Author: Clay1
With BYU’s emergence into the Big 12 and strong returns on the gridiron and hardwood, Director of Athletics Brian Santiago has described the current fan interest as truly unprecedented. He told Deseret News on August 12, 2025, “there’s never been a time quite like this,” reflecting on how quickly football and men’s basketball season tickets sold out, while student all-sports ROC passes disappeared within an hour—despite a surge in demand from nearly 20,000 students in the queue for only 14,000 available passes. Santiago and his team know the overwhelming enthusiasm has inadvertently sidelined some longtime, dedicated fans. He emphasized…
In his August 4, 2025 column, veteran Salt Lake Tribune columnist Gordon Monson explores the quarterback competition at BYU, weighing the merits of Bear Bachmeier versus McCae Hillstead—while also acknowledging Treyson Bourguet remains in the mix. Monson frames the contest as a battle between ceiling and readiness, strongly favoring the former: give the quarterback with the highest potential the best chance to rise to the occasion. Monson leans into the wisdom of BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill, who emphasized the concept of “ceiling”—the untapped, upward potential a player possesses—and the coach’s responsibility was to “get him there.” Therefore, the…
In a fresh analysis of the Associated Press poll history, sports reporter Brett McMurphy of On3 has declared BYU football the most underrated program in the country since 2014 . This designation isn’t just a label—it’s a validation of the frustration and pride simmering within Cougar Nation for years. Despite modest expectations, projections that underestimated their potential, and being regularly snubbed in preseason hype (be it media polls or national discussions), BYU rose above the noise to prove doubters wrong. Rewinding to 2024, the Cougars were pegged to finish 13th out of 16 in their debut Big 12 preseason…
The 2025 Brigham Young University (BYU) football roster represents a diverse and deep lineup of talent spanning positions from offense to defense, with a combination of veteran returners, impactful transfers, and promising true freshmen. Quarterbacks Bear Bachmeier: A transfer from Stanford, Bard brings significant potential to the QB room as a true freshman . Treyson Bourguet: A redshirt junior transfer from Western Michigan, he offers experience as a reliable backup . McCae Hillstead: A sophomore transfer from Utah State, Hillstead continues to develop and contribute . Other notable QBs include Emerson Geilman (freshman) and Cole…
For the first time in its history, BYU Football will be issuing formal player availability reports during the 2025 season. This move comes as a direct result of a new policy adopted by the Big 12 Conference, which mandates that all member schools publicly disclose player availability for conference games in football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball . What’s New? Football Availability Reporting: Starting with the 2025–26 season, Big 12 football teams—including BYU—must submit daily player availability updates beginning three days before each game, concluding with a final report 90 minutes before kickoff . Players will be classified…
Alabama’s positioning at No. 7 in Sports Illustrated’s preseason Top 25 may not have risen to the lightning-speed expectations of a few years ago, but the Crimson Tide remain serious contenders. SI’s analysis emphasizes this ranking reflects both a dose of reality and a reminder of the talent still roaring beneath the surface in Tuscaloosa. The story begins by highlighting just how remarkable it remains that the Tide—a program that fans once took for granted as preseason No. 1 material—aren’t sitting atop the rankings. The post-Nick Saban era, combined with last season’s inconsistency, has ended that automatic credibility once…
In the heart of Central Alabama, players—both past and present—often highlight the elegance and strength of tradition when talking about the coolest uniforms they’ve worn. Here’s why and which ones stand out. 1. The Timeless Classic: Crimson at Home, White on the Road The most iconic combination of Alabama football is synonymous with consistency and class. At home, players don crimson helmets and jerseys paired with white pants, while away games flip the jersey to white and maintain the crimson helmet and white pants . This simple but powerful design is regularly ranked among the most iconic…
🏅 Phil Steele’s Top 25 Defensive Lines for 2025 1. Oklahoma Phil Steele places Oklahoma at No. 1, largely led by pass rusher Mason Thomas, who recorded nine sacks in 2024. The unit is further fortified by Jayden Jackson and David Stone, making it arguably the top DL group in the nation under Brent Venables . 2. Clemson Despite heavy roster turnover, Clemson lands at No. 2. With Peter Woods and T.J. Parker anchoring the line, plus transfer addition Will Heldt (5 sacks in 2024), Steele sees All‑American potential in the mix . 3. Penn State …
✅ How Jalen Hurts fits into Danny Parkins’ ranking Parkins frames Hurts as a classic dual-threat quarterback—a player with elite athleticism, leadership, and game-winning capability, but not the premier pocket passer among his peers . That mindset lands him just inside the Top 10—recognized for his ability to make plays with his legs and his leadership under pressure, though limited by conventional passing metrics. — 📊 Context: ESPN’s 2025 QB Rankings place Hurts at No. 9 Parallel to Parkins’ list, at least one major rankings effort—ESPN’s 2025 league-wide poll—also placed Hurts at No. 9, among scouts, coaches, and…
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule faced the media this week ahead of the highly anticipated Big Red Preview, offering an honest assessment of where his team stands as fall camp heats up. While Rhule expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, his message was clear and grounded: “This week’s been excellent, but not anywhere we need to be.” Rhule’s approach to camp has been all about building a culture of daily improvement and accountability. He praised his players for their energy and focus during the early practices, noting significant strides in areas like tempo, communication, and physicality. “Our guys are…