Locked On Cougars - Daily Podcast On BYU Cougars Football & Basketball

The BYU Cougars capture the spotlight as the presumptive Big 12 favorite, but can the program and its leaders avoid the pitfalls of early hype and truly ascend to perennial powerhouse status? The conversation focused on an informal coaches’ poll naming BYU as the top team in the Big 12, underscoring how Bear Bachmeier, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, LJ Martin, and a seasoned lineup of...

Big 12 Media Days delivered fireworks as Texas Tech took center stage in a heated conference showdown. Brett Yormark’s pointed exchange with media personality Sean Dillon over claims of favoritism and patchwork league rules grabbed headlines, injecting fresh fuel into ongoing debates about realignment, Big 12 leadership, and the Red Raiders’ role in the league’s future. Can Texas Tech parlay its n...

The BYU Cougars may be rising faster than anyone expected in the Big 12, with Kalani Sitake’s program winning over national media and even archrivals at Big 12 media days. Can BYU turn this goodwill—and their impressive 23-4 record over the past two seasons—into a breakthrough campaign? Jake Hatch shares exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from Frisco, revealing how BYU’s authenticity, approachab...

Big 12 Media Days ignite fresh debate as Texas Tech, BYU, and league officials confront questions of fairness, accountability, and discipline across the conference. Brett Yormark, the Big 12 Commissioner, finds himself in the hot seat as Texas Tech’s ongoing tension around fines, lawsuits, and inconsistent penalties comes to the forefront, especially after the Brendan Sorsby situation and waves of...

The BYU Cougars might have just locked down their defensive backfield for years to come as highly-touted safety prospects Peyton Higginson and Lakepa Satuala commit to play in Provo. Are Cougar fans witnessing the birth of the program’s next great safety duo? Jake Hatch provides an in-depth look at what Higginson—one of the most coveted athletes in Utah—brings to the BYU football program, highligh...

Big 12 Media Days signal a pivotal moment for the BYU Cougars as they’re thrust into the championship spotlight, emerging as legitimate challengers to Texas Tech’s reign. The central question looms: Can Kalani Sitake, now the Big 12’s longest-tenured coach, lead BYU to a conference title or even a College Football Playoff berth? Jake Hatch explores the riveting narratives electrifying Frisco, from...

Momentum is finally swinging BYU Cougars’ way as football recruiting heats up—are seismic changes coming to Provo? With four-star talents like edge rusher Uhila Wolfgramm and wideout Blake Wong committing, head coach Kalani Sitake’s staff look poised to shake off early doubts and climb the Big 12 recruiting ladder. Yet intriguing questions remain: does the recent surge signal a sustainable trend,...

Big 12 snubbed yet again—does national disrespect set the stage for a breakout season? Despite returning talent across programs, only Baylor’s punter lands first-team preseason All-American honors, drawing sharp criticism from the Big 12 Squad. Lively banter erupts as the hosts question whether this signals a lack of star power or a continued media blind spot toward conference standouts. Names lik...

BYU fans are on edge as Utah dominates in-state football recruiting headlines—but is it time to panic, or does BYU have a bigger plan in motion? Jake Hatch urges Cougar Nation to “relax” as he breaks down why BYU’s football roster depth and recent success set them up for a potential Big 12 Conference breakout, even as rival Utah racks up early commitments from top local talent. With many upperclas...

Heisman buzz reaches new heights as BYU Cougars' quarterback Bear Bachmeier earns national recognition, but is his moment to seize college football’s biggest award really just around the corner — or will Cougars fans have to wait until 2027 for him to truly own the spotlight? Jake Hatch weighs the pros and cons of Bachmeier’s darkhorse Heisman candidacy, analyzing whether the offensive tandem of B...

NCAA’s new 5-for-5 eligibility rule sets off a ripple effect across college football, and few programs are feeling it more than the BYU Cougars. With missionary service already adding complexity to roster calculations, Jake Hatch explains why this policy might become both a blessing and a logistical headache for Kalani Sitake, Kevin Young, and the entirety of BYU's coaches. Will BYU’s unique appro...

"Chinese Wemby" Shakes Up BYU Basketball—Will Xu Xin Join Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, or Could NIL Lure Him to Provo? As BYU Basketball intensifies its hunt for a transformative big man, the saga surrounding Xu Xin takes center stage. The player known as “Chinese Wemby” has reportedly accepted an NBA Summer League invite from the San Antonio Spurs, raising urgent questions about whether BYU...

Big 12 sends shockwaves through college football as legal battles with Texas Tech and Attorney General Ken Paxton escalate. Can the conference maintain control, or is Texas Tech setting itself up as an outcast—or even an SEC contender? The Big 12 Squad breaks down the legal firefight over Brennan Sorsby’s eligibility, Cody Campbell’s defiance, and what these moves mean for the Big 12’s future. The...

University of Utah stuns the college football landscape by officially committing to Adidas, ending an 18-year relationship with Under Armour in a move that has fans, recruits, and analysts questioning the long-term payoff. Did the Utes overestimate their market value like they did in the Pac-12, helping lead to the conference's demise, and take an unnecessary financial hit, or will access to Adida...

AJ Dybantsa rockets BYU Cougars basketball into the national spotlight by making program history as the first-ever No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick, officially becoming a BYU legend. The conversation focused on the massive implications of Dybantsa’s achievement—not just for his own legacy, but as a testament to Kevin Young’s bold promises to turn Provo into an NBA factory. With back-to-back lottery pi...

BYU Cougars basketball stands at the threshold of a historic NBA Draft, with AJ Dybantsa projected as the likely top overall pick—a potential first for the program. The conversation focused on how this milestone, coupled with the draft prospects of Richie Saunders and Keba Keita, signals Kevin Young’s rapid transformation of BYU into an emerging “NBA factory.” One concept discussed was how Dybants...

Kalani Sitake has emerged as the Big 12’s premier coach, guiding the BYU football program to unprecedented heights—will this momentum carry them to a conference championship and College Football Playoff berth? The conversation focused on Sitake’s outstanding 15-3 Big 12 record over the past two seasons, his ability to recruit and develop talent under unique BYU conditions, and his recognition atop...

Is BYU football on the verge of a program-defining recruiting breakthrough? On this episode of Locked On Cougars , we dive deep into the most critical weekend of the 2026 recruiting cycle for Kalani Sitake and his staff. With the Cougars hosting their most impressive collection of top-end talent to date, the pressure—and the opportunity—is on to secure a haul of commitments that could completely r...

In this episode of Locked On Cougars , we break down the breaking news regarding former BYU receiver Parker Kingston. With his rape case dismissed by the court, we explain the legal nuances of a dismissal "without prejudice," why the judge denied the prosecution’s request for a continuance, and what this development means for his standing with Brigham Young University and the football program. The...

BYU Basketball’s offseason is heating up as Head Coach Kevin Young opens summer workouts but remains on a relentless hunt for a game-changing big man. Despite roster upgrades elsewhere, the Cougars are still missing a true center—an inside-out threat who can defend the rim, rebound, facilitate in dribble handoffs, and finish lobs. Jake Hatch analyzes Kevin Young’s candid update: BYU is laser-focus...

Texas Tech faces a new low point as quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s abrupt exit and gambling scandal make the Red Raiders the most controversial team in the Big 12. After a high-stakes legal battle, public relations blunders, and a failed push by coach Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech administration to protect Sorsby’s eligibility, the program is left reeling. The Big 12 Squad tackle Tech’s costly fig...

The BYU Cougars set their sights on Big 12 Conference dominance as the turbulent Brendan Sorsby saga comes to a dramatic close—but is Kalani Sitake’s program truly ready to topple Texas Tech and assert itself among the conference powerhouses? Jake Hatch breaks down the week’s biggest storyline, chronicling the unraveling of Texas Tech’s high-stakes gamble to clear Sorsby amidst NCAA sanctions and...

Faletau Satuala’s injury shakes up the BYU Cougars’ defensive landscape just months before the 2026 season. The acclaimed All-American safety, who dazzled last year with his rare combination of height, speed, and playmaking, now faces a crucial recovery period after fracturing his foot. With Satuala projected to miss at least eight weeks, Jake Hatch examines the timeline and the potential pitfalls...

The BYU Cougars spotlight integrity as Texas Tech faces backlash over the Brendan Sorsby eligibility saga. With Texas Tech leadership—headlined by Kirby Hocutt and Joey McGuire—working overtime and even issuing legal threats to get Sorsby under center, BYU fans and Jake Hatch revisit BYU’s unwavering tradition of upholding the honor code. Hatch draws on pivotal moments, from the Brandon Davies sus...

Big 12 turmoil reaches a tipping point as the BYU Cougars’ leadership takes center stage in the high-stakes showdown with Texas Tech over quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility and recent legal maneuverings. With President Shane Reese representing BYU on the conference’s pivotal executive committee, the Brett Yormark and the Big 12 Conference face a defining moment: whether to uphold league stan...