BYU enters the 2026 season with expectations that would have seemed ambitious just a few years ago.
The Cougars return several key players and have a schedule that provides opportunities to compete for both a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff spot.
There are still questions to answer, particularly at wide receiver. But there are also plenty of reasons to believe BYU could have a special season.
Here are three bold predictions for the Cougars in 2026.
1. Bear Bachmeier Finishes as the Big 12’s Best Quarterback
The biggest leap on BYU's roster could come from its quarterback.
Bachmeier enters his second season as the starter after showing flashes of what made him one of the conference's most intriguing young quarterbacks. With another offseason in the system, the expectations are no longer simply about potential.
They're about production.
Bachmeier has the arm strength to attack defenses vertically and enough mobility to extend plays when the pocket breaks down. With LJ Martin returning in the backfield, defenses also won't be able to focus exclusively on the passing game.
The prediction: Bachmeier finishes the season as the Big 12's No. 1 quarterback.
That's a significant jump, particularly in a conference with several established quarterbacks. But if Bachmeier improves his consistency and decision-making, the talent is there.
The biggest measuring stick will come in BYU's biggest games. Performances against Notre Dame, TCU and Utah will go a long way toward determining whether Bachmeier can make that leap.
2. LJ Martin Breaks BYU’s Career Rushing Record
Martin enters the season as one of the most accomplished running backs in the country after leading the Big 12 in rushing in 2025.
He isn't simply returning as BYU's starting running back. He's returning as one of the central pieces of an offense that should lean heavily on the ground game.
That creates an opportunity to make some history.
The prediction: Martin finishes 2026 as BYU's all-time leading rusher.
The biggest variable is health. Martin has the talent and workload to reach the record, but BYU will need to manage his carries throughout a long season.
If the offensive line holds up and Martin receives a similar workload to last season, the record could fall before the regular season ends.
3. BYU Beats Both Notre Dame and Utah
There are plenty of important games on BYU's schedule, but two stand above the rest: Notre Dame and Utah.
Notre Dame comes to Provo in October after a 10-win 2025 season. Three weeks later, BYU travels to Salt Lake City for the Holy War against a Utah team that won 11 games last season.
Both represent significant challenges.
The prediction: BYU wins both.
The Notre Dame game gives BYU the advantage of playing at home, while the Utah matchup will require the Cougars to win in one of the most difficult environments in the Big 12.
Winning both games would do more than add two marquee victories to BYU's schedule. It could put the Cougars firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation and give them one of the strongest résumés in the conference.
It's a bold prediction, but if BYU is truly a contender in 2026, these are the types of games it will need to win.
The Bottom LineNone of these predictions are safe.
Bachmeier becoming the Big 12's best quarterback would require a significant sophomore jump. Martin will need to stay healthy to chase the rushing record. And beating both Notre Dame and Utah would require BYU to play its best football against two of the most talented opponents on the schedule.
But that's what makes the 2026 season intriguing.
BYU has enough returning talent and enough opportunity on its schedule for a few bold predictions to become reality.