The BYU Cougars secured their fifth win of the 2025 season Friday night, taking down West Virginia to improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. But even with the win, the night wasn’t without drama.
Tensions flared on the sideline after a linebacker sparked an argument, and head coach Kalani Sitake blasted his team for being undisciplined in his post-game remarks.
Is Kalani Sitake Concerned About Cougars’ Discipline Despite 5–0 Start?
BYU’s win over the Mountaineers wasn’t without its bumps. The Cougars struggled with discipline on defense, getting flagged for offside penalties and a late hit, which allowed West Virginia to extend drives.
After the game, head coach Kalani Sitake made it clear he wasn’t pleased, telling reporters that his team is too disciplined to make mistakes like that.
Kalani on #BYU defense lining up offsides:
“The first was, I think was on Logan Luti. They have to line up better. Just get back.”#BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsWVU #Big #ESPN #ESPNTheFan #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/el9XLY5kcY
— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) October 4, 2025
“They just got to line up better. I don’t know what to tell you,” Sitake said. He later added, “It’s like, come on, we’re a way more disciplined than that as a team. We’re way better than that.”
It wasn’t just penalties that created problems for the Cougars on Friday night. Tensions also flared on the sideline when linebacker Isaiah Glasker got into an argument with the BYU training staff after suffering an injury.
Sitake addressed the situation after the game, explaining that Glasker wanted to keep playing, but Sitake felt it was best to defer to the team’s medical staff. Sitake also noted that Glasker returned for a crucial onside kick play later in the game.
Kalani on Isaiah Glasker wanting to keep playing:
“He wanted to keep playing. I think there was an argument on the sideline. I’m usually going to go with the safe side and listen to the doctors and trainers, but he did get in on the onside kick.”#BYU #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsWVU… pic.twitter.com/2wecfTpFmt
— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) October 4, 2025
“He wanted to keep playing. I think there was an argument on the sideline,” Sitake said. “I’m usually going to go with the safe side and listen to the doctors and trainers, but he did get in on the onside kick.”
Despite the hiccups, the Cougars still accomplished the most crucial thing Friday night: they won over West Virginia. BYU entered the 2025 season with plenty of question marks, especially after quarterback Jake Retzlaff left the program late in the offseason.
Even without Retzlaff, BYU has exceeded expectations. The Cougars are now 5-0 and ranked No. 23 in the country, a spot that will likely climb after their win over the Mountaineers.
Offensively, they’ve been solid, ranking 47th nationally in PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, while their defense has been even more impressive, ranking 17th in PFSN’s CFB DEFi metric.
So while Sitake may not be happy with his team’s overall performance on Friday night, the good news is that the Cougars are rolling and looking like one of the best teams in the Big 12.
