The Loyal Cougars Podcast | For BYU Cougars Sports Fans

BYU survived TCU in one of the strangest wins of the season — putting up just 216 total yards and 62 passing yards while the defense came up huge. But with LJ Martin and Sione Moa gone, what is the ceiling for this BYU team?

Jake and Tosh break down the wild TCU win, whether Bear Bachmeier has regressed as a passer, and whether Aaron Roderick got too conservative in the rain. Plus: should BYU lean more on Journey Tonga? Is Preston Rex ready for a bigger role? And how high can the Cougars realistically climb?

Then we look ahead to Iowa State, including Aiden Flora, QB Jaylen Raynor, and the keys to another Big 12 win.

Plus: BYU is now ranked No. 8. Is a College GameDay trip to Provo actually becoming a possibility? Who should the celebrity picker be?

🔵 Can BYU stay in the Top 10?

🔵 What is the ceiling without LJ Martin?

🔵 Has Bear regressed?

🔵 Can BYU shut down Iowa State?

🔵 Is College GameDay coming to Provo?

Subscribe to the Loyal Cougars Podcast for BYU football analysis, reactions, previews, and everything happening around the Cougars.

Texas Tech entered the season as a Big 12 favorite, but offensive inconsistency and Will Hammond’s struggles are raising questions. Meanwhile, Utah looks like an offensive juggernaut, and BYU may be the conference’s most complete team.

Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh reset the Big 12 power rankings, identify the contenders and pretenders, and debate whether the conference is closing the gap with the SEC and Big Ten. Plus, they preview BYU’s trip to Fort Worth and explain what the Cougars must do to beat TCU.

How does an AP voter rank BYU in the top 15 one week, leave the Cougars off his ballot the next, then block fans who criticize it?

Jake Edmonds and Jake Hatch break down the bizarre AP Poll blunder before revisiting BYU’s explosive win over Colorado State. LJ Martin ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns, Legend Glasker continued his historic freshman season, and the Cougars piled up 559 yards of offense—but did the second-half struggles reveal any reason for concern?

Plus, the injuries and storylines to watch during the bye week as BYU prepares for a tough stretch against TCU, Iowa State, and Notre Dame.

Legend Glasker turned five touches into 81 yards and three touchdowns against Utah Tech. Is the breakout receiver ready to replace Parker Kingston’s production—and could he already be BYU’s best weapon out wide?

Jake and Tosh break down BYU’s 521-yard offensive performance, the depth of the Cougars’ running back room, Bear Bachmeier’s efficient night, Cannon DeVries’ explosive return game and the impact of Raider Damuni’s injury.

Plus, was Michigan’s last-second clock review legitimate, should BYU fans root for Kyle Whittingham, and can Noah Fifita and Arizona end the Cougars’ five-game winning streak in the series?

Subscribe to The Loyal Cougars Podcast for weekly BYU football discussion, analysis and unapologetic Cougar takes.

BYU announced a restructuring of its athletics department last week with football head coach Kalani Sitake now reporting to vice president

Keith Vorkink instead of the athletic director Brian Santiago. Is there a world where this conflict comes to a positive conclusion or will BYU have to choose one or the other.

Plus, we're officially in week one of the college football season. A quick preview of Utah Tech and what has to happen for us to feel good about the game?

And finally, our top 20 in 20 concludes with our full list. If we could re-order our lists, what would we change?

Be sure to like, subscribe, and leave us a comment!

BYU is putting a price tag on new game-day experiences—and some of the numbers are hard to believe. We break down what fans can now buy at LaVell Edwards Stadium, whether the prices have gone too far and what Utah’s version of the menu might look like.

Plus, we share our biggest takeaways from the final week of fall camp, discuss the latest LES upgrades and preseason award watch lists, and react to Jaxon Kohler choosing BYU over Kentucky and Dallin Hall landing at Utah State.

If BYU had to choose, should more NIL and revenue-sharing resources go toward keeping Kalani Sitake and football competitive—or helping Kevin Young land Jaxon Kohler and build a championship-caliber basketball program?

Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh debate BYU’s biggest resource-allocation question, assess the latest Kalani/Santiago rumors, and discuss whether CougConnect’s insider coverage creates a conflict of interest.

Plus:

• Hot takes from BYU football fall camp

• The offense’s strong showing in the first scrimmage

• Evan Johnson potentially returning kicks

• No. 2 in our 20 in 20

Rumors involving BYU athletic director Brian Santiago lit up Cougar Nation over the weekend—but what do we actually know?

Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh unpack the claims of tension inside BYU Athletics, questions surrounding NIL communication and whether the situation could strain Santiago’s relationships with Kalani Sitake and other department leaders.

They also react to Jon McBride’s CougarBoard post confirming that Santiago remains BYU’s athletic director. Did the official response calm the speculation—or add more fuel to the fire? Is CougarBoard the right place for BYU Athletics to address major rumors?

Plus:

🏈 The biggest storylines and standouts from BYU fall camp

📱 Treyson Bourguet’s daily camp updates

🔒 Jake and Tosh name their 20-in-20 #3 top player.

Subscribe for more BYU football, basketball and recruiting coverage from the Loyal Cougars Podcast.

New Michigan and former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham says he wants to beat Ohio State as badly as anyone in Ann Arbor, but hate is a strong word. Was he the reason the Holy War was so toxic over the last 20 years?

Jake and Tosh also discuss the court ruling that could give certain college athletes a fifth season, including whether former BYU stars such as Richie Saunders, Keba Keita or Dallin Hall could return.

Plus:

• Is Utah athletics really worth $138 million more than BYU?

• How seriously should fans take these hypothetical program valuations like the one written by The Athletic?

• Our Top 20 in 20 rankings - Player #4.

#BYUFootball #KyleWhittingham #HolyWar

TCU will look very different when BYU visits Fort Worth this season. The Horned Frogs have a new offensive coordinator, a Harvard transfer at quarterback and must replace stars Josh Hoover and Eric McAlister.

After BYU’s 44–13 win last season, can the Cougars take down TCU in Fort Worth?

Plus, we discuss:

• What Polish big man Jakub Urbaniak adds to BYU basketball

• Our best BYU football season prop bets. (Participate here: https://forms.gle/oekPNb2FAAXWx3bs8)

• Our No. 5 players in the Loyal Cougars Top 20 in 20

Subscribe for weekly BYU football and basketball discussion.

#BYUFootball #BYUSports #Big12