Much has changed since, and certainly for the better.

The Cougars will take the field this coming Saturday armed with a lot more credibility on the heels of last season’s 11-2 breakthrough season which saw them come within just a few plays of securing a Big 12 Conference Championship game berth. The offensive staff, led by coordinator Aaron Roderick, has largely been in place for seven seasons now, producing consistent results most seasons. The defense, led by coordinator Jay Hill, saw a resurgence in overall production last season and big things are anticipated from the group in 2025.

Portland State, meanwhile, is coming off the heels of a 42-0 beatdown at home versus Tarleton State on the heels of a 3-8 2024 season which included a 43-16 loss to Weber State and a 56-14 defeat dealt by Boise State.

In short, Saturday’s opening game of the 2025 BYU football season presents a significant mismatch.

But don’t tell that to the BYU coaching staff which holds a great deal of admiration for a Viking program led by head coach Bruce Barnum.

“I have a lot of respect for them,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said during his weekly press conference. “Bruce Barnum is a well-known coach and has a great reputation, and has done a great job as a leader for decades. So I have a lot of respect for him and how he does his job.”

Indeed Sitake has a good deal of familiarity with Barnum, having faced off against him several times, dating back to the Portland State’s head coach’s time as Idaho State’s offensive coordinator.

“I’ve had a lot of interactions and have met him on the field as an opponent many times,” Sitake shared. “So he always has his team ready. You look at Portland State, and they played a team nationally-ranked at the FCS level in Tarleton State last week, and it didn’t go well for them. But … they have a leg up of having one game under their belt and we’re still hoping that our guys show up and do their best right away.”

Yes, BYU will present its share of question marks come Saturday.

How will freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier perform?

Will the secondary prove effective following the loss of standout cornerbacks Jakob Robinson and Marque Collins?

Can the offensive line and relatively thin group of running backs provide a dominating rush attack?

Will the standout special teams play set forth last season continue into the 2025 season?

Those are only several of the questions set to be answered here soon with the Cougars perhaps more locked into what they can do, as opposed to what the Vikings may present.

“The focus will be us playing at our best,” Sitake said. “I feel really good about the program and all three phases right now and the coaching.”

Yes, Sitake has settled in well since the tumultuous 2017 season, which saw the team finish 4-9 and should therefore meet Portland State this time around with a much better culture and certainly more identity on both sides of the football.

So what exactly should fans expect come Saturday?

On offense, the team will present a true freshman who will in little doubt incur some growing pains. But Bachmeier will be surrounded by veteran standouts, such as receiver Chase Roberts and running back LJ Martin, along with a good and experienced offensive line, all of which Roderick states in the strength of his unit.

On defense, the hope is that Mory Bamba and Evan Johnson can replace Robinson and Collins effectively in helping reprise what proved to be a very good pass defense. Much is expected upfront, where Utah transfer defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa leads what coaches hope is an improved front seven armed the the returning talents of linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly.

So, no, a repeat of 2017’s frustrating performance likely isn’t in the cards this time around, to put it concisely. But instead, look for BYU to set forth a performance that will largely exemplify the great strides the program has made over the past eight seasons under Sitake’s direction.