BYU Football: Preview and Prediction for the 2024 Cougars Season.

BYU is on a five-game losing streak going into the 2024 season. If the defense is stronger against the run and coach Kalani Sitake can find a competent quarterback, the team should be better this year. After missing out on playoff play

for the first time since 2017, don’t count on the Cougars to make a bowl game. If Provo has another losing season, don’t be shocked if Sitake gets fired.

Even when junior college transfer Jake Retzlaff took over for the remaining four games of the team’s first Big 12 season, all defeats, BYU’s offense suffered a significant setback in 2023. There is competition for Retzlaff’s starting

position from former USF and Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon. This autumn, McCae Hillstead, a transfer from Utah State, will be included. After spring practice, head coach Kalani Sitake declared that the quarterback battle was “neck-and-neck.”

Aaron Roderick, the offensive coordinator, has pledged to address the team’s deficiency in a strong rushing game. The Cougars will depend on rising sophomore LJ Martin, converted WR Miles Davis, and Hinckley Ropati—who had

a season-ending ACL surgery during training camp last year—to handle the running duties instead of using the gateway.

Since three of BYU’s top five receivers—Kody Epps, Darius Lassiter, and Chase Roberts—return in 2024, the position of receiver should be one of strength.

If the Cougars’ first Big 12 season taught them anything, it was that they needed to improve in the trenches. Coaches discussed the necessity to use the transfer portal to find offensive line support to supplement guard Weylin Lapuaho, tackles Brayden Keim and Caleb Etienne, and center Connor Pay as spring camp got underway.

Before the previous campaign, Sitake replaced his close buddy Ilaisa Tuiaki, the defensive coordinator, with FCS Weber State’s Jay Hill. Hill’s first defense got off to a strong start against Sam Houston, tossing a shutout. However, this team proved to be vulnerable to the run when Big 12 games came around, as the league’s best running backs feasted on a frail defensive line and inexperienced linebackers. The Cougars tied for lowest place in the nation in sacks because they were unable to produce a pass rush.