2024 BYU Football Season Review

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.

2024 BYU Football Season Review2024 BYU Football Season Review
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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. 

More about celebrating 100 Seasons of BYU Football Opens in a new window

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.

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. 

Hill never missed a game and helped set the tone for BYU's strong defensive performance in 2024

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

Notables from 2024

Complementary Football
BYU was one of the most complete teams in all of college football, winning games with its offense, defense and special teams units throughout the year.

  • ESPN’s College Football Power Index rated the Cougars No. 14 overall in its efficiency rankings, which rates all three units. (Special Teams, No. 7; Defense, No. 18; Offense, No. 31). Only Arizona State from the Big 12 was rated higher at No. 12.
  • BYU was one of 18 schools ranked in the top 40 in scoring offense and scoring defense in 2024.
  • BYU was one of just four of those schools to have 20 field goals made and be perfect on PAT kicks (BYU, Tennessee, Georgia, SMU).
  • The Cougars scored 48 touchdowns from 17 different players, including five special teams touchdowns and two defensive scores.
  • BYU was the only FBS school with a pick-six, fumble returned for a touchdown and multiple kick and punt return touchdowns this season.
  • BYU’s scoring margin was 11.6 points per game, which ranked No. 21 nationally. It was the second best of the Sitake era (2020) and outside of 2020 the best since 2012 (14.7).
  • The Cougars ranked No. 23 in offensive points per play and No. 18 in defensive points per play. They were one of 12 teams ranked in the Top 25 in both categories, including six in the College Football Playoff.
  • BYU ranked No. 19 in points per play margin at +0.163.
  • BYU was ranked in the Top 50 in both offensive and defensive red zone conversions.
  • The Cougars were No. 22 nationally with 209 total plays of 10 yards or more on offense. On defense, BYU was also good in preventing the big play, ranking No. 10, allowing just 143 plays of 10 yards or more. Only BYU, Indiana and Ohio State ranked in the top 25 in both categories.
  • BYU was one of the least penalized teams in the FBS, averaging just 43.2 penalty yards per game to rank No. 22.
  • BYU was No. 31 in time of possession at 31:20.23 this season, second most under Sitake (2016, 32:39.77).
  • The Cougars got scoring from special teams and defense for 13.6% of their total scoring in 2024. Only six other teams got more scoring from their non-offensive units.
  • In the third quarter, BYU scored 9.1 points per game, ranked No. 9 nationally and allowed just 2.5 per game in the third frame to tie for third nationally.
    • BYU averaged 31.2 points per game to rank No. 40 nationally.
    • One of the most consistent teams in recent memory, the Cougars scored at least 30 points nine times in the season, tied for the most in the Sitake era (2020), and scored 30 or more points in nine or more games for only the sixth time in the last 30 years of BYU history. It was also the first time since 1999 that BYU scored 30 or more in a stretch of six consecutive games.
    • Up front, BYU allowed just 18 sacks on the year, ranking No. 30 overall.
    • BYU was among the best at converting on fourth down, with a success rate of 75 percent, converting 18 of 24 attempts to rank No. 5 nationally.
    • BYU’s defense allowed a pass efficiency rating of just 105.91, the lowest in the Big 12 and No. 3 nationally.
    • BYU allowed just 182.5 yards per game through the air to rank No. 20 nationally, the best in the Big 12.
    • BYU allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the Big 12 with just 13 and ranked tied for No. 16 nationally.
    • BYU allowed just 19.6 points per game, the top mark in the Big 12 and No. 18 nationally.
    • BYU finished the season ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense, allowing just 308.8 yards per game—the fewest yards per game allowed in the Sitake era and fewest since 2012 (266.1) and No. 4 in the last 25 seasons at BYU.
    • BYU led the country in interceptions per game at 1.69 per game. The total of 22 tied for the best in the FBS with Texas, who played three more games than the Cougars. Among teams who played 13 games, San Jose State was next with 21 and six teams tied with 17.
    • The Cougars had 12 different players recorded interceptions, more than any other team in the FBS.
    • BYU’s 29 total turnovers tied for No. 3 nationally.
    • BYU was No. 19 nationally in passes defended with 68 total (PBU + INT).
    • The Cougars ranked 12 nationally in first downs allowed per game (17.0).
    • BYU was one of five special teams units to rank in the top 25 in both kick return average and punt return average (BYU, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Louisiana Tech, Toledo).
    • BYU led the nation with three kickoff return touchdowns and was the only team with a combined five kick/punt return scores in 2024.
    • The Cougars ranked No. 8 nationally in kick return average (26.27).
    • BYU ranked No. 17 in punt return average (13.47).
    • The Cougars were No. 15 in field goal percentage at 88.9.
    • BYU's 24 made field goals ranked No. 5 nationally.

    BYU had several players and coaches earn various honors throughout the season. View all of BYU's honorees from the 2024 season below. 

    S Talan Alfrey
    CSC Academic All-District

    DE Tyler Batty
    All-Big 12 First Team
    Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, honorable mention
    Big 12 DL of the Year, honorable mention
    AP All-Big 12 Second Team
    CFN All-Big 12 Second Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Second Team

    CB Marque Collins
    All-Big 12, honorable mention

    S Raider Damuni
    CSC Academic All-District

    OL Caleb Etienne
    All-Big 12 First Team
    Phil Steele All-America honorable mention
    Big 12 OL of the Year, honorable mention
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 First Team
    AP All-Big 12 Second Team

    K Will Ferrin
    Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year
    All-Big 12 First Team
    AP All-Big 12 First Team
    CFN Big 12 Kicker of the Year
    CFN All-Big 12 First Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 First Team
    Sports Info Solutions All-Big 12 Team
    Lou Groza Award Semifinalist
    CSC Academic All-District
    Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week (UCF fake field goal)

    LB Isaiah Glasker
    Sports Illustrated All-America, honorable mention
    CFN All-Big 12 First Team
    All-Big 12, honorable mention
    Sports Info Solutions All-Big 12 Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Fourth Team
    Valero Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP

    OL Brayden Keim
    All-Big 12, honorable mention

    LB Jack Kelly
    CFN Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year
    CFN Big 12 Defensive Transfer of the Year
    CFN All-Big 12 First Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team
    All-Big 12, honorable mention

    WR/PR Parker Kingston
    AP All-Bowl Team

    OL Weylin Lapuaho
    CFN All-Big 12 Third Team
    All-Big 12, honorable mention

    WR Darius Lassiter
    CFN All-Big 12, honorable mention

    DT Blake Mangelson
    CFN All-Big 12 Third Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Fourth Team
    All-Big 12, honorable mention
    Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
    CSC Academic All-District

    KR/WR Keelan Marion
    Walter Camp All-America First Team
    FWAA All-America First Team
    CBS Sports All-America First Team
    Pro Football Focus All-America
    Phil Steele All-America First Team
    Sporting News All-America Second Team
    CFN All-America Second Team
    CFN Big 12 KR of the Year
    CFN All-Big 12 First Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 First Team
    All-Big 12 Second Team
    AP All-Big 12 Second Team
    Sports Info Solutions All-Big 12 Team
    Finalist for Jet Award

    RB LJ Martin
    CFB All-Big 12, honorable mention
    Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP

    OL Connor Pay
    CFN All-Big 12, honorable mention
    Pop Warner Award Finalist
    CSC Academic All-District

    S Tommy Prassas
    Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, honorable mention

    QB Jake Retzlaff
    All-Big 12, honorable mention
    CFN All-Big 12, honorable mention
    Davey O'Brien Semifinalist

    LS Dalton Riggs
    CSC Academic All-District
    Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week (UCF fake field goal)

    WR Chase Roberts
    CFN All-Big 12 Third Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team

    CB Jakob Robinson
    All-Big 12 Second Team
    CFN All-Big 12 Third Team
    Phil Steele All-Big 12 Third Team

    P Sam Vander Haar
    CSC Academic All-District
    Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week (UCF fake field goal)

    S Tanner Wall
    CFN All-Big 12 Third Team
    CSC Academic All-District

    Head Coach Kalani Sitake
    AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year
    George Munger Award Semifinalist
    Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Inductee

    Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill
    Broyles Award Nominee

    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.

    All three starting linebackers return in Isaiah Glasker, Harrison Taggart and Jack Kelly. Linebacker depth also returns with up-and-comers Siale Esera, Miles Hall and Maika and Ace Kaufusi.

    On the backend, starting free safety Tanner Wall and strong safety Raider Damuni return, bolstered by highly touted Faletau Satuala and Tommy Prassas, who both saw increased roles as the season went on.

    The Cougars will miss starting corners Jakob Robinson and Marque Collins but have Evan Johnson, Jonathan Kabeya and Therrian Alexander III ready to step into the spotlight.

    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.