Inside the Future: How the Cougars’ 2026 Offense Could Redefine the Game

When you think about BYU’s 2025 football campaign, it’s nothing short of remarkable—especially given the uphill battle they faced. Picture this: a true freshman at quarterback, Bear Bachmeier, who hadn’t even sniffed spring drills, suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Yet, against all odds, this kid led the Cougars to a stellar 12-2 record, capping it off with a gritty 25-21 win over a ranked Georgia Tech squad in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. That alone would earn a nod, but BYU’s climb to No. 11 in the final AP Top 25? Tying the highest finish of the Kalani Sitake era? That’s a statement. The offense, under the watchful eye of seasoned coordinator Aaron Roderick, showed it can hang with the big dogs, even if a few hiccups – notably against Texas Tech – kept them from the playoff dance. But here’s the thing: the blueprint for greatness is unfolding, and the 2026 season looms as a real turning point if the Cougars want to seize the Big 12 crown or nab that elusive College Football Playoff berth. The grit, the promise, the talent returning—man, it’s a story worth watching. LEARN MORE

Considering that the BYU football team had to unexpectedly break in a true freshman starting quarterback who didn’t even get to participate in spring workouts, the recently completed 2025 season has to be considered a resounding success from an offensive standpoint.

Teenager Bear Bachmeier helped lead the Cougars to a 12-2 record, a 25-21 win over then-No. 22 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and one of the best seasons in school history. Tuesday, a day after Indiana edged Miami 27-21 in the College Football Playoff championship game, BYU finished ranked No. 11 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll of the season, tied with the 2020 season for the highest ranking in the Kalani Sitake era.

Certainly, BYU’s offense, led by five-year offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, did its part to get the Cougars into consideration for a berth in the CFP. But it wasn’t quite good enough to get the Cougars past Big 12 nemesis Texas Tech, and lack of offensive production in the two blowout losses to the Red Raiders — who finished at No. 7 in the final AP poll after getting throttled 23-0 by Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals — was a big reason why they were left out of the 12-team CFP.

A closer look at BYU’s defense in 2025, and a look ahead to that unit’s prospects in 2026 under new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga, will be published next week. Suffice it to say, that unit carried the Cougars for much of 2025 under DC Jay Hill — who left in early January to join former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham at Michigan.

1018fbccougarsutes.spt_SGW_015720.jpg — BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) hands off to BYU running back LJ Martin (4) as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

So the offense in 2026 has some room to grow if BYU wants to get to the next level, which is to win the Big 12 championship and/or earn a berth in the CFP.

“We still have work to do,” Sitake noted in Orlando after an ailing Bachmeier (ankle) completed 27 of 38 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown to earn the Pop-Tarts Bowl MVP honors. “These guys only know one way, and that is to go to work. I have never had to sit there and remind them to go to work. They have always been doing it. It has been nice as a head coach to have to tell the guys to slow down a little bit when they are all-in and ready to go.”

Obviously, a big part of maintaining the offense’s upward trajectory was getting Bachmeier back in BYU blue in this day and age of the transfer portal and NIL enticements for top-level quarterbacks. The rising sophomore announced Jan. 7 that he is returning, in typical understated fashion, with a “Run it Back” post on X.

A day later, rising senior running back LJ Martin announced he was returning instead of declaring for the NFL draft, further heightening expectations for the offense in 2026. Martin told BYUtv’s “BYU Sports Nation” that he got advice from former BYU great Jamaal Williams before making his decision to come back.

“If I came back for another season, I could (improve) my draft stock and I could have a chance to win some really cool awards,” Martin said.

That Sitake was able to hold on to Roderick is also a big deal, for continuity’s sake, amid fears as dominoes were falling during the Whittingham move that A-Rod would be lured away like Hill was, perhaps by rival Utah.

“I feel like we made a step towards becoming a better team, and I want to ride that momentum into 2026,” Sitake said. “I am really proud of the way Bear played. … A-Rod deserves a lot of credit. (Bachmeier) made big-time plays. He has always been consistent and always been poised under pressure. This is how he came. We can really do some wonderful things with him going into next year.”

Before we turn the page on 2025 and look ahead to 2026, here are the key offensive players BYU must replace: receiver Chase Roberts, tight end Carsen Ryan, left tackle Isaiah Jatta, left guard Weylin Lapuaho, right guard/tackle Austin Leausa and backup running back Enoch Nawahine.

Now that all the numbers are in, here’s where BYU’s offense in 2025 finished in the nation in some key statistical categories:

No. 33 in scoring offense (31.4 points per game)
No. 54 in total offense (399.5 yards per game)
No. 73 in passing offense (221.1 yards per game)
No. 39 in rushing offense (178.4 yards per game)
No. 51 in third-down conversion percentage (41.4%)
No. 27 in red-zone offense (89.8% success rate)

Here’s a position-by-position glance at what BYU’s offense will look like in 2026, and in which areas the Cougars need to improve:

Search is on for a backup QB

We wrote in this space last January that there were “no questions at quarterback” with Jake Retzlaff expected to return and shine even more after leading the Cougars to an 11-2 record in 2024 and Alamo Bowl win over Colorado. Then Retzlaff departed for Tulane in July in the face of a seven-game suspension, and the Bear Bachmeier era took root. As long as he stays healthy, Bachmeier could be the face of the program for several more years. But who will back him up?

McCae Hillstead transferred back to Utah State, while Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet announced, somewhat humorously, that he will be back for his senior season. Freshman returned missionary Enoch Watson joined the room before the bowl game, replacing mission-bound freshman Emerson Geilman.

Roderick is scouring the transfer portal for a capable backup, sources say, but options are quite limited. Very few quality QBs are interested in joining a program that has an established starter. Michigan’s Jadyn Davis reportedly visited BYU in early January, but has committed to East Tennessee State.

BYU needs more help at running back

To date, BYU has not added a running back from the transfer portal. That’s somewhat surprising, given how the aforementioned Martin needed shoulder surgery and missed the bowl game. The RB who was supposed to be his main backup, Sione Moa, has also battled injuries throughout his career and did not play in the bowl game, either.

1206fbccougars.spt_IH_1512.jpg — BYU running back Sione Moa (30) carries the ball during during the Big 12 championship game against Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Martin was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and led the league in rushing with 1,305 yards. If he stays healthy, he could push to become BYU’s all-time rushing yardage leader. He sits at 2,555 yards, while Williams accumulated 3,901 yards between 2012 and 2016, missing the 2015 season.

Redshirt freshman Jovesa Damuni showed flashes in the bowl game, rushing for 48 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, and senior Preston Rex was also slated to return as of mid-January. One name to keep an eye on is DeVaughn Eka, the incoming freshman from Lehi High.

“We’re still evaluating (running back needs),” Roderick said in December when the early signing period began. “But we are very, very excited about DeVaughn. … He runs hard between the tackles, but he has speed. And he can make you miss. He’s a good receiver, too. He is just a good all-around player.”

Cougars look to portal to upgrade receiver, tight end positions

BYU has some major holes to fill in the receiver and tight end rooms, as Chase Roberts and Carsen Ryan move on to possible spots in the NFL. Roberts, a four-year starter, and Ryan, who transferred from Utah, will be hard to replace.

Roberts leaves as one of the most prolific pass-catchers in BYU history. He’s seventh on the list of career receiving yards, with 2,584. He’s eighth in total catches with 169.

Redshirt senior Parker Kingston surged late to become BYU’s top receiver in 2025, finishing with 66 receptions for 924 yards and five touchdowns. He will be the top dog in Fesi Sitake’s room in 2026.

Also presumably back are several guys who could never really make much of an impact last year — JoJo Phillips (14 catches, 161 yards), Cody Hagen (12 catches, 97 yards) and Tiger Bachmeier (seven catches, 59 yards).

Obviously, BYU needs some transfer portal help at this spot, and it has already added Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior from Chandler, Arizona. Kasper appeared in 23 games for Oregon since 2022, but caught only six passes for 77 yards. His father, Kevin Kasper, played at Iowa and in the NFL for eight seasons.

The Cougars could probably use another experienced receiver out of the portal, but Fesi Sitake doesn’t have many openings, if any, because Tei Nacua, Reggie Frischknecht and Trey Roberts are waiting for more opportunities. He’s also got some talented freshmen coming in, most notably Jaron Pula, Legend Glasker, Terrance Saryon and returned missionary Jett Nelson.

At tight end, USC transfer Walker Lyons — older brother of prized QB recruit Ryder Lyons, who is mission-bound — and Oregon transfer Roger Saleapaga will attempt to fill Ryan’s shoes. Keayen Nead and Noah Moeaki, Ryan’s primary backups in 2025, are also expected back.

BYU’s offensive line was again a team strength in 2025

Kalani Sitake madę a bold, and ultimately successful, decision two years ago when he fired Darrell Funk and Steve Clark and brought in TJ Woods and Kevin Gilbride to coach BYU’s offensive line and tight ends. The big hogs have collectively been outstanding for BYU the past two seasons, as the Cougars have gone 23-4 overall. That’s impressive, and it has started in the trenches.

A lot of LJ Martin’s success the past two seasons can be attributed to these guys. Graduating seniors Isaiah Jatta, Weylin Lapuaho and Austin Leausa will be missed.

But the position looks fairly solid moving forward, as center Bruce Mitchell (an all-conference pick in 2025) and right tackle Andrew Gentry return for the group. Also back are SUU transfer Kyle Sfarcioc, senior Sonny Makasini and a couple of guys who were on the two-deep chart for the bowl game: Kaden Chidester, Trevin Ostler (who played some tight end) and Trevor Pay.

Look for prized freshman recruit Bott Mulitalo to push for playing time, along with three newcomers from the transfer portal: Stanford’s Zak Yamauchi, Washington’s Paki Finau and Utah State’s Junior Sia.

BYU’s expected comings and goings in 2026 on offense

Key losses: WR Chase Roberts, TE Carsen Ryan, TE Ethan Erickson, OL Isaiah Jattta, OL Weylin Lapuaho, OL Austin Leausa, RB Enoch Nawahine, OL Jake Griffin (transfer), WR LaMason Waller (transfer), QB McCae Hillstead (transfer), WR Dominique McKenzie (transfer), QB Emerson Geilman (mission)
Key returners: QB Bear Bachmeier, QB Treyson Bourguet, RB LJ Martin, RB Sione Moa, RB Jovesa Damuni, RB Preston Rex, WR Parker Kingston, WR Tiger Bachmeier, WR JoJo Phillips, WR Cody Hagen, WR Tei Nacua, WR Reggie Frischknecht, TE Noah Moeaki, TE Keayen Nead, OL Sonny Makasini, OL Bruce Mitchell, OL Kyle Sfarcioc, OL Andrew Gentry, OL Joe Brown, OL Ethan Thomason
Key incoming transfers: TE Walker Lyons, TE Roger Saleapaga, WR Kyle Kasper, OL Zak Yamauchi, OL Junior Sia, OL Paki Finau
Key incoming freshmen: WR Terrance Saryon, WR Legend Glasker, WR Jaron Pula, WR Jett Nelson (returned missionary), RB Devaughn Eka, QB Enoch Watson (returned missionary).