post-spring Big 12 football power rankings for the 2026 season.

Mitch was one of the KSL Sports team members who voted in these power rankings.

Where does BYU football rank? Who is the favorite? And who occupies the No. 16 spot?

Another year of Big 12 football is around the corner.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

BYU football doesn't get blue-chip defensive linemen often on the recruiting trail. In the 2027 class, they have one in Tustin, California, native Jeremiah Williams.

Williams, a four-star prospect who picked BYU over the likes of Arizona State, North Carolina, and UCLA, hopped on with KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper to discuss his commitment to the Cougars.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

College Football coaches have reportedly voiced their support for a 24-team College Football Playoff.

It's a radical idea, but it could work. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his thoughts on the potential for a 24-team Playoff.

An expanded Playoff would likely benefit a program like BYU.

Mitch was out on the recruiting trail earlier this week at a showcase event. He shared some players from the state of Utah, who have BYU interest, and other players who caught his attention.

The spring football tour of BYU opponents in 2026 continues. Today, we look at the new-look Iowa State Cyclones.

Jake Brend from CycloneFanatic.com hopped on the show to discuss what spring produced for year one in the Jimmy Rogers era in Ames.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.