FEED THE COUGAR · ORIGINAL REPORTING
FTC Originals
Reporting, analysis and context made for Cougar fans. Daily stories may be prepared with AI assistance; Feed the Cougar is responsible for sources, updates and corrections.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The CFP May Get Bigger. BYU’s Standard Against Notre Dame Shouldn’t
Playoff expansion is only a discussion for the future; Saturday’s Notre Dame game remains BYU’s clearest résumé test under the current 12-team model.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
AJ Williams Is Visiting BYU. The Real Pitch Is Already on the Floor
The five-star wing can watch BYU’s exhibition and College GameDay weekend, but the lasting sales pitch is a proven pathway from featured role to NBA opportunity.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Sione Moa Is Cleared. BYU Still Has to Decide How Much He Can Give Notre Dame
Moa’s medical clearance changes BYU’s options, but his first game back may be about three useful snaps rather than a full workload.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s 17 National TV Games Reveal the Season’s Real Pressure Points
The Cougars’ new broadcast schedule confirms national expectations while exposing two stretches when recovery, travel and rotation depth will matter most.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Notre Dame Has 68 Blue-Chips to BYU’s 12. The Records Are Nearly Identical
The recruiting gap is enormous, but BYU’s 28–4 record since 2024 shows why Saturday is more than a roster-talent census.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Reinforcements Are Arriving. Against Notre Dame, the Rotation Matters More Than the Names
Several injured Cougars could return Saturday, but BYU’s real advantage would be enough depth to keep its defense fresh against Notre Dame’s 44-point offense.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
Nebraska’s First Exhibition Shows What BYU Must Measure Friday
The Cornhuskers’ 79–74 loss to Saint Louis points toward the statistics that will matter most in BYU’s first public test: rebounds, pressure and connected defense.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Five Numbers That Will Decide BYU vs. Iowa State
Five matchup numbers explain why BYU is favored, why Iowa State is dangerous and what will decide Friday night.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The Computers Can’t Agree on BYU Football: Who Is Overrating, and Underrating the Cougars?
BYU’s polls, predictive systems and résumé rankings are telling different stories. The disagreement is useful if you understand what each model rewards.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
What Happened to BYU’s Offense at TCU—and Can It Be Fixed?
The TCU game was a weather game, a protection game and a warning. Iowa State gives BYU a chance to answer all three.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Sports Nation Prediction Scorecard: Week 5 — The Biggest Picks Are Looking Better Than Ever
BYU is 4-0, ranked No. 8 nationally and allowing just 14.3 points per game. After the Week 4 bye and a gritty win at TCU, we revisit Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan’s preseason predictions to see which picks are on track, which are getting closer and which are starting to fade.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
Marriott Madness Was Fun. BYU’s Home-Court Math Is Serious
More than 5,000 fans showed up for a preseason party, but last season’s splits explain why Kevin Young is already recruiting the crowd as carefully as his roster.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
LJ Martin’s Injury Turns BYU’s Run Game Into a Five-Week Management Problem
BYU has enough production behind its star back to survive a Friday night. The harder question is how the Cougars distribute the burden through Notre Dame, UCF, Arizona State and possibly Utah. The numbers suggest BYU has enough running-back depth to survive without its star. The TCU game also showed why the Cougars cannot simply transfer Martin’s workload to Bear Bachmeier.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Next Man Up: Can BYU’s Depth Survive a Growing Injury List?
BYU’s next challenge is not just replacing injured starters. It is preserving the identity that made the Cougars 4–0.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Don’t Let the 3–2 Record Fool You: Why Iowa State Is Dangerous
Iowa State’s record is ordinary. Its explosive ceiling, road-tested offense and current form are not.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Defense Meets Iowa State’s One-Man Offense: How to Stop Aiden Flora
Aiden Flora can run, throw and return punts, but BYU’s disciplined front has allowed only 75 rushing yards per game through four weeks.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Added Three 40% Shooters. Here’s What That Changes for Kevin Young
Robert Wright III, Collin Chandler and Tyler Betsey each topped 40% from three last season, giving BYU a proven foundation for its rebuilt lineup.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
Kevin Young Promotes Two BYU Assistants, but the Bigger Challenge Is Still Ahead
Brandon Dunson and Jordan Brady rise as BYU tries to turn consecutive lottery picks and Richie Saunders’ 72% scoring jump into a repeatable program advantage.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Faces Its Biggest Depth Test Yet With LJ Martin and Isaiah Glasker Doubtful Against Iowa State
With LJ Martin and Isaiah Glasker doubtful for Iowa State, BYU’s depth must preserve the rushing efficiency and defensive discipline behind a 4-0 start.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Is 4-0 Against the Spread. Is the Market Finally Catching Up?
BYU is 4-0 against the spread in 2026, continuing a multi-year trend of outperforming expectations. But as the cover margins shrink, the bigger question is whether oddsmakers are finally catching up to the Cougars.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Big 12 Power Rankings: Utah Takes No. 1, BYU Holds No. 2
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU 17, TCU 10: The Stats That Explain an Ugly Road Win
BYU beats TCU: BYU 17, TCU 10: The Stats That Explain an Ugly Road Win
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
The First Date Is Set for BYU’s Jaxon Kohler. The Rest Is Still a Question.
A delayed California hearing leaves the 6-foot-10 rebounder available under the current order through Oct. 20, with BYU’s season opener less than two weeks later.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s 61% Third-Down Offense Meets TCU’s 24% Wall
The Cougars’ best offensive statistic runs directly into the Horned Frogs’ best defensive one—and Andrew Gentry’s absence makes the collision even more revealing.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU's Hidden TCU Question: Who Handles Kickoffs Without Brody Laga?
BYU ranks among the national leaders in scoring and rushing, and Laga has supplied 22 touchbacks in 23 kickoffs. His absence at TCU tests a quieter Cougar advantage.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Bruce Mitchell Is the Quiet Centerpiece of BYU’s Offensive Success
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Which BYU Players Are National Statistical Leaders?
BYU’s current player board is full of early production, but not every category has a verified national rank yet. Here are the Cougars who belong on the national watch list now.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Explosive-Play Advantage: How It Ranks Nationally
Explosive plays are not the whole offense, but BYU’s 14.6 percent rate explains why the Cougars can change a game before a defense has time to settle in.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s National Ranking Resume: What Improves—and What Still Needs Work
BYU has a credible early profile, but the national résumé has both strong evidence and unfinished business. Here is what the numbers already support and what the Cougars must prove next.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
FTC Big 12 Power Rankings: BYU Holds No. 1 While Week 4 Scrambles the Conference
Week 4 shook up the Big 12. BYU holds the top spot, Utah makes its case at No. 2, and Oklahoma State surges after a huge road win. We break down all 16 teams and use the numbers to identify who’s too high, not high enough, and ranked just right.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Bear Bachmeier’s Efficiency Check Through Three Games
Bear Bachmeier has produced the kind of early-season efficiency BYU needed. The next step is measuring how much of that efficiency travels when the game becomes less forgiving.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
LJ Martin’s National Case: Where BYU’s Running Back Is Making His Mark
LJ Martin’s production is already substantial through three games. The more revealing question is how his workload, efficiency and role compare with the national running-back field and the Big 12.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Defense Is Winning the Hidden Yardage Battle
The Cougars’ defensive story is not only points allowed. Field position, third downs, pressure and explosive plays explain why the unit keeps giving BYU a chance to control games.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s First Three Weeks by the Numbers: What the Stats Say About This Team
The first three games have produced a clearer BYU profile than a simple 3–0 record can show. Here are the numbers that explain what is real, what is still fragile and what matters next.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
What BYU Fans Should Watch in TCU at UCF
Before TCU comes to Provo, its trip to UCF offers BYU fans a valuable scouting window. These are the numbers and matchup clues worth tracking from the couch.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Sports Nation Prediction Scorecard: Three Weeks In, The Top-10 Picks Are Already Here
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Bye-Week To-Do List: The 3 Numbers That Need Fixing
BYU enters the bye week 3–0 with plenty working, but three defensive numbers stand out: third-down defense, sacks and red-zone efficiency. Here’s where the Cougars are falling short statistically, why those issues matter, and what needs to improve before Big 12 play gets tougher.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Is No. 9: Too High, Too Low or Just Right?
BYU is No. 9 in both the AP and Coaches polls, but the ranking is debatable. The Cougars’ dominant margins and efficiency suggest they could be higher, while a résumé without a ranked win makes the case they may be too high. Comparing BYU directly with Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and Texas Tech shows why No. 9 may be the perfect middle ground — elite production, but still waiting for a signature victory.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Why BYU Football's Transfer Portal Strategy Is Different
BYU added just nine transfers while the average Big 12 program brought in nearly 28. Rather than rebuilding through the portal, the Cougars targeted specific needs with high-quality additions while protecting opportunities for developing talent already in the program. The numbers reveal a deliberate strategy built around recruiting, development, retention and selective portal use.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The Most Important BYU Stat From Saturday’s blowout win over Colorado State Was 38
38 Deep: BYU’s Blowout Is Building a Roster for November
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The Fourth-Quarter Cougar Killers: The Stats Behind BYU’s Late-Game Success
BYU has become one of college football’s best fourth-quarter teams. Since the start of 2025, the Cougars have outscored opponents 145-68 in the fourth quarter, with Texas Tech the only team to outscore BYU in the final period. The numbers show a team that has evolved from surviving close games to consistently finishing them.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Why 3rd-and-Long Is Fueling BYU’s Defensive Success
Nearly half of BYU’s opponent third downs have required seven or more yards, and the results are dramatic. Opponents are converting 53.8% of third downs under seven yards but only 25% when BYU forces 3rd-and-7 or longer. The numbers show how BYU’s defense is creating its biggest advantage on first and second down
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Football Is #11 - Why The Voters Are Buying their Résumé
Why BYU jumped USC and Texas Tech, what the computers still don’t believe, and whether Cougar fans’ complaints about national bias are supported by the numbers
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU @ Colorado State: Where Colorado State Can Hurt BYU — and Where the Rams Could Get Exposed
Colorado State’s 2-0 start is easy to dismiss if you look only at the names on the schedule. The Rams opened with Wyoming and followed it with an FCS opponent in Southern Utah, while No. 11 BYU already owns a Big 12 win over Arizona. But treating Saturday’s game in Fort Collins as a simple talent-gap matchup would overlook what Colorado State has actually done well.
Basketball · FTC ORIGINAL
How Tough Is BYU Basketball’s Nonconference Schedule? Projecting the Cougars’ Record, NET and Quad Opportunities
BYU basketball’s 2026–27 nonconference schedule offers a strong mix of résumé-building opportunities and winnable games. We break down the projected NET rankings, Quad 1 and Quad 2 chances, toughest matchups and why a 12–2 start is a realistic target for the Cougars.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Cardiac Cougars: The Numbers Behind BYU’s Late-Game Nerve
BYU has earned the “Cardiac Cougars” nickname again, going 8-2 in one-score games across 2024 and 2025. With six comeback wins in 2025 and multiple victories decided in the final minutes or overtime, the numbers show BYU has developed a real knack for surviving — and winning — high-pressure games.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Sports Nation Prediction Scorecard: Two Weeks In, Which Picks Are Holding Up?
Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan predicted another run at Arlington, a top-10 CFP neighborhood and another strong BYU defense. After two weeks, several of those forecasts already look better than they did in August.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU vs Colorado State Preview: The Stat Colorado State Can’t Survive Without
Colorado State’s defense has created eight takeaways through two games. BYU has given the ball away zero times. That contrast could decide Saturday’s game in Fort Collins.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Feed The Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings
A stats-first look at the Big 12 after Week 2, counting down all 16 teams from UCF to BYU using scoring margins, efficiency, opponent strength and early-season results.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
How BYU moved up in today’s national polls: The votes and stats behind the jump
BYU rose to No. 11 in the AP poll and No. 13 in the Coaches Poll. Vote totals and second-half stats explain how the Cougars made the jump.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Do BYU fans have a Persecution Complex?
From Mormon pioneers driven west to anti-LDS chants, conference exclusion, postseason snubs and the continuing debate over 1984, BYU fans have a long history of feeling like outsiders. Maybe the persecution complex is real—but so are some of the reasons behind it.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Efficiency Over Endurance: How BYU Flipped the Script on Arizona
BYU Cougars Football defeated Arizona Wildcats 28-17 on September 12th, 2026.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Why Interceptions Will Decide BYU vs. Arizona
BYU Football has made life miserable for Noah Fifita before. If the Cougars can force another interception or two, their ball-hawking defense could be the difference against Arizona. Arizona Wildcats at BYU Cougars September 12th, 2026
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
2026 BYU vs. Arizona Score Prediction
How Saturday’s Game Unfolds Quarter by Quarter
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The Gross Injustice of the ESPN FPI System
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Vampire Cougs: Why BYU Football Comes Alive After Dark
BYU’s late-night success is more than a nickname. The Cougars’ remarkable record after 7 p.m., combined with dramatic wins over Arizona, Kansas State and Utah, reveals a team that has repeatedly been at its best when games get late, strange and uncomfortable.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU-Arizona Preview: Is Bear "The Centaur" Bachmeier Already Better Than Noah Fifita?
Fifita owns the experience and passing résumé, but Bachmeier’s efficiency, rushing production and total-QB value make the matchup much closer than the career numbers suggest.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Sports Nation’s 2026 Predictions for Football
Putting Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan’s Picks to the Test
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU’s Freshman and Sophomores Weren’t Just Getting Reps. They Were Taking Over.
The final score was 63-7. The more interesting numbers were 7 of 9, 5 of 9 and 3 of 5.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
LaVell Edwards vs. Kalani Sitake: Two Different Men, One BYU Standard
There is really only one measuring stick for a BYU football coach.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
The National Media Is Starting to Believe in BYU
A review of 35 national playoff forecasts found BYU on the right side of the line, although the confidence varies sharply by outlet.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Arizona Wildcats @ BYU Cougars Football Preview 2026
Where the Cougars Have the Edge — and Where the Wildcats Are Dangerous
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
BYU Football Is More Experienced Than the Numbers Say
Why Power Four Snaps Tell a Different Story
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Did TCU Just Get Exposed?
TCU's loss in Dublin gave BYU a clearer look at its October road test. The warning signs were real, even if one game is too little evidence for a final verdict.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
3 Reasons BYU Has a Top-3 Defense Nationally Entering 2026
BYU returns production, snaps and proven playmakers from a 12-win defense. Those numbers give the Cougars a credible top-three case, with a coordinator change providing the main caution.
Football · FTC ORIGINAL
Does BYU Have a Top-15 Offense? The Numbers Say Yes
BYU already operated near top-15 efficiency with a freshman quarterback. A veteran backfield raises the floor in 2026, while an unproven receiver group will set the ceiling.