Well, sort of.

Sure, Sitake has formed a pretty good idea regarding his team’s prospects through spring practice sessions, offseason workouts, and certainly during the fall camp session, although you really don’t know for sure until it all comes together come game time. Sitake expressed as much to the media during Monday’s press conference as BYU preps for its season opener this Saturday versus Utah Tech.

“I’m looking forward to to being in the stadium and playing the game. And then just seeing our guys play at full speed,” Sitake said. “Even though we had a lot of live moments, we we haven’t been able to really put it all together in in a in a full 60 minutes, and so this allows us to do that. ”

Overall Sitake and his coaching staff have expressed optimism throughout fall camp regarding each position group. Sure, positive vibes always abound during preseason interviews, although this fall has proved particularly optimistic for several reasons.

“We’re showing up relatively healthy — probably healthier than what we’ve been in years past,” Sitake noted. “Considering all the the the live work and the physical part that we had this camp, I’m pleased with how the guys have been able to take care of their bodies and then recover. And I’m looking forward to the to the matchup and looking forward to our guys being out there.”

A lot of the guys being out there mentioned by Sitake will include a bevy of familiar faces from quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin to defensive standouts like Isaiah Glasker, Faletau Satuala and Evan Johnson. But some intriguing new faces showed up prominently on Monday’s released depth chart, including true freshman receiver Legend Glasker being listed as starter, Cal transfer Cade Uluave listed as one of the starters at linebacker and then Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper, who presents an intriguing option at another receiving position.

“I thought all the guys have improved quite a bit,” Sitake said regarding the receiver group specifically. “I think a lot of the attention went on the receivers because we we lost a lot of the um the veterans there. But I think a lot of people realize that there’s some talent there … I think everybody’s improved quite a bit. Maybe the new ones that you don’t know about are the receivers that probably weren’t household names”

The goal is, of course, to make names like Kasper, Legend Glasker and even Reggie Frischknecht, who is listed as a backup at receiver, household names, along with tight end transfers Walker Lyons (USC) and Roger Saleapaga (Oregon), both of whom were listed as co-starters at tight end.

Together all the new players will work to mesh effectively with the returning starters in forming the best team possible beginning with Saturday’s game versus the Trailblazers. No, Utah Tech, which was drubbed by Montana State 54-0, probably won’t be providing the sternest test for the Cougars, to say the least, but according to Sitake, the focus on Saturday won’t be as much on the opponent as it will be on themselves.

“It’s not about the the opponent for us,” he said. “I mean, we know we have to do the the scouting, and we know we have to look at the at the tendencies and things that we know that we have to stop … They’re they’re going to try to get past us and try to expose some of our our deficiencies. That’s the fun part of the game. But when it all comes down to it, we only have 12 opportunities that are guaranteed. We can’t squander any of them, so we’ve got to come out and and be ready to roll right from the beginning.”

The best part about Saturday in the mind of Sitake and the players will be the opportunity to play in front of the home crowd gathered at LaVell Edwards Stadium for the first time in nearly eight months.

“It’s a chance to be at home and to protect LaVell’s house, to see our fans, (and feel) the energy,” Sitake concluded. “I thought last year’s energy was amazing, and I anticipate this year is going to be the same. We’re going to have a lot of fans there and create an environment that I think will be It’s been beneficial for us. It’s been a huge advantage for our program to to be at home and to have that that backing from our and the support from our fans (has been amazing.)”