BYU football's minimum expectations for 2026 are very clear
BYU football's minimum expectations for 2026 are very clear
Matt Zemek, BYU Cougars WireWed, July 8, 2026 at 1:45 PM UTC
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The expectations for BYU football are clear. The ceiling is a Big 12 championship, College Football Playoff appearance, and a CFP game victory. The floor is making sure the Cougars get to the Big 12 Championship Game, whether against Texas Tech or any other team in the conference. BYU football game day radio analyst Hans Olsen put it plainly when he said, "Anything short of a Big 12 championship return is going to be a heartbreaker."
The reality of the 2026 college football offseason is that virtually every pundit and outlet and publication is picking BYU to make the Big 12 Championship Game. A lot of experts and analysts are split on whether Texas Tech or BYU is the best team, and right now, it seems most football people still think Tech has enough to top BYU even without Brendan Sorsby.
BYU fans will disagree with that claim, but what matters is that the Cougars get a chance to test and disprove the claim in Arlington in December. Not being there to face Texas Tech (or any other team) would really sting for a team that overachieved last season and is now expected to at least maintain the standard set in 2025. Bear Bachmeier is more experienced. The offensive line is more experienced. The roster in general, is more experienced. There's only one real roster hole or question mark: wide receiver.
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The talent and experience in the lineup should point to a 10-2 season, which would almost certainly mean a trip to Arlington for the Big 12 title game. Maybe BYU goes 9-3 with a loss to Notre Dame. The Cougars would have a 7-2 Big 12 record, which might still be enough to get to Arlington. That is the absolute floor for this team. Anything below it would rate as a clear-cut disappointment, for Hans Olsen and everyone else who follows BYU.
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This article originally appeared on BYU Cougars Wire: BYU football season will be a failure if one goal is not achieved
Source: “AOL Sports”
