What should be the expectations for the Cougars in the Big 12?
BYU has been a consistent program over the last 17 years under Bronco Mendenhall and Kalani Sitake. But there is no doubt that the strength of their schedule will only be more challenging now that they’re part of the Big 12.
The Cougars are a program that takes advantage of their roster, most players stay with the program for four or five years and also keep the rosters deep in talent and experience. They will have NFL-caliber players on their roster, but they rarely see a large group of early draft declares or transfers. Kalani Sitaki has helped build upon the culture and the foundation Bronco Mendenhall set in Provo that maximizes player development and wastes no significant opportunities for success.
Now facing Power Five teams regularly will be an adjustment. There will likely be some tough losses and learning experiences when looking at their roster and how they’ve recruited over the last several years. In the short term, the 2023 season could be pretty tough. They have a favorable first two games against Sam Houston and Southern Utah, but the rest of their schedule will be challenging. Their September 23 matchup on the road against Kansas should be a good barometer of where this BYU team will sit in the Big 12 this season.
Generally, the expectations for 2023 should be on the lower side; bowl eligibility should be considered a win for the program. Long-term in an Oklahoma and Texas-less Big 12, there is little reason that the Cougars could not develop into a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 program that occasionally competes for conference titles.