Cougar Tracks

BYU football gets its guy.

Five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons announced on the Pat McAfee Show that he is committed to BYU football.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper broke down the commitment and what it means for Lyons and the Cougar football program.

BYU football hosted its third annual Golf Media Day at Cedar Hills Golf Course.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper participated in the event with Cougar Sports Saturday co-host Matt Baiamonte, CSS producer Nate Slack, and Mitch's brother-in-law Parker Brown.

He discussed the round at the course.

Then Mitch also shared commentary from coaches and players that he gathered at Cedar Hills.

BYU football is gearing up for a big weekend of official visitors, which includes five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons from Folsom, California.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shares his thoughts in this episode of the Cougar Tracks Podcast on Ryder Lyons and the recruitment as the Cougars look to land the blue-chip prospect.

Harper also discussed the prospects who are joining Lyons on a loaded official visit weekend.

Among those visiting are Lehi EDGE rusher and current BYU commit PJ Takitaki and uncommitted Olympus High linebacker Adam Bywater. You'll hear conversations with those players entering the weekend.

Finally, Harper caught up with BYU Football Director of Player Personnel Justin Anderson to discuss what goes into putting together official visits. 

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:40 - Ryder Lyons set to take an official visit to BYU
• 14:05 - Big weekend of official visitors to Provo 16:06 - PJ Takitaki interview 19:40 - Adam Bywater interview
• 25:02 - BYU Football Director of Player Personnel Justin Anderson interview

AJ Dybantsa gave out shoes to the Boys & Girls Club in Utah County over the weekend before leaving for Colorado to take part in Team USA U19 Training Camp.

Dybantsa spoke with KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper to discuss why he gives back and his early impressions of Provo over the past few months.

Also, BYU football picked up two commitments on the recruiting trail in the class of 2026.

Finally, Mitch Harper reacts to Phil Steele's Big 12 Football poll for the 2025 season.

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KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper recapped the final day from the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings, discussing the College Football Playoff, NCAA Tournament expansion, media rights, Big 12's future, and how BYU athletics fits into all of it.

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Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and Baylor President Linda Livingstone, Ph.D., spoke to reporters to close the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings in Orlando, Florida, on May 30th, 2025.

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KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper caught up with the Big 12's Chief Football & Competition Officer Scott Draper at the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings on May 29, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Topics discussed:

• Recap of the football portion of the Big 12 Spring Meetings
• College Football Playoff, Transfer Portal Windows
• BYU/Utah Rivalry, where it's scheduled
• Kalani Sitake, BYU's contributions to the Big 12

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Big 12 Vice President of Men's Basketball Brian Thornton sat down with KSL Sports' Mitch Harper to discuss Big 12 men's basketball, the non-conference scheduling, BYU Basketball, Kevin Young, and Big 12 basketball media rights.

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NCAA President Charlie Baker spoke with reporters at the Big 12 Meetings in Orlando, Florida on May 29, 2025.

Topics discussed:

• Comments with the Big 12 coaches
• NCAA Tournament Expansion
• The number he wants
• Why expansion is good for the NCAA
• Latest on potential Commission from President Trump
• Response to the SEC on questions of being in the NCAA

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BYU men's basketball head coach Kevin Young spoke with KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper at the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings in Orlando.

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BYU women's basketball head coach Lee Cummard spoke with KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper at the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings in Orlando, Florida.

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The Big 12 Spring Business Meetings started in Orlando at the Waldorf Astoria. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper is on location to discuss the meetings. 

On day one, Big 12 Men's and women's basketball coaches held their meetings on Wednesday, May 28.

Harper shared his insights from the day and also discussed the College Football Playoff.

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Kansas coach Bill Self, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, and Big 12 Basketball Men's Basketball Vice President Brian Thornton discuss Big 12 hoops.

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BYU President C. Shane Reese and new BYU athletic director Brian Santiago spoke with the media at Santiago's introductory news conference at the BYU Broadcasting Building on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

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BYU has a new Athletic Director. The school announced on Tuesday after business hours that Brian Santiago has been promoted from Deputy AD to the next Athletics Director to succeed Tom Holmoe.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper breaks down BYU's big move to promote Santiago.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper is back from vacation at Disneyland. He discussed running into BYU football players at the "Happiest Place on Earth."

Then he gets into the news of Stanford transfers Tiger Bachmeier and Bear Bachmeier joining the BYU football program.

Justin Kirkland transfers to BYU from Oklahoma State.

Then a BYU basketball check-in with the addition of Idaho transfer Tyler Mrus.

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BYU Basketball legend Jimmer Fredette announced his retirement from the game. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his thoughts on Fredette's retirement and reflected on the legendary career.

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Harrison Taggart and Keelan Marion, two starters from last year's 11-2 BYU football team, are in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shares his thoughts on those entries and what's next for BYU football.

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BYU basketball guard Egor Demin officially declared for the NBA Draft. KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his thoughts on Demin declaring.

Then, he looked at what's next for BYU basketball at the point guard position. Could BYU be in play for Baylor guard Rob Wright out of the transfer portal?

Finally, BYU football picked up a commitment from Pine View High star Brock Harris—the highest-rated commit in the Kalani Sitake era.

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BYU basketball head coach Kevin Young spoke to reporters on April 8, 2025, moments after Egor Demin officially announced that he would enter the NBA Draft.

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BYU basketball guard Egor Demin announced his declaration for the 2025 NBA Draft. Demin held a press conference at the Marriott Center Annex on April 8, 2025.

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BYU athletics' top revenue-generating sports are in the thick of the offseason. It's off to a busy start.

The latest BYU men's basketball transfer portal movement involves Elijah Crawford entering the portal. Plus, Silas Demary Jr. from Georgia has potential.

BYU women's basketball hired Lee Cummard as its new head coach. After his introductory press conference, Mitch Harper caught up with Cummard for comments.

Then, BYU football closed out spring ball with some one-on-one interviews with the media. The Cougars also landed a four-star edge rusher in Nusi Taumoepeau, who was previously signed to play at Stanford.

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BYU basketball transfer portal movement is off and running days after the season wrapped up in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

The Cougars picked up a commitment from Washington Huskies transfer Dominique Diomande.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper gives his thoughts on the addition of Diomande. 

BYU forward Kanon Catchings has also entered the portal. He has reportedly entered the portal with a "No-Contact" tag.

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BYU basketball lost to the No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in the East Region Semifinals of the 2025 NCAA Tournament in Newark, New Jersey, 113-88.

Alabama knocked down a record-setting 25 three-pointers in the win over BYU.

The season comes to a close for BYU at 26-10 in the first year under head coach Kevin Young.

KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper shared his reactions from Newark, New Jersey, and got an early look at what's next for BYU basketball in 2026 and beyond.

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BYU basketball players Mawot Mag, Richie Saunders, Keba Keita, and Egor Demin discussed the 113-88 Sweet 16 loss to Alabama in the 2025 NCAA Tournament in the postgame locker room in Newark, New Jersey.

Mag, Saunders, and Keita were all one-on-one interviews with KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper. Demin spoke to a scrum of reporters after the game.

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