There is plenty of things for Cougar fans to watch for this fall as BYU Football plays its first season in the Big 12. These are the top five things that fans should watch for and be excited to see on gamedays.
5. Wide Receivers
The Wide Receivers for BYU have been a hot topic since the last season ended in December. With transfer portal drama, departures of some big-name players, and some younger players needing to step up this will be a good group to keep an eye on. BYU returns seven from last season: Kody Epps (Soph.), Keanu Hill (Jr.), Chase Roberts (Soph.), Hobbs Nyberg (Jr.), Talmage Gunther (Jr.), Kyson Hall (Fr.), Dom Henry (RS-Fr.).
The starting three will most likely be Epps, Hill, and Roberts, some big guys to take the field and make plays for the Cougars. After all, those three had some big numbers last season and should put up similar ones this year, and BYU will need those numbers if they want to win some games this season.
BYU WRs – Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
4. BYU Big 12 Performance
This first season for the Cougars will be memorable in many ways. First and foremost they will be back in a conference and this time in a Power 5 one. Second, they have a tough schedule to play this fall but that shouldn’t scare the Cougars because of how tough they were during Independence. Finally, BYU isn’t the only newcomer for the Big 12 this fall so it should be a really good season for the Big 12. BYU won’t win the Big 12 this season or even be in the top five at the end, but they will fight to stay in games and win some big ones.
BYU football players at the outdoor practice facility – Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
3. New Quarterback
Number 3 on my list is the new quarterback and not just the starting one. Kedon Slovis will start this fall for the Cougars but what will be important for not just this season but the ones to come are the ones fighting for the backup role. Cade Fennegan (RS-Soph.) and Nick Billups (RS-Soph.) are returning for the Cougars. BYU Football will also see some new faces as Kedon Slovis (Pitt/USC), Jake Retzlaff (JUCO), Ryder Burton (Fr.), and Cole Hagen (Fr.) have all either transferred in or have come just out of high school. The backup position battle is only going to heat this fall as they all fight to potentially see the field this fall.
BYU QB Kedon Slovis (10) – Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
2. Transfers
BYU Football hit the transfer portal recruiting hard this offseason. The Cougars have brought in 21 transfers; these twenty-one have come from power 5 (5), G5 (9), and FCS ( 7). Not all will be standout players for BYU this fall but they will all play a role as they look for playing time. Some will come in and right away make an impact for the Cougars on game day and those will be ones out of the Power 5 schools.
The ones coming from G5 schools will hang around until next season because of how many stars BYU has right now on the team or will get their chance when injuries arise. The FCS transfers will be great third-stringers and will also come in handy when BYU Football puts up so many points and they just need to finish the game out.
1. New Defense
Cougar fans should be excited to see this new defense take the field under the lights. They are bigger, faster, and stronger but also will have a solid game plan ahead of game day. This new staff installed the new defense during spring ball and will now just have to fine-tune it during fall camp and select starters to hit the field on game days. Jay Hill and company are ready for game day but so are the players for this 2023 season.
Ed Lamb, BYU assistant HC, STC, and safeties coach – Nate Edwards/BYU
