Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast

3-0 feels oh-so-good for BYU football.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper hosts a special postgame reaction show live from Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins after No. 11 BYU overpowered Colorado State 41-23 on Saturday night, moving to 3-0 for a fourth consecutive season and the 20th time in program history. BYU is now 3-0 for the sixth time under Kalani Sitake — and this one was never in doubt.

Mitch opens with the performance that had the CBS broadcast crew running out of superlatives. LJ Martin put on a clinic, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries — and 173 of those yards came in the first half. On BYU's second offensive play of the game, Martin broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run to set the tone less than a minute into the contest. He followed it with a 2-yard scoring plunge to make it 14-7, then ripped off an 8-yard touchdown to cap a six-play, 73-yard drive and give BYU a 21-7 lead before the first quarter was over. All three touchdowns came in the opening 15 minutes. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year carried the ball just once in the second half with BYU up big. 

On the defensive side, Kelly Poppinga's unit held Colorado State to just 302 total yards — more than 200 fewer than the Rams' season average entering the game. CSU managed only 82 rushing yards on 24 attempts, a 3.4-yard average, after coming in averaging 225 per game. The Rams, who had scored 93 combined points in their first two wins over Wyoming and Southern Utah, were limited to just seven points through three quarters. The BYU defense held Hauss Hejny largely in check after CSU's opening-drive touchdown response. Colorado State has now lost 28 consecutive games against ranked opponents — their last win over a ranked team came in 2002 against No. 7 Colorado.

Mitch also addresses a segment of Colorado State's student section that directed anti-faith chants toward BYU's players and fans during the pregame. Colorado State issued a public statement after the game: "Mocking anyone's faith has no place at CSU. It runs counter to our community's values and to who we are. BYU's players, coaches and fans deserved better. We are addressing this with our students." Sitake took the high road in his presser, noting that the chants came from a "mostly minority" of the crowd and that his players are "self-motivated" regardless of the environment. 

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BYU football players LJ Martin, Legend Glasker, and Evan Johnson spoke with the media after BYU's 41-23 victory over the Colorado State Rams at Canvas Stadium on September 19, 2026.

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BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake spoke with the media after the Cougars defeated Colorado State 41-23, on September 19, 2026, in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

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It's game day eve. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper delivers the comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know before No. 11 BYU (2-0) travels to Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins to take on Colorado State (2-0) on Saturday, September 19. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MT on CBS & KSL NewsRadio.

Mitch opens with the stat matchup that tells the story of this game — and it starts with two of the most efficient offenses in the country crashing into each other under the lights. BYU is averaging 45.5 points per game (28th nationally) on 443 total yards per game (43rd), while Colorado State is putting up 46.5 points per game (23rd) on a whopping 537 total yards per game (13th). Both teams are averaging 225-plus rushing yards per game. Both teams are elite at protecting the football — BYU's turnover margin of plus-5 is fifth nationally, and Colorado State's plus-7 margin is second in the entire country. 

To close the show, Mitch gives his score prediction for the matchup.

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Should No. 11 BYU be on upset watch Saturday night in Fort Collins? KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper opens Thursday's show with the question that nobody in Cougar Nation wants to ask but everybody is quietly thinking about. 

Next, Mitch has some fun with the viral story of the week. RotoGrinders published its "Most Handsome College Football Coaches" rankings on Sunday, analyzing 414 images of all 138 FBS head coaches using facial landmark technology that mapped 468 facial landmarks per image against neoclassical facial proportions and Pallett-Link-Lee ratios. Duke's Manny Diaz took the No. 1 spot with a 75.9 out of 100 final score. Indiana's Curt Cignetti landed second. Clemson's Dabo Swinney came in third and had the quote of the week when a reporter told him about the ranking at his Tuesday press conference: "As in good looking? Finally something comes my way. I thought you were gonna say, like, 'most hated guy' or whatever." 

In the third segment, Mitch runs through his Week 3 Big 12 picks. It's a loaded slate with 13 games involving Big 12 teams, headlined by the Friday night showdown between No. 22 Houston and No. 13 Texas Tech in Lubbock. Saturday's slate features the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London, where Arizona State takes on Kansas at 10 a.m. MT on FS1, the first Big 12 conference game ever played on foreign soil.

Finally, Mitch wraps the show by pivoting to basketball and sharing his takeaways from the 2026-27 Big 12 men's basketball schedule.

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Colorado State's first-year head coach dropped a word this week that tells you how far BYU football has come. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper opens Wednesday's episode with the storyline driving the national narrative around Saturday's game in Fort Collins: Jim Mora called BYU a "powerhouse." 

No. 11 BYU will be the highest-ranked team to ever play at Canvas Stadium when the Cougars visit Fort Collins on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT on CBS. It's the first meeting between the former WAC and Mountain West rivals since November 13, 2010.

BYU leads the all-time series 39-27-3, including a seven-game winning streak dating back to 2004. Mitch breaks down why the "powerhouse" label matters for BYU's playoff positioning and what it means that opposing coaches are no longer tiptoeing around the compliment.

In the second segment, Mitch sits down with Kevin Lytle, the veteran Colorado State athletics reporter for The Coloradoan in Fort Collins. Lytle has covered the Rams for years.

Finally, Mitch closes the show with a one-on-one interview with BYU wide receiver Reggie Frischknecht, just days removed from hauling in his first career collegiate touchdown. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound redshirt sophomore from Ephraim, Utah, took a short pass from Bear Bachmeier over the middle and turned it into a 25-yard score early in the second quarter against Arizona, giving BYU its first lead of the game at 14-10. It was a moment that crystallized one of the most unconventional paths to the BYU roster in recent memory. 

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First-year Colorado State head coach Jim Mora Jr. has coached in the NFL, UCLA, UConn, and now on the Front Range with the Rams.

As BYU gets set to travel to Ft. Collins for the first time in 16 years, Mora shared his memories of BYU football over the years.

This is a news update that aired on KSL NewsRadio. You can listen to the daily Cougar Tracks updates on KSL NewsRadio at 5:55 a.m., 7:55 a.m, 3:55 p.m., and 5:55 p.m. on 102.7 FM, 1160 AM, and the KSL NewsRadio app.

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Why is BYU football playing at Group of Six Colorado State? Many in Cougar Nation are asking why No. 11 BYU is playing at Group of Six Colorado State as it prepares to take on the Rams in Fort Collins on Saturday.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper unpacks how it got here and why this series is on the books against an old WAC and Mountain West rival. Also in this episode, head coach Kalani Sitake gives an update on injured linebacker Siale Esera and then shares his thoughts on CSU QB Hauss Hejny. 

Mitch also talked about BYU basketball as the Cougars get ready to open official practice on Monday.

Mitch caught up with players Dawson Baker and Dean Rueckert.

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BYU football players Andrew Gentry (OT), Tommy Prassas (SAF), and Keanu Tanuvasa (DT) spoke with the media on Zoom on September 14, 2026, to preview the upcoming matchup against the Colorado State Rams.

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BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake spoke with the media on Zoom to gear up for the week three matchup against Colorado State in Fort Collins.

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

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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BYU football earned an important Big 12 victory by defeating the Arizona Wildcats, 28-17, on September 12, 2026, inside LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his takeaways and analysis from the game as BYU improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play.

The Cougars have now won six consecutive meetings against the Arizona Wildcats.

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Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan and players Noah Fifita and Tre Smith spoke with the media following the Wildcats 28-17 loss to No. 15 BYU in Provo, Utah, on September 12, 2026. 

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BYU football players Cade Uluave, Tausili Akana, LJ Martin, and Kyler Kasper speak with the media after the Cougars defeat Arizona, 28-17, in Provo, on September 12, 2026. 

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake spoke with reporters after No. 15 BYU defeated the Arizona Wildcats 28-17 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. 

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

BYU football coordinators Aaron Roderick and Kelly Poppinga preview the Big 12 opener against the Arizona Wildcats.

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No. 15 BYU football prepares for a Big 12 opener against the Arizona Wildcats. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper breaks down what's at stake for the Cougars in the matchup. 

Mitch also caught up with BYU freshman running back Journee Tonga, fresh off his 38-yard rushing performance in the debut.

Then, Mitch spoke with Arizona insider Justin Spears of the Arizona Daily Star for an insider look at the Wildcats.

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The Cougars win by 56 and drop a spot. Welcome to the AP Poll, Cougar Nation. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper breaks down No. 15 BYU's one-spot slide in Monday's Week 2 AP Top 25 despite a dominant 63-7 demolition of Utah Tech in the season opener. 

Next, Mitch dives into the Week 2 depth chart notes heading into Saturday's Big 12 opener against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium (1:30 p.m. MT, FOX & KSL NewsRadio). BYU may be at less than full strength after some bumps from the opener, and the coaching staff hinted at potential adjustments along the lines.

In the fun segment of the day, Mitch plays a game of "Dream for the Big 12" — what if LSU, now No. 8 with five first-place votes and one of the SEC's premier brands, were a Big 12 program? If the SEC really wants to boot the Tigers, bring "the boot" to the MONSTER BIG 12.

And to close the show, Mitch unpacks the quote of the week from Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. When asked about returning to LaVell Edwards Stadium, where his Wildcats were throttled 41-19 in front of 64,000-plus in 2024, Brennan went on the record: "I didn't feel like the crowd was a problem in '24. I felt like we didn't play well. We turned the ball over too many times. I think that's a very separate issue" He also called the environment "great" and said he "respects" the BYU fanbase, but made clear Arizona won't be using the crowd as an excuse this time around. Brennan praised LJ Martin as "a total stud" and called Kalani Sitake "one of my favorite people in this profession." Mitch discusses whether Brennan's dismissal of the crowd will add extra fuel to an already-charged atmosphere for BYU's biggest early-season home game.

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

BYU football players Preston Rex (RB), Hunter Clegg (OLB), and Kyle Sfarcioc (IOL), spoke with the media virtually on Monday, September 7, 2026, to preview BYU's Big 12 opener against the Arizona Wildcats.

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake spoke with the media virtually on Zoom on September 7, 2026, to preview the week two matchup against the Arizona Wildcats.

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

BYU football opened the 2026 season with a dominant victory over Utah Tech, 63-7.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper closed the book on the game with commentary from Kalani Sitake, Legend Glasker, and Cannon DeVries.

Glasker and DeVries both earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors for their play.

Also in this episode, Mitch gave a rundown of recruits he saw in attendance at the game. Some of the key players that you need to pay attention to on the recruiting trail for the class of 2028, 2029, and even 2030.

Then, finally, a Cougar Stock Exchange report with what's trending up and trending down in the world of BYU football.

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast sponsored by Zions Bank to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his thoughts and takeaways from BYU's 63-7 victory over the Utah Tech Trailblazers at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

From Legend Glasker's three-touchdown performance to a strong showing from the special teams unit, it was an excellent opener for BYU football.

Mitch unpacks all of it.

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Utah Tech head coach Lance Anderson spoke with the media following the Trailblazers loss to No. 14 BYU, 63-7, in Provo, on September 5, 2026.

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Cougar Tracks is on YouTube every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).