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 into categories: available, probable, questionable, doubtful, or out .
Basketball Availability Reporting: For men’s and women’s basketball, availability updates are required the night before each contest, with categories limited to available, game-time decision, or out .
Where to Find Them: All reports will be centrally posted at Big12Sports.com, ensuring public access for fans, media, and stakeholders .
Why It Matters
This initiative marks a significant departure from traditional secrecy in college sports, where coaches have historically managed player status with strategic vagueness. Some, like Utah’s head coach Kyle Whittingham, have even defended opacity as a tactical advantage . However, the new policy brings BYU in line with the Big Ten (which began reporting in 2023), the SEC (which added reporting in 2024), and now the ACC (starting in 2025) . The Big 12 was notably the last of the Power Four conferences to adopt such transparency.
The rationale is clear: players’ injury and availability statuses impact betting lines, fantasy leagues, media coverage, and week-to-week planning for fans and teams alike. Elusive designations, like those during the Cam Rising saga at Utah—where ambiguity fueled frustration—are now a relic of the past .
What It Means for BYU
Consistent Communication: Fans and media will receive regular updates—not just the occasional “game-time decision.”
Reduced Speculation: Accurate, timely reports minimize ambiguous rumors that circulate around star players.
Alignment with Pro Sports: Similar to the NFL’s routine injury reporting, BYU will normalize transparency in collegiate athletics.
According to Sports Illustrated: “For years, college football coaches have kept player availability private before games—typically to gain competitive advantages. While there’s still room for gamesmanship (like listing many as ‘questionable’), the new policy will provide more clarity than ever before” .
The first Big 12 availability reports roll out next week ahead of the Kansas State–Iowa State matchup—conference games are included starting immediately. BYU’s first availability report under this policy will precede their game against Colorado later in September .
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In summary, BYU’s 2025 football season will usher in a new era of clarity—keeping fans and media better informed and aligning college athletics more closely with professional standards. Reports will launch weeks in advance, updated daily, and publicly accessible, signaling a welcome evolution in transparency for Cougar Nation.
