BYU Cougars is 1-0 on the season, 1-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +15.6. BYU Cougars enters the season with a power rating of +15.6, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The BYU Cougars host Arizona next in Week 2. In 2025, BYU Cougars went 12-2 overall, 10-4 against the spread, and 6-8 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the BYU Cougars Power Rating of +15.6 is 15.6 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. BYU Cougars have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 8,228 miles, ranking 54th heaviest in the FBS.
Bear Bachmeier QB, LJ Martin RB
Keanu Tanuvasa DT, Cade Uluave LB, Faletau Satuala S
Matthias Dunn K, Brody Laga K, Fuller Shurtz P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Week 2 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 1-1 |
| Week 4 | 3-0 | 3-0 | 1-2 |
| Week 5 | 4-0 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| Week 6 | 5-0 | 3-2 | 2-3 |
| Week 7 | 6-0 | 4-2 | 3-3 |
| Week 8 | 7-0 | 5-2 | 3-4 |
| Week 9 | 8-0 | 6-2 | 4-4 |
| Week 11 | 8-1 | 6-3 | 4-5 |
| Week 12 | 9-1 | 7-3 | 5-5 |
| Week 13 | 10-1 | 8-3 | 5-6 |
| Week 14 | 11-1 | 9-3 | 6-6 |
| Week 15 | 11-2 | 9-4 | 6-7 |
| Postseason | 12-2 | 10-4 | 6-8 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened +16.3 in the preseason and finished +20.4 after the postseason, a move of +4.1 points. High +21.8 (week 15), low +16.3 (the preseason).
PrePost
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.7 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Tech | 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Arizona | 5 | 5-0 | 4-1 |
| TCU | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Iowa State | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Notre Dame | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| UCF | 3 | 3-0 | 3-0 |
| Arizona State | 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Utah | 7 | 3-4 | 4-3 |
| Baylor | 3 | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Kansas | 2 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Cincinnati | 3 | 3-0 | 3-0 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Colorado State.
Week 08,228 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Utah Tech | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Arizona | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 3 | Colorado State | 347 mi | 694 mi |
| Week 4 | - | Bye | |
| Week 5 | TCU | 949 mi | 2,591 mi |
| Week 6 | Iowa State | Home | 2,591 mi |
| Week 7 | Notre Dame | Home | 2,591 mi |
| Week 8 | UCF | 1,903 mi | 6,398 mi |
| Week 9 | Arizona State | Home | 6,398 mi |
| Week 10 | Utah | 36 mi | 6,470 mi |
| Week 11 | Baylor | Home | 6,470 mi |
| Week 12 | Kansas | 879 mi | 8,228 mi |
| Week 13 | Cincinnati | Home | 8,228 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
BYU enters 2026 with soaring expectations after back-to-back 11-plus win seasons, including a 12-2 mark in 2025 that ended with a loss to Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. Head coach Kalani Sitake, now in his 11th year, was retained with a major financial commitment last December, and the program has invested heavily in its roster. An opposing Big 12 assistant called BYU the best team in the conference, citing their physicality, coaching, and complementary football. The Cougars are no longer a surprise, and the pressure is on to finally break through to the College Football Playoff.
The defense faces a significant transition after coordinator Jay Hill left to join Kyle Whittingham at Michigan, taking defensive passing game specialist Jernaro Gilford with him. Kalani Sitake promoted special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga to fill the role, and Poppinga inherits a unit that was among the Big 12's best in 2025, allowing just 332.4 yards and 19.1 points per game. The front seven is anchored by Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa at defensive tackle and former Cal linebacker Cade Uluave, a key portal addition. Junior safety Faletau Satuala, who an opposing coach called one of the best safeties they faced all year, will be a leader in the secondary. However, the new coaching staff and the loss of key assistants leave questions, particularly in pass defense, that will need answers early in the season.
The Cougars open with a home game against Utah Tech, a heavy favorite, but the real tests come in Big 12 play. The key will be how quickly the new defensive staff can gel and whether the secondary can hold up against the conference's top passing attacks. Offensively, the combination of Bachmeier and Martin should keep BYU in every game, but the Cougars will need to avoid the slow starts that plagued them in past seasons. With a roster that has been bolstered by NIL money and transfer additions, this is widely viewed as BYU's best chance to reach the College Football Playoff. If the defense can maintain its previous standard and the special teams hold up, the Cougars should be in contention for another Big 12 title and a potential playoff berth.
BYU Cougars is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 100% of games.
BYU Cougars holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +15.6, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
BYU Cougars's home field advantage rating is 2.8 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
BYU Cougars's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 8.5 wins, priced at -150 over and +120 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
BYU Cougars travels 8,228 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 54th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
BYU Cougars: 1-0 overall, 1-0 ATS, power rating +15.6 (2026 records).
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