Big 12 Conference media days begin on Tuesday with BYU entering the two-day event with a significantly raise profile in its third year of conference affiliation. Gone are the days of low expectations as the Cougars proved they could hang with anyone in the conference last season and came within just a few plays of advancing to the Big 12 Conference Championship round.

And that’s a good thing.

BYU should have the attention of all 15 of its conference rivals this time around with the goal now to prove that last season wasn’t the exception, but the rule moving forward. Doing as much won’t be easy considering the depth of quality play within the conference which will challenge the Cougars considerably on a weekly basis.

But first things first, and the task currently at hand is to present a program to the media confident in the task at hand while adding some insight into what’s on tap for the 2025 season. The Cougars will do as much by presenting five of their most notable players on the roster,  which are senior receiver Chase Roberts, sophomore running back LJ Martin, junior linebacker Isaiah Glasker, senior linebacker Jack Kelly and junior defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa.

Missing from BYU’s roster of players at Big 12 Media Days is a quarterback, which is a position certain to be asked about most, considering the status of Jake Retzlaff, who was the assumed starter until recently. Word broke about a week ago that Retzlaff was on his way out of Provo due to a reported prospect of a seven-game suspension due to honor code violations, although nothing official has been announced.

So can we expect any clarification regarding Retzlaff’s status and BYU’s quarterback situation? Almost assuredly not, although the question is certain to be asked from every angle to both Cougar Head Coach Kalani Sitake and the players.

As for Sitake, he’ll take the main stage at 10am MDT on Tuesday, just a half hour following Big 12 Commissioner Brent Yormark’s opening address. The entire two-day event will be televised live on ESPNU and streamed live on ESPN+.

So what stories will likely take center stage for the Cougars absent any expected clarity regarding the quarterback situation?

Fresh off being named by the media as a preseason All-Big 12-Conference performer, Chase Roberts is certain to warrant a lot of focus. Roberts joined Arizona State standout Jordyn Tyson and TCU’s Eric McAlister as one of the three receivers to receive the honor and looks to be poised for a big year.

Roberts emerged as BYU’s top receiver last season, hauling in 52 passes for 854 yards and four touchdowns. Those impressive numbers should only increase this season and whoever it is who takes snaps for the Cougars this season will do well in looking for No. 2 frequently throughout the season.

One of the more notable inclusions of BYU’s Big 12 Media Days roster is Keanu Tanuvasa, who hasn’t even played a down yet for the Cougars since transferring from Utah after last season. The fact that he’ll be there as one of the team’s five player representatives speaks loudly to not only his playing ability, but the impression he’s made as a leader in the locker room. The fact that coaches picked him to sell BYU’s narrative is both extraordinary and promising with regards to the impact he’ll be making this coming season.

It could well be argued that BYU has migrated to being dubbed ‘Quarterback U’ to ‘Linebacker U’ in recent years with the inclusion of both Glasker and Kelly as media days front men solidifying the moniker. The program has produced top NFL linebacker talent in recent years like Fred Warner, Kyle Van Noy and Sione Takitaki with both Glasker and Kelly aiming to continue that process.

Last, but not least, is running back LJ Martin, who showed some good glimpses of dominant running back play throughout last season as a sophomore, and will enter this season and the unquestioned first-option out of the Cougar backfield. Martin has been beset by injury issues in each of his two seasons in Provo, although he’s been able to play enough to warrant a lot of trust from coaches and his teammates.

Overall BYU typically puts on a good show during media events, and should do as much come Tuesday. With regards to how the team measures up to increased expectations will be told over the next 4-5 months although Media Days could give a decent preview regarding the overall prospects.