Inside BYU's staying power and drive to finish with a coach from Tonga and a QB named Bear

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Inside BYU's staying power and drive to finish with a coach from Tonga and a QB named Bear

BYU football survived the coaching carousel. Now it’s built to win big

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY NETWORK · USA TODAY Sports

Wed, Nov 5, 2025 ·

8 min read

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Kalani Sitake lacks the body for crowd surfing. His words. Brigham Young's coach is built like the 50-year-old former fullback he is.

So, Sitake will leave crowd surfing to the university's president.

"I think people would probably turn me down if I tried," Sitake quipped to USA TODAY, adding he'd fear for the safety of BYU fans if they attempted to hold him aloft.

Sitake's giving BYU fans much to celebrate. He coaches one of the nation's hottest programs, and the Cougars specialize in one-possession games. Fans rushed the field after a three-point win against rival Utah earlier this season.

BYU President C. Shane Reese joined the throng to congratulate any players and coaches he could find. One BYU player lifted the university president into the air in jubilation.

Here goes nothing, Reese thought. Next thing he knew, he was on his back, crowd surfing .

"I'm not going to lie, it was awesome," Reese told USA TODAY.

BYU football team celebrates after winning 41-27 over Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune, Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 3: Bear Bachmeier #47 and his brother Tiger Bachmeier #19 of the Brigham Young Cougars pray together before their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2025 at Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 18: Parker Kingston #11 of the Brigham Young Cougars scores the game winning touchdown against Levani Damuni #3 of the Utah Utes during the second half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

BYU Cougars football head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates with the team after winning 41-27 over Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune, Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Oct 18, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; The BYU Cougars warm up before the game against the Utah Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

AMES, IA - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Bear Bachmeier #47 of the BYU Cougars celebates with fans after winning 41-27 over the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium on October 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. The BYU Cougars won 41-27 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
(David Purdy, Getty Images)

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 18: A sea of fans rush the field after the Brigham Young Cougars beat the Utah Utes during the second half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

BYU Cougars cornerback Evan Johnson (0) intercepts the ball around Iowa State Cyclones' wide receiver Chase Sowell (0) during the fourth quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
(Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune, Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Oct 18, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougar fans rush the field after a win over the Utah Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Oct 18, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars defense celebrate a fourth down stop against the Utah Utes during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Oct 25, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) celebrates with fans after the Cougars beat the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
(Reese Strickland, Reese Strickland-Imagn Images)

Oct 18, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars offensive lineman Andrew Gentry (75) reacts to a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Oct 11, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Cody Hagen (5) runs onto the field after the Brigham Young Cougars secure the win against the Arizona Wildcats after overtime at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
(Aryanna Frank, Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images)

Oct 11, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws a touchdown pass during the first quarter of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
(Aryanna Frank, Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images)

Sep 27, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Chase Roberts (2) celebrates his touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

Oct 3, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Parker Kingston (11) reacts after making a first down against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Sep 20, 2025; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (4) runs for a touchdown against the East Carolina Pirates during the second half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
(James Guillory, James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Oct 3, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars safety Tanner Wall (28) reacts to an interception against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the third quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Aug 30, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back LJ Martin (4) runs the ball against Portland State Vikings linebacker Lonnie Burt (40) during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
(Rob Gray, Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Oct 11, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates a win against the Arizona Wildcats after overtime with his team and the crowd at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
(Aryanna Frank, Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images)

TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 11: LJ Martin #4 of the BYU Cougars celebrates with Carsen Ryan #20 after scoring a 28-yard rushing touchdown during the first quarter of the NCAAF game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 18: Brigham Young Cougars students storm the field after their win against the Utah Utes during the second half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

So is BYU's momentum.

In the past two seasons, the Cougars are one of four teams with just two total losses. Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon are the others.

Who can blame Cougars fans for reveling in the success?

Three years ago, BYU was an independent, where a great season produced the Boca Raton Bowl. Now, it sits in the Big 12's catbird seat. A conference championship would clinch the program's first College Football Playoff bid.

"It's just an exciting time," Reese said. "I'm a statistician by training, and even the nerdiest of faculty are feeling a lot of the excitement around what's happening with the football team."

BYU's goal: 'Finish', and don't leave destination in hands of CFP committee

BYU joins the Buckeyes, Hoosiers and Texas A&M as college football's only undefeated teams. BYU debuted at No. 7 in the first CFP rankings .

The Cougars know this place. They started 9-0 last season. They lost two of their final three in November, missing the playoff. Two-loss SMU, which lost to BYU at home, received the committee's final rose. The two-loss Cougars got stiffed with a No. 17 ranking on selection Sunday.

While coaches and administrators of three-loss SEC teams squabbled and squawked about their playoff omission, BYU humbly accepted the committee's decision and smashed Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

"I'm not in the business of complaining about stuff," Sitake said.

This time around, the Big 12 enjoys a better shot at two bids. Three Big 12 teams are ranked in the first CFP rankings (Texas Tech, 8th; Utah, 13th). The Cougars want to take their fate out of the committee's hands.

"We're going to finish," wide receiver Chase Roberts said.

Texas Tech looms as the biggest Big 12 foil. The one-loss Red Raiders will host the Cougars this weekend in a game that will hint at the conference's true frontrunner.

"If we can find a way to win all of these games, there's no way they could possibly leave us out of this thing," safety Tanner Wall said. "For us, it's like, don't give the committee a reason to slight you or pick someone else over you or put yourself in a spot where you're cheering for some other team to lose or some crazy upset. Just keep the cards in your hand."

Kalani Sitake's pep talks shape BYU's culture

Stay humble and hungry.

That four-word phrase plays on a loop within this program.

On a recent Monday, Sitake gathered the team before their film review for one of his signature motivational pep talks. The message on this day: Stay humble and hungry, but don't allow humility to become the enemy of confidence.

"He wants to see us play with more confidence and belief," Wall said, "instead of being in a situation where we get down 24-10 before we have a spark and fire in our eyes."

Even if overcoming deficits is becoming BYU's trademark.

Reese stood on the sideline wearing what must have been a pallid expression while BYU trailed Arizona by two scores in October.

"I had player after player talk to me and say, 'Wipe that look off your face. We are going to win this game,'" Reese said.

Promises made, promises kept.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier scored with 19 seconds left to tie the score. He scored again to uncork a double-overtime victory. This, from a three-star freshman. BYU tried to land Bachmeier out of high school. He chose Stanford before transferring in May and swiftly becoming the engine behind one of the Big 12's top-scoring teams.

"He's something special," Wall said.

Bear Bachmeier meets BYU's moment of need

Bachmeier took command of the huddle and implored his teammates to take it to the defense. Full steam, no let up. His intensity might have suggested this was a two-minute drive in a conference clash. But, no, this occurred during a preseason practice. The defense Bachmeier implored his teammates to carve through was BYU's own.

Roberts remembers this as the moment he thought the Cougars had found their starting quarterback.

"We were able to rally behind him," Roberts said.

Bachmeier's older brother, Hank, played at Boise State. He, too, started as a true freshman.

BYU already had a starting quarterback when Bear and his brother, Tiger, a wide receiver, transferred in from Stanford. Jake Retzlaff quarterbacked the Cougars during their 11-2 season, and he had another year of eligibility.

Retzlaff, though, would have faced a seven-game suspension for violating BYU's honor code. He transferred in the summer to Tulane. Bachmeier grabbed the reins, impressing his teammates and Sitake with his toughness.

"With those names, you have to be tough," Sitake said of the Bachmeier brothers. "You can't have a name like 'Bear' and be fragile, that's for sure."

As a bonus, imagine the fun a sportswriter can have after a big game from Bachmeier. When BYU beat Iowa State by 14 points in Week 9, the Cyclones must have found it un-Bear-able.

"When they make plays," Wall said of the Bachmeiers, "it's like there's so many puns and plays on words you can make. It's pretty awesome."

At BYU, alignment pays off

Talk to any coach or administrator for long, and they'll reference the paramountcy of fit and the alignment between a coach, athletic director and university president. It almost starts to sound a bit hokey or overblown, until you consider BYU's success, and you examine the fit and alignment of key stakeholders.

Sitake fits Provo, Utah, like a pair of hiking boots. Born in Tonga, Sitake's family immigrated to Hawaii. His childhood coincided with BYU's glory days, and he rooted for the Cougars growing up on Oahu's North Shore. He played for LaVell Edwards , forever a BYU legend.

And, what of Sitake?

"He's a rockstar in this community," said Reese, the self-described stat nerd and fellow BYU alumnus who became the school's president in 2023, shortly before the Cougars' first Big 12 season.

Athletic director Brian Santiago is a Provo native. He was Edwards' neighbor and also the bishop at his Latter-Day Saints congregation. BYU, Santiago says, is "in my blood." He served as a longtime lieutenant under former athletic director Tom Holmoe before succeeding him in May.

Add it up, and "there's a united front" at BYU, Santiago says.

And still one can't help wonder, as this coaching carousel spins wildly, with so many high-profile jobs open, whether a BYU coach who's 19-2 the past two seasons and marching toward his fourth season of at least 10 wins in the past six years, might have allure to a school hiring for someone who's an excellent culture builder, an established leader and a proven winner.

Would Sitake ever consider leaving his alma mater ? He steps past that question by pointing to his appreciation for his job.

"I grew up a BYU fan," he reminds me. "I played for LaVell Edwards, who's a legend. … I'm in a really good spot, and I get to coach amazing young men, and I get to be around amazing fans. I love what I'm doing."

"I'm trying to appreciate everything I have," he added.

Cal fired Justin Wilcox on Nov. 23 with one game left in the regular season. The Golden Bears are 6-5 this season but 48-55 in Wilcox's seven seasons in charge.
(Brian Bishop-Imagn Images)

Auburn fired coach Hugh Freeze on Nov. 2 following a home loss to Kentucky. Freeze was 15-19 in two-plus seasons on the Plains.
(John Reed, John Reed-Imagn Images)

LSU fired Brian Kelly on Oct. 26 after an embarrassing home loss to Texas A&M the night before.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

Florida fired Billy Napier on Oct. 19 during his fourth season as Gators coach. UF was 22-23 during Napier's tenure.
(Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12 after a third straight loss. The Nittany Lions were 104-45 in 11-plus seasons under Franklin.
(Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

UAB fired Trent Dilfer on Oct. 12 after a 2-4 start to the 2025 season. Dilfer was in his third season as head coach of the Blazers.
(Randy Sartin, Imagn Images)

Sam Pittman was fired by Arkansas on Sept. 25, a day after the Razorbacks were blown out by Notre Dame, 56-13. Pittman was 32-34 in his five-plus seasons as Hogs coach.
(Nelson Chenault, Imagn Images)

Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry on Sept. 14 after the Hokies started the season 0-3. Virginia Tech was 16-24 overall in Pry's three-plus seasons.
(Brian Bishop-Imagn Images)

UCLA fired DeShaun Foster on Sept. 14 after the Bruins fell to 0-3 following a home loss to New Mexico. The Bruins were 5-10 in Foster's one-plus season in charge.
(Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Mike Gundy was in his 21st season as Oklahoma State coach when he was fired on Sept. 23. Gundy was 170-90 as Cowboys coach, but started 1-2 this season after going 3-9 in 2024.
(William Purnell, Imagn Images)

Oregon State fired Trent Bray on Oct. 12 after the Beavers started the season 0-7. The Beavers were 5-14 in Bray's season-plus in Corvallis.
(Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)

Colorado State fired football coach Jay Norvell on Oct. 19. Norvell was 18-26 in his four seasons in Fort Collins.
(Logan Newell/The Coloradoan)

Stanford coach Troy Taylor was fired prior to the 2025 season following allegations of mistreating staff. He was 6-18 in two seasons with the Cardinal and was replaced by interim coach Frank Reich.

(Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

Kent State coach fired coach Kenni Burns on April 15 after he posted a 1-23 record of and was placed on administrative leave by the school in March. Mark Carney is serving as interim coach.
(Matthew O'Haren, Imagn Images)

For Reese's part, the BYU president says he couldn't fault another school for being interested in Sitake.

"We love Kalani Sitake, and he's always been my guy. I'll stand by him every day of the week," Reese said. "I worry about it, but for us, he's a perfect fit."

There's that word again. Fit.

You know the word that comes next.

"We're aligned," Santiago said. "There's great trust in our relationship between Kalani and me and our president and our administration."

Fit and alignment. BYU has that in spades.

It also has a freshman quarterback turning heads, a team with the mettle for turning two-score deficits into victories, and a coach who's tailormade for this program, even if he chooses to celebrate with his two feet on the ground.

About that, though …

"I still think we could get him up there," Wall said.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside BYU's staying power with Kalani Sitake, Bear Bachmeier drive to CFP

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See best photos from BYU football's undefeated start, CFP push

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See best photos from BYU football's undefeated start, CFP push

See best photos from BYU football's undefeated start, CFP push

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BYU's goal: 'Finish', and don't leave destination in hands of CFP committee

Kalani Sitake's pep talks shape BYU's culture

Bear Bachmeier meets BYU's moment of need

At BYU, alignment pays off

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