3 Months to Boulder’ — A BYU Quarterbacks Story: One of College Football’s Most Electrifying Battlegrounds
‘3 Months to Boulder’: BYU’s Quarterback Battle Sets the Stage for a Showdown in the Rockies
Provo, UT — July 1, 2025
Three months. Ninety days. That’s all that separates BYU’s quarterback room from the most anticipated season opener in recent program history — a Week 1 showdown against Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder. But for the Cougars, the battle isn’t just with Coach Prime’s squad. It’s within their own locker room, where one of college football’s most electrifying QB competitions is reaching a fever pitch.
The headline: Three quarterbacks. One job. A national spotlight waiting.
After the surprise transfer of Jake Retzlaff in June — a move BYU insiders say didn’t catch coaches off guard — the quarterback competition has become a three-way clash between returning redshirt freshman Tyson Fano, true freshman phenom Makai Kalama, and transfer junior Noah Reyes from Cal.
“None of these guys are just filling a gap,” said offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “They’re all built to lead. And they all want Boulder.”
The Front-Runner: Noah Reyes
Reyes brings Pac-12 experience, a lightning-quick release, and a calm pocket presence. At Cal, he started five games last season, throwing for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He’s mature, vocal, and battle-tested.
“He’s surgical,” said one BYU staffer. “He sees the field like a senior.”
But Roderick has refused to name him the starter. Why? Because of the rising storm behind him.
The Wild Card: Makai Kalama
Kalama is a true freshman, but don’t let the age fool you. The Hawaiian-born gunslinger was a four-star dual-threat recruit who turned down Oregon and USC to sign with BYU. His spring game performance — 14-of-17, 203 yards, 2 TDs — sent Cougar fans into a frenzy.
He’s raw. He’s electric. He scrambles like Zach Wilson and throws like Jaren Hall. If Reyes stumbles in fall camp, Kalama could take over by September.
The Underdog: Tyson Fano
The local kid from Orem may be third on paper, but teammates say he’s the locker room favorite. A former Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, Fano knows the system, commands the huddle, and brings a sneaky edge in zone-read situations.
“He’s got that Taysom Hill mentality,” said tight end Hyrum Satele. “He’ll run through a linebacker to move the chains.”
The Stakes: Boulder or Bust
On August 31st, BYU travels to Colorado — a team led by Shedeur Sanders, full of flash, speed, and social media swagger. The Buffaloes embarrassed BYU last season in a 45–20 rout in Provo. This year, revenge—and clarity—rides on who takes that first snap.
“We’re not just picking a quarterback,” said head coach Kalani Sitake. “We’re choosing the tone of our season.”
As July unfolds, Cougar Nation waits with bated breath. In Provo’s rising heat, under the Wasatch shadow, three quarterbacks chase one dream: leading BYU into Boulder — and into belief.
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