In 2024, BYU won 11 games, tied for first in the Big 12 conference and closed with a dominant victory in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Read the full season review from BYU's 100th season and year two in the Big 12.
In its 100th season in 2024, BYU football won 11 games, finished tied for first in the Big 12 standings and crowned the year with a dominant bowl victory to cap a season to remember.
The 2024 season featured an entertaining BYU team that, despite being picked to finish 13th out of 16 teams in the league, finished No. 13 in the final national rankings. The Cougars were constantly in the national conversation as a team in competition for the College Football Playoff and in contention for a Big 12 title until the last day of the regular season.
Twenty seniors led the way in 2024 for BYU’s 13th 11-win season in program history, and the third double-digit victory campaign in the last five seasons. Most of BYU’s 2024 senior class finished with an overall record of 45-18, tied for No. 10 in total wins since 2020 and ranking No. 8 in winning percentage (.714) in that span. Only seven teams in college football finished with more than 11 wins in 2024 and a total of 16 reached the 11-win mark in the FBS.
In celebration of its 100th season of football, BYU featured several callbacks to the past during the 2024 campaign. The program honored the great teams, coaches and players throughout the year, highlighted the great moments on and off the field and paid homage to the history and success of the program through different ways in 2024.
Head Coach Kalani Sitake Sitake was named the AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year and a finalist for AFCA National Coach of the Year, was a semifinalist for the George Munger Award given to the nation's top coach and was selected as one of three individuals to be inducted into the 2025 Class of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Early in the season, Sitake was also named to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watchlist and the Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List. He completed the season as one of just eight active FBS head coaches with three seasons of 10-plus wins over the last five seasons while boasting the No. 8 winning percentage in that timeframe.
"There may not be a better man in the business than Kalani. Love the guy. As crushed as I am as how we played, I told him I was happy for him"
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman
Head coach Kalani Sitake speaks to the team following BYU's win over Utah and the connections between the two programs and the importance of Christlike love
In the Spotlight The program’s culture of “Love and Learn” was on display in full, highlighted by a visit from Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff and the program was often featured on ESPN’s College Game Day. BYU played on national broadcast networks ABC and FOX and was featured on ESPN seven times as well as games on ESPN2, FS1, CBS Sports and ESPN+ in 2024, culminating with the most-watched game in the modern era of BYU football with 8 million viewers against Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl on ABC—the most-watched bowl game outside of the College Football Playoff in the 2024 season.
Cougar Nation also showed up in droves to both LaVell Edwards Stadium and on the road all season long, including the sold-out Alamo Bowl with 64,261 fans in attendance, the most at a game outside the CFP.
The program led the Big 12 in attendance, averaging an over-capacity 62,849 fans in LaVell Edwards Stadium, the most since 2009, to rank No. 25 in the nation. The game day experience in Provo was brought to a new level in 2024 with more Cosmo stunts, drone shows, LED lighting, music, fireworks and more. The venue was constantly highlighted as one of the best game environments in the nation by visiting fans, media members and opponents throughout the season.
I asked Mike Gundy what he thought about the atmosphere at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
BYU coaches and players participated in more than 200 national media interviews leading up to and during the 2024 campaign, ranging from USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, The Athletic, The Atlantic, Sports Dissected, Sports Illustrated, ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, ESPN Radio, Tune-in Radio, Sirius College Sports Radio and more.
BYU finished at No. 13 in the final Associated Press Top 25 and No. 14 in the final AFCA Coaches Poll following the conclusion of the college football postseason. The No. 13 final ranking is its highest since finishing No. 11 in 2020 after an 11-1 season, and marks the program's 12th top-15 final ranking in school history. Overall, the Cougars have finished in the top 25 during 21 seasons, including three of the last five years.
With all eyes on BYU in 2024, the Cougars put together one of the program’s best seasons in history.
2024 Game-by-Game
Setting the Tone After playing 10 power-five teams in 2023, the Cougars followed it up with a program-record 11 opponents from power conferences in 2024. BYU faced three teams that finished in the AP Top 25 and five bowl teams, including two College Football Playoff teams.
Days before the 2024 season kicked off against FCS Southern Illinois, the team had a lot more on its mind than just football when associate head coach and defensive coordinator Jay Hill suffered a health scare.
Despite being released from the hospital the morning of the season opener, Coach Hill was determined to be with the team at the stadium and watched the Cougars start the year with a dominant 41-13 victory over the Salukis.
Fast Start After a season-opening win against Southern Illinois, BYU played a short-week road game on a Friday night in Dallas against SMU in the earliest test of the 2024 season.
The Mustangs entered the game as one of the most potent offenses in the nation and BYU held them to just 15 points on five field goals—the first time SMU hadn’t scored a touchdown since 2016. The Cougar offense did just enough to overcome a 9-7 halftime deficit. A late-third quarter touchdown and a 26-yard chip shot by Will Ferrin with 1:58 to go in the game was the difference in an 18-15 victory for the Cougars.
The win at SMU would pay dividends throughout the season as Mustangs went on to win nine in a row, with the loss to BYU as their only setback of the regular season. SMU played Clemson in the ACC title game, with both earning a spot in the College Football Playoff after the Tigers won on a last-second field goal. SMU’s potent offense finished the year No. 8 nationally in scoring, with only CFP opponent Penn State being able to hold the Mustangs to less total yards and points in a game than BYU.
Following the SMU statement win, the Cougars stayed on the road to face old WAC and MWC foe Wyoming, where BYU used a 100-yard Keelan Marion kickoff return for a touchdown to spark a runaway second half in a 34-14 victory in Laramie.
Making a Statement BYU welcomed No. 13 Kansas State to LaVell Edwards Stadium in what proved to be a night to remember in Provo.
Trailing 6-3 with 1:17 left in the first half, the Cougars, donning their 1996 Cotton Bowl throwback uniforms, scored four touchdowns in a span of 5 minutes and 23 seconds thanks to three Kansas State turnovers and a wild 90-yard Parker Kingston punt return for a touchdown. Scoring touchdowns in all three phases—offense, defense and special teams, BYU flipped the game on its head, roaring to a 31-6 lead and never looked back, winning 38-9 in one of the most electric atmospheres all season at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The 29-point win became largest margin of victory over a top-15 ranked team in BYU history. In holding the Wildcats without a touchdown, BYU became the first program since 2020 to accomplish that feat against K-State. Coupled with the win over SMU, BYU's defense successfully kept two opponents out the end zone in the same season for the first time since BYU's No. 3-ranked defense in 2012.
Big Noon Comes to Provo Following its dominant win over Kansas State, BYU went on the road and beat a Baylor team 34-28 that was just starting to heat up in conference play. The Bears went on to win six of their last seven games following the loss to the Cougars.
After starting conference play 2-0 and holding a perfect 5-0 record, BYU was selected to host Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff for its homecoming game against Arizona.
Big Noon Kickoff’s host Rob Stone along with analysts Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn got the party started early on Saturday morning in front of a raucous BYU crowd outside of LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Cougars then delivered on the field with a complete victory in a 41-19 drubbing of the Wildcats to stay perfect at 6-0.
Staying Unbeaten On another short week, BYU hosted a hungry Oklahoma State team featuring 2023 Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon that was determined to turn its season around. The game was a dogfight with scores back and forth before the Cowboys looked ready to end the dream season for the Cougars with a go-ahead score with 1:13 remaining.
Retzlaff engineered a 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 27-yard keeper to get deep into Oklahoma State territory with less than 30 seconds to go. Retzlaff spiked the ball to stop the clock and on the next play hit Lassiter in stride at the 10-yard line, who then shaked and baked his way into the end zone with 10 seconds on the clock to win the game 38-35 in an instant classic in Provo.
BYU returned to the road for its longest trip of the season to visit Orlando the next week against UCF. Facing the favored Knights with one of the nation’s top running backs in RJ Harvey, the Cougars used a balanced attack on offense and a stingy defense to build a 24-10 lead at half and go on to win 37-24 heading into a critical bye week.
After a week off, BYU and Utah matched up in another rivalry classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Preseason favorites to win the Big 12, Utah also entered the game coming off a bye week to prepare having lost four in a row and likely out of contention for a conference title but eager to spoil BYU’s perfect record.
Down 21-19 with 1:56 to play, BYU began its final drive at its own 9-yard-line and snatched renewed life from the jaws of defeat when a defensive holding call against Utah gave the Cougars a first down at their own 19.
Two plays later, receiver Chase Roberts dove for a 30-yard completion from Retzlaff that kept BYU driving to its 49. Retzlaff then connected with Darius Lassiter for a gain of 12 into Utah territory. Hinckley Ropati bettered BYU’s field position with a run of 14 yards to the Utah 25 as the clock hit one minute to play.
The Cougars used the ensuing plays to maneuver into a field goal spot and sent Will Ferrin and the field goal unit onto the field as the clock was winding down into the final seconds. Ferrin sent the kick 44 yards through the middle of the uprights for three, winning the game 22-21 and moving BYU to 9-0, its second-consecutive win over the Utes and first in Salt Lake since 2006.
BYU’s defense held Utah scoreless in the second half, allowing only four first downs and just 79 total yards. Aside from Ferrin’s heroics, The Cougars also got a kickoff return touchdown from Keelan Marion and the special teams unit for a complete victory.
The win marked the first 9-0 start since 2020, second under Kalani Sitake and fifth in school history (2024, 2020, 2001, 1984, 1979).
Setbacks, Finishing Strong At 9-0, BYU reached 6-0 in BIg 12 play and No. 6 in the CFP rankings before heading into its matchup with a red-hot Kansas team. Unfortunately, the perfect season came to an end against the Jayhawks in game 10, with Kansas scoring the 3-yard, go-ahead touchdown after a quick-kick punt by the KU quarterback hit the back of a the BYU defensive back's helmet while in pass coverage and was recovered by the Jawhawks at the 3 yard line.
Despite getting the ball into the red zone for another potential game winner inside the final minute, the Cougars came up short in the heartbreaking 17-14 loss for its first blemish of the season. The Jayhawks, picked in the preseason among the league favorites, became the first team in NCAA history with a losing record to defeat three straight nationally ranked opponents.
The next week, with its own destiny for the Big 12 championship game still in control, BYU traveled to Tempe to face Arizona State in a battle of the league’s top teams. After falling behind 21-0, the Cougars came back to make it 28-23 in the fourth quarter. Attempting to dial up another comeback, a late interception while moving the ball doomed most hopes of another come-from-behind win. BYU, however, did get one final chance. After an extended delay due to a premature field rush by ASU fans, BYU regained possession for one final play and got off a long Hail Mary pass caught by Roberts but the surrounding Sun Devil defenders pulled him to the ground two yards short of a game-winning score.
At 9-2 overall and 6-2 in league play, BYU needed some help to make it to the Big 12 title game on the final day of the regular season. The other potential outcomes that day didn’t happen the way the Cougars needed, but it didn’t stop BYU from taking care of its own business on senior night with a 30-18 victory over Houston in Provo to finish the regular season at 10-2 and tied at 7-2 for the best record in the Big 12.
Remember the Alamo The Cougars were selected to the Valero Alamo Bowl as the Big 12’s top choice, in a unique matchup against Colorado, representing as a former Pac-12 member for an all-Big 12 bowl game.
The two ranked teams with charismatic coaches, senior leadership and the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, faced off in one of the most watched postseason games of 2024.
Despite having the better record and higher ranking, BYU was the underdog yet again in the game and delivered one of its most complete victories of the 2024 season against the Buffaloes.
BYU’s defense was especially dominant, shutting out Colorado’s offense in the first half and harassing Buffalo quarterback Shedeur Sanders all game with four sacks and two interceptions. The Cougar defense held Colorado to just two rushing yards.
Linebacker Isaiah Glasker was named the Defensive MVP with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception, while Offensive MVP running back LJ Martin posted 121 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns while punt returner Parker Kingston housed his second return of the year for a 64-yard touchdown. Kicker Will Ferrin put the icing on cake of his record-setting season with a pair of 50-plus yard field goals en route making the most in any season in BYU football history with 24.
In the National Polls BYU moved up to No. 13 in the final Associated Press Top 25 and No. 14 in the final AFCA Coahes Poll following the national championship game on January 20.
After being picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason media poll, the Cougars ended up being No. 13 in the nation following an 11-2 season and 7-2 conference record to finish in a four-way tie atop the conference standings. AP voters advanced BYU four spots in their final rankings, while and coaches moved the Cougars three places in the AFCA's US LBM Coaches Poll published by USA TODAY Sports.
BYU's No. 13 final ranking was its highest since finishing No. 11 in 2020 after an 11-1 season, and marked the program's 12th top-15 final ranking in school history. Overall, the Cougars have finished in the top 25 during 21 seasons, including three of the last five years.
In 2024, BYU earned victories over two teams in the final top-25 rankings, in No. 11/12 SMU and No. 25 Colorado. The Cougars achieved two wins over final top-25 teams for the fourth time in school history, something past BYU programs previously accomplished in 2021, 1996 and 1983.
During the season, BYU faced two teams that qualified for the inaugural 12-team CFP playoff, giving SMU its only regular-season blemish and coming up two yards short of victory in a 28-23 setback at ASU.
The final AP ranking marked BYU’s 292nd overall appearances in the AP poll since its first national ranking in 1974. Since that season 50 years ago, BYU has ammassed 441 victories to rank No. 8 in total wins among all FBS programs in that timeframe.
The Cougars were ranked in the last 13 national polls since entering the top 25 this season at No. 22 in week five of the polls to receive a top-25 ranking for the first time since week five of the 2022 season.
In their second season in the Big 12 in 2024, the Cougars finished league play in a four-way tie for first place in the conference standings at 7-2 along with Arizona State, Iowa State and Colorado. With the Cougars and Buffaloes not advancing to the title game due to tiebreaker scenarios, the Sun Devils (11-2) claimed the 2024 Big 12 Championship by defeating the Cylones (10-3) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and recieved the No. 4 seed in the CFP as the Big 12 champion.
The Cougars were ranked No. 9, No. 6, No. 14 and No. 19, No. 18 and No. 17 in the CFP rankings released this season.
"You'd be hard-pressed to find a team that plays complementary football as well as they are right now"
Utah head coach and BYU alum Kyle Whittingham on the Cougars, Nov. 4, 2024
Looking to 2025 While 2024 was a season to remember, 2025 looks to build upon the standard set by departing seniors for another year competing in the Big 12.
Despite losing standouts and captains DE Tyler Batty and OL Connor Pay, the Cougars return the majority of their recipe for success in 2025.
On offense, BYU returns its starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff, almost every player from its running back and wide receiver rooms, including its top rusher LJ Martin and leading receiver Chase Roberts, along with five offensive linemen with starting experience.
In the portal, BYU added former Michigan starting left tackle Andrew Gentry and SUU starter Kyle Sfarcioc up front. The Cougars also picked up veteran tight end Carsen Ryan from Utah, bringing experience playing in 29 games, including 13 starts, at Utah and UCLA.
On the defensive side, the Cougars will need to replace several parts of their defensive line but did well in the transfer portal landing tackle Keanu Tanuvasa from Utah, end Tausili Akana from Texas and Anisi Purcell out of Southern Utah. The Cougars also added five defensive lineman in the 2025 class, including four-star edge Hunter Clegg, who recently returned from his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Special teams remains strong with the return of Will Ferrin, the single-season BYU record holder for made field goals after last season along with holder and punter Sam Vander Haar.
All-American returner Keelan Marion is back along with the Big 12’s leader in punt return average, Parker Kingston.
With spring football on the horizon and returning players at every key position being joined by some new additions, BYU aims to make 2025 another season for the books. Read about the 2025 signing class.
Review all the action from BYU's 2024 season with game-by-game recaps below.
