Perhaps the best way to sum up BYU 's 2024 football season — with only a bowl game left on the schedule — is that it has been a success.
A resounding success.
Sure, the Cougars could easily be 7-5 or 8-4 if they hadn't gotten a few breaks in games against SMU, Utah and Oklahoma State . But they could also be 12-0 if a couple of plays had gone their way against Kansas and Arizona State .
But they are 10-2, which is already twice the number of wins than last year, when they went 5-7, 2-7 in the Big 12, and the program appeared to be foundering after a 40-34 double-overtime loss at Oklahoma State kept the Cougars out of a bowl game.
Twelve months later, coach Kalani Sitake has a "long-term" contract extension , the Cougars are playing in arguably the most prestigious bowl game outside the College Football Playoff, against 9-3 Colorado in the Alamo Bowl (Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. MST, ABC), and have shown that they have what it takes to compete in the Big 12.
"I think that this should be considered one of the greatest seasons in BYU history," ESPN analyst Trevor Matich told BYUtv.
It is the third 10-win season in five years for Sitake's program, and 19th overall in the 100-year history of BYU football . It has been quite the turnaround. Sitake credited a senior class that has carried the water for nearly five years and taken the program into the Big 12.
"They had three seasons of 10 wins or more," he said after the 30-18 win over Houston . "That's a huge accomplishment. That is their legacy. I am not sure how many 10-win seasons BYU has had. … They can be proud they got three of them in their career."
As the Deseret News noted in October, the MVP of this team is the team itself . There are no overwhelming stars like Puka Nacua , Fred Warner , Kyle Van Noy or Zach Wilson — guys who have been instrumental in outstanding BYU seasons in the past.
A case could be made that the biggest star, and the biggest reason why BYU defied the critics and overachieved in 2024 , is junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff . He's gone from perhaps the lowest-rated quarterback in the Big 12 to one of the highest rated.
Retzlaff, who beat out the more experienced Gerry Bohanon in the starting QB derby, has been a huge surprise.
"Jake has continued to improve," offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. "Sure, he's made some mistakes, some bad throws, but overall he has gotten better and better and we're pleased with his progress."
According to Jeff Sagarin's ratings , BYU has played the 38th most-difficult schedule in the country, to date, after having played the sixth hardest in 2023. Although the Cougars are No. 17 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Sagarin has them at No. 29 in his computer-generated rankings.
Generally, the humans have treated the Cougars better than the computers in 2024; ESPN's Football Power Index currently has them at No. 32.
"Jake has continued to improve. Sure, he's made some mistakes, some bad throws, but overall he has gotten better and better and we're pleased with his progress."
"We just hope our legacy is one of resilience and toughness, and that we represented BYU the right way," said BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay. "We carried BYU into the Big 12. We are a group that regardless of how things were going, we always showed up. We never backed down when things were going crappy."
The success this season has made Sitake's assistants prime targets for other programs. Utah State made a run at BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill before hiring former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, for instance.
Of course, Sitake has engineered it all, and deserves consideration for some postseason coaching honors. Had the Cougars not stumbled against Kansas and ASU, he'd have been a shoo-in for Big 12 coach of the year, considering BYU was picked to finish 13th in the Big 12. Pay and defensive end Tyler Batty said Monday that Sitake's extension is well-deserved.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake reacts as a play unfolds during a game against the Arizona Wildcats held at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. | Isaac Hale
"He has deserved it for a long time. I am glad they finally got it done. I don't think there is a better man to lead BYU than Kalani. All you have to do is spend a few minutes with him and you can just tell that he resonates everything that BYU represents," Pay said "And for me, as a player, I have got to be around that leadership for the last four and a half years, and have a living representation of the man I want to be one day leading our team."
Added Batty: "BYU will be in good hands for the foreseeable future, which will be awesome."
Here's a closer look at the three phases of BYU's 2024 team — offense, defense and special teams — and how they performed in the program's second season in the Big 12.
The Cougars' offensive numbers in 2023, their first season in the Big 12, bordered on abysmal. There was nowhere to go but up, and that's what they did, returning to the same proficiency they had in 2022 — Jaren Hall 's final season as BYU's quarterback.
Although the offense wasn't all that impressive in wins over Southern Illinois and SMU to start the season, Retzlaff hit his stride and delivered seven straight stellar performances, most notably the last-second heroics to beat Oklahoma State and Utah.
On the flip side, less-than-solid outings by Retzlaff in November cost the Cougars chances to beat Kansas and Arizona State. Add it all up, though, and the junior college transfer who lost all four of his starts in 2023 emerged as a reliable leader and a true dual-threat weapon for Roderick.
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) celebrates his touchdown against he Houston Cougars in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
BYU's other weapons also stepped up, most notably receivers Chase Roberts, Darius Lassiter and Keelan Marion and running backs LJ Martin and Hinckley Ropati, although those RBs and others sustained more than their share of injuries.
New offensive line coach TJ Woods proved to be a good hire, as BYU's OL — which struggled mightily in 2023 — became a team strength. In particular, left tackle Caleb Etienne, right tackle Brayden Keim (who was injured in the Utah game), left guard Weylin Lapuaho and Pay improved immensely and allowed the Cougars to run the ball more effectively.
Heading into the bowl game, BYU's offensive stats were respectable:
44th in points per game (30.8)
59th in total offense (397.4 yards per game)
49th in red zone offense (87% success rate, with 26 touchdowns and 14 field goals in 46 red zone appearances)
The Cougars were also No. 37 in total first downs (267), No. 32 in fewest sacks allowed (1.33 per game) and No. 7 in fourth-down conversion percentage (75%), having converted on 18 of 24 attempts.
They were poor on third down — ranking No. 110 in the country at 49 of 139 (35.3%).
Roderick and Retzlaff took some heat from fans for missteps in the Kansas game that probably cost the Cougars a spot in the CFP, but all in all BYU's offense took giant steps forward in 2024.
"Yeah, it has been special, man. I can't say I have been at this point at any other school I have been at. Each school is special in their own way, and each experience I have had," said receivers coach Fesi Sitake. "I can definitely say this has been a fun ride so far."
Offensive MVP:We gave this unofficial honor to receiver Roberts last year after he caught 42 passes for 573 yards and five touchdowns in a dismal season and made that spectacular one-handed catch to beat Arkansas . Roberts' numbers are better this year — 51 catches for 843 yards — but we're going with Retzlaff for the aforementioned reasons.
Retzlaff has completed 58% of his passes for 2,796 yards and 20 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. He's also BYU's second-leading rusher, with 388 yards, which is between Martin's 630 and Ropati's 360.
After BYU's defense was a disaster in 2022, Sitake and longtime friend Ilaisa Tuiaki parted ways and Sitake brought in Weber State head coach Jay Hill as his defensive coordinator. The defense made significant strides in 2023 under Hill, and continued that upward trajectory this season.
The most notable accomplishment was holding CFP-bound SMU to 15 points and no touchdowns . That performance grew even more praiseworthy as the season wore on and the Mustangs became one of the most prolific offenses in the country.
"I am super proud of the way we competed all season, and the effort, and making a bowl game," said Batty. "Doubling our wins from last season — that is a major step in the right direction. We fell a little bit short of maybe what was possible. But you know, that is good motivation for next season, for the team going forward."
With a game left to play — against CU's phenomenal offensive weapons — BYU's defense is among the 25th best in the country, and the best, statistically, in the Big 12.
BYU is among the leaders in the following:
20th in scoring defense (20.08 points per game)
20th in total defense (317.0 yards per game)
3rd in team passing efficiency defense (opponents' pass efficiency rating is 102.73)
Tied for first (with San Jose State ) in interceptions, with 20
There have been some weaknesses, however. The Cougars still can't wrangle quarterbacks effectively, ranking No. 122 of 133 teams in team sacks, with just 16 (1.33 per game). And their third-down conversion percentage defense has been poor (No. 89 in country) and has allowed opponents to convert 41.6% of the time.
Utah Utes quarterback Brandon Rose is pressured by BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker (16) at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Defensive MVP:This "honor" could go to leading tackler Harrison Taggart, or leading sacker Isaiah Glasker, or first-team All-Big 12 defensive end Batty. Cornerback Jakob Robinson and safety Tanner Wall are tied for the team lead in interceptions with three apiece.
We will go with Glasker, who made some of the most memorable defensive plays of the season, most notably a pick-six against Arizona and a fourth-down tackle of ASU QB Sam Leavitt that gave the offense a chance in the final few minutes against the CFP-bound Sun Devils .
A year after BYU's special teams were anything but that, special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga righted the ship, and produced some game-winning plays.
Among the highlights: Parker Kingston 's punt return for a touchdown against Kansas State, Keelan Marion's kickoff returns for touchdowns against Wyoming and Utah, and Talan Alfrey's recovery of a squibbed onside kick and return for a TD against Houston.
The biggest special teams play of the year, however, was Will Ferrin's 44-yard field goal that beat Utah.
Pitt transfer punter Sam Vander Haar also added some highlights — running for a first down on a fake punt against Baylor and hiking the ball between his legs to a streaking Ferrin for a first down run out of a field goal formation.
Thanks to Marion's big plays — and some outstanding blocking that set them up — BYU is No. 6 in the country in kickoff returns, averaging 26.55 yards per return.
Special teams MVP:Ferrin earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors for his work in 2024, and Marion was a second-team selection. We will go with Ferrin for this unofficial honor here, for the second-straight year. He is 21 of 24 on field goal attempts and 38 of 38 on PATs.
BYU's Keelan Marion (17) scores on a kickoff return at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
