When BYU’s first season in the Big 12 didn’t go well, the expectations going into year two were low.

BYU wound up as one of the biggest surprise teams in the Big 12 and the country last year. The Cougars won’t sneak up on anybody this year, though.

This summer, BuffZone will preview each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at BYU, which will visit Folsom Field on Sept. 27 in a rematch of last season’s Alamo Bowl.

Projected 13th in the Big 12 going into last year, BYU started 9-0, vaulting to No. 6 in the country. Although two late losses cost them a spot in the conference title game, the Cougars finished 11-2, capping the campaign with a blowout of the Buffs in the Alamo Bowl.

“Maybe everybody should just predict us to be way down at the bottom again (this year),” head coach Kalani Sitake joked during an interview with BYU TV this spring.

That won’t happen, but Sitake said his team is ready to handle higher expectations. Early predictions don’t have BYU among the top contenders in the Big 12 but certainly much higher than last year.

“I’m not worried about it. The guys came with a different mindset in January,” Sitake said.

BYU is no stranger to success or lofty expectations. From 2005-22, the Cougars played in 17 bowls and posted seven 10-win seasons.

After joining the Big 12 in 2023, BYU went just 5-7 (2-7 in the Big 12) and lost its last five games, but that proved to be a blip, as it was back on track last year.The 11-win season in 2024 didn’t satisfy the Cougars, though. Not when the Big 12 title game and possible spot in the College Football Playoff was within grasp until two close losses (by a combined nine points) in November.

“I think (the players) saw what was close and attainable, and they see the differences we’ve got to do to make up the difference,” Sitake said. “They kind of see what we’ve got to get after.

“We did some really hard work last year to get to this point, but that’s not why we did it, just so that we could have one year. We’ve got to build something and create momentum. The way I see the guys taking to the offseason, it’s been nice. It’s gonna be fun.”

A key to the season for BYU is the availability of senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who had a big year in 2024 but is now facing some legal issues.

Last month a civil lawsuit was filed against him, accusing Retzlaff of sexual assault.

Although Retzlaff hasn’t been criminally charged, the legal issues could impact his future with the Cougars. BYU hasn’t commented, so it’s unclear on whether or not Retzlaff will play.

If Retzlaff plays, BYU would have its experienced leader, but it would also love to see him cut down on mistakes. He completed just 57.9% of his passes and was picked off 12 times (including twice by CU). He was near the bottom of the Big 12 in both of those categories.

If Retzlaff doesn’t play, McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet will battle. Both are second-year Cougars who have experience at other schools, Hillstead at Utah State and Bourguet at Western Michigan.

Leading rusher LJ Martin (718 yards) and leading receiver Chase Roberts (52 catches for 854 yards) are back, along with receiver/returner Parker Kingston, who burned the Buffs for a punt return TD in the Alamo Bowl.

Defensively, the Cougars were top 20 nationally in points allowed (18th, 19.6 per game) and yards allowed (13th, 308.8 per game) last year. Only three starters are back, but that includes both outside linebackers in Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly. Safety Tanner Wall is also back.

The defense may not be as strong as it was in 2024, but the Cougars have plenty of playmakers on that side of the ball.

Overall, BYU should be one of the tougher teams to beat in the Big 12 and could potentially contend once again for the Big 12 title.