Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast
Published on Oct 6, 2026, 3:53:13 PM
Total time: 00:38:49
No. 8 BYU is 4-0, but the injury report is getting longer on a short week. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper opens Tuesday's show with his first thoughts on Friday night's homecoming game against Iowa State at LaVell Edwards Stadium (8:15 p.m. MT, ESPN).
Next, Mitch turns to a fight over primetime television. On Monday, ESPN slotted No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU on October 17 as ABC's Saturday Night Football game (5:30 p.m. MT). If both teams stay in the top 10, it would be the first top-10 matchup ever played at LaVell Edwards Stadium. According to Fighting Irish Wire, it would also be ABC's first primetime game not involving an SEC or ACC team in almost three seasons.
The SEC is not happy. ESPN put Alabama at Tennessee, Missouri at Ole Miss, and Auburn at Georgia all in the 3:30 p.m. ET window, and Florida at Texas and Mississippi State at LSU at noon. On his daily show, Clay Travis said ESPN was "protecting" BYU-Notre Dame and Florida State-Miami from SEC competition. He said the conference office is "angry," Tennessee is "furious," and that Tennessee had been told the game would be at night if both teams were having good seasons. "There is going to be hell to pay," Travis said. "They're making all of the SEC teams play head-to-head because the ratings are reflecting that overwhelmingly; sports fans would rather watch the SEC games. This is indefensible." Not everyone agrees, including Mitch.
In the third segment, Mitch talks with Jake Brend of Cyclone Fanatic. Brend is the site's chief content producer. He has covered every step of Iowa State's rebuild under Jimmy Rogers.
Mitch closes the show by asking, is it time to ditch the Navy Blue uniforms?
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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).
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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.
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.