BYU football practice observations: What stood out + 5-in-5 heats up for basketball

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper starts today's show from the practice fields after another eventful day at BYU football fall camp. Day 11 took place Tuesday at the Student-Athlete Building, where media were allowed to watch the final 20 minutes. 

Mitch shares his observations from the media window — who flashed, which position battles are tightening up, and how the Cougars are shaping up entering the final stretch before the September 5 opener against Utah Tech. With BYU checking in at No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25, the expectations are real, and the on-field product at practice is reflecting that.

Then Mitch pivots to the hardwood, where the 5-in-5 eligibility injunctions have turned BYU basketball's roster construction into one of the most fascinating storylines in college hoops. A temporary restraining order in California allows for Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler to be able to enter the portal and have another year of college eligibility. Could BYU get him?

The American Fork, Utah, native who started for Tom Izzo and played in the Utah Jazz Summer League is considering Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and BYU for his fifth year. Mitch breaks down how the injunction works, why the transfer portal rules add another layer of complexity, and what landing Kohler would mean for a BYU basketball team building around Rob Wright, Bruce Branch III, and Collin Chandler.

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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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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.