BYU climbs rankings after impressive Big 12 opener + Football & basketball recruiting update

Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast

BYU climbs rankings after impressive Big 12 opener + Football & basketball recruiting update

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Published on Sep 14, 2026, 3:56:10 PM
Total time: 00:24:15

Episode Description

BYU is on the move. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper opens Monday's episode with a deep dive into the Week 3 AP Top 25, where the Cougars jumped four spots from No. 15 to No. 11. Next, Mitch breaks down Saturday's 28-17 victory over Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium, a game that showcased the two things that define this BYU team: grit and second-half adjustments. Then, Mitch transitions to the recruiting trail.

BYU's opening Big 12 victory doubled as a major recruiting showcase. Winning on national television on FOX, in a packed LaVell Edwards Stadium, against a quality Big 12 opponent is exactly the kind of atmosphere that sells itself to high school juniors — and the Cougars' staff knows it. Mitch details who attended and what this early investment in 2028 recruiting suggests about where Kalani Sitake and his staff see the program headed.

On the basketball side, five-star small forward AJ Williams announced his top 10 schools on Monday, and BYU made the cut. Williams, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing from Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, was originally the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2028 class before reclassifying to 2027, where he now ranks as the No. 5 overall recruit.

Finally, Mitch wraps with the Cougar Stock Exchange report. What's trending up and trending down in the world of BYU sports.

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Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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More about Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast

Cougar Tracks gives you a daily insider look into BYU Cougars football and basketball.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper hosts the show. Harper has been covering BYU athletics for more than a decade. He brings you everything from the latest happenings in the BYU football and men's basketball programs, to the latest insight on the recruiting trail. 

Cougar Tracks is your go-to podcast for the best daily BYU conversation.