The Big 12 is going through a churn. While Texas Tech navigates a catastrophic quarterback scandal and Utah adjusts to life after a coaching legend, Kalani Sitake’s BYU Cougars are standing in the shadows, looking more like a conference favorite with each passing day.
The shift hasn’t been caused by a splashy $5 million transfer or a viral coaching hire. Instead, it’s a product of stability, a commodity that is becoming increasingly rare in the Big 12.
Analyst Tom Fornelli Boosts Kalani Sitake’s Big 12 Ambitions
When talking about the Big 12 and the consequences of the Brendan Sorsby scandal, analyst Tom Fornelli pointed out how it benefited BYU. In addition, he cast doubts on Utah after losing Kyle Whittingham.
He said on “Cover 3” podcast, “BYU. Maybe Utah. It’s weird. I don’t know about Utah because with (Kyle) Whittingham and all those guys leaving, it’s like I don’t know what that program is going to actually look like.”
While Morgan Scalley has finally taken the reins, the transition has been anything but smooth. Reports of a transition bonus dispute and Whittingham allegedly poaching staff and players for Ann Arbor have shaken the Utah foundation. Consequently, the Utes are being viewed as a wait-and-see project rather than a title lock.
Meanwhile, with Sorsby facing a potential permanent loss of eligibility and the transfer portal window closed, head coach Joey McGuire is left with a massive hole at the most important position on the field.
On the other hand, Sitake has built a sanctuary of consistency in Provo. After a 12-win campaign in 2025 and a top-15 finish, the Cougars aren’t just a flash in the pan. They are the veteran core of the new Big 12.
Fornelli, who has been tracking the Big 12 win totals for the 2026 season, believes the Cougars have the highest floor in the league. He concluded, “I think BYU is the first one you point to and then Utah would be second, but I don’t know. I feel like it’s really just BYU because they do have most of their stuff back.”
BYU has a roster that returns 64% of its production. Unlike Texas Tech, BYU doesn’t have a quarterback crisis. The Cougars have Bear Bachmeier, who has developed into one of the most efficient distributors in the country.
Unlike Utah, they aren’t questioning their leadership; Sitake is currently the reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year and has the complete backing of an administration that has seen four double-digit win seasons since 2020.
It’s no wonder that PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter gives the Cougars 17% chances to win the Big 12 and 29.7% chances to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
