BYU Football Poised for Breakout Season as Depth and Stability Set Cougars Apart from ASU, Colorado
As the 2025 college football season looms, one program quietly rising above the noise is Brigham Young University. While traditional Pac-12 powers like Arizona State and Colorado are reeling from talent exoduses due to the NFL Draft and transfer portal chaos, BYU enters the season with something rare in the modern era of college football: stability, experience, and depth across the board.
Unlike ASU and Colorado—both of whom lost a combined 14 players to the draft, including cornerstone starters on both sides of the ball—BYU returns the vast majority of its 2024 roster. With head coach Kalani Sitake entering his tenth season and a rock-solid coaching staff behind him, the Cougars have quietly positioned themselves to compete at the highest level in the restructured Big 12.
“We didn’t lose guys early to the draft, and that matters,” said BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “We’re bringing back starters who know the system, who’ve played in big games, and who aren’t learning on the fly. That’s a luxury few teams have right now.”
On paper, the numbers back up the optimism. BYU returns 19 of 22 starters, including veteran quarterback Ryder Burton, who’s coming off a breakout sophomore campaign with 3,200 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. In the trenches, the offensive line remains nearly untouched, headlined by All-Big 12 left tackle Kingsley Suamataia, anchoring a group that allowed the fewest sacks in the conference last season.
But it’s not just retention—it’s what BYU added that could make the real difference.
The shockwaves of BYU’s offseason moves were felt nationwide when the Cougars landed 275-pound running back Nicholas Singleton, one of the most highly touted backs in the country. A rare blend of size, speed, and vision, Singleton transferred from Penn State, citing BYU’s culture and offensive scheme as deciding factors. Analysts already project him as a potential Doak Walker Award finalist.
“I wanted to be part of something special,” Singleton said during his official visit. “There’s a brotherhood here that you don’t feel everywhere. And they’re ready to win now.”
While programs like ASU scramble to rebuild after losing star quarterback Jaden Rashada and edge rusher Clayton Smith to the draft, and Colorado faces uncertainty following the departure of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, BYU’s quiet offseason may prove to be its biggest strength.
Defensively, BYU returns nearly its entire front seven, along with ball-hawking safety Crew Wakley and breakout linebacker Ben Bywater. New defensive coordinator Jay Hill has the unit flying to the ball in spring camp, preaching fundamentals and discipline over flash.
“This isn’t a rebuild,” Hill said. “This is a reload.”
National pundits have taken notice. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach recently placed BYU just outside the preseason Top 25, calling the Cougars “the Big 12’s most overlooked contender.” FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt described BYU as a “sleeping giant” with “the infrastructure, coaching, and returning firepower to win 10+ games.”
The Big 12 landscape is wide open in 2025. With traditional powerhouses in flux and no clear frontrunner, the Cougars’ depth and continuity give them a tangible edge. In a conference built on chaos and transition, BYU has chosen the path of retention, development, and quiet confidence.
If the rest of the college football world isn’t paying attention yet, they soon will be. Because in Provo, the pieces are in place—and the Cougars are ready to strike.
