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BYU senior running back LJ Martin takes questions during Big 12 Conference Media Day on Tuesday. July 7, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU senior offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell sits down to take questions during Big 12 Conference Media day. July 7, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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Primary storylines for the BYU football team aren’t easy to come by this year as players and Head Coach Kalani Sitake took a multitude of questions from the press during the first day of the Big 12 Conference Media Day on Tuesday.

But all factors considered, that’s generally a very good thing.

BYU presented a bevy of returning talent at the event held in Frisco, Texas, headed by returning Big 12 offensive player of the year LJ Martin, who returns as the team’s primary running back this season. Then there’s now sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who was the conference’s freshman of the year last season along with senior center Bruce Mitchell, who was named a first-team all-conference performer last season and was somewhat an easy selection to repeat that accomplishment in 2026.

“When you’ve got as many returners as we do, leadership is your strength,” Mitchell said of his offensive line specifically, but with quotes that could be related to just about every position group on BYU’s team. “You can bring along the young guys who are developing, but you just understand the offense and understand what it takes to dominate the line of scrimmage. The offseason work as well as what you need to do in season. I think when you combine all of that, we have multiple leaders on the offensive line who are making this unit better.”

Yes, the returning experience makes storylines perhaps less intriguing, although it can well be argued that’s the storyline in and of itself.

The Big 12 again elected not to conduct a preseason poll with regards to ranking member institutions this season. Even so, BYU can be found at the top or more often playing second-fiddle again to defending champion Texas Tech in just about every preseason prognostication from just about every news service that puts forth the endeavor.

“It’s a good start but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Sitake said. “I really am excited to see the progress that Bear’s made throughout the year and to see how far he’s come. What he’s doing in the offseason right now has been really impressive. But that’s with all of his teammates. The guys have been doing such a great job and I’m just trying to not mess it up. These guys have a great work ethic and we’re trying to give them an environment where they feel they have autonomy and that this is their team.”

As for those returning players, five were named as preseason first-team conference selections, along with one newcomer. Martin was tabbed as the favorite to repeat as Big 12 offensive player of the year and joining Martin on the preseason first-team are Mitchell, defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa, linebacker Cade Uluave, cornerback Evan Johnson and safety Faletau Satuala.

Despite the accolades, Martin doesn’t take much stock in them, at least for himself.

“It doesn’t mean much to me,” Martin said. “At this time last year, I wasn’t on any preseason teams. I’m just trying to stay focused and win as many games as possible. I’ll let the results be the results. That’s how I went into it last year, and I had a pretty good season. So I want to have that same mentality.”

In short; if it’s not broken, you don’t fix it. And that’s the way it is for BYU heading into the 2026 season. And all factors considered, it’s a very good position to be in.

But BYU isn’t satisfied with its current stature, far from it, and is working diligently to improve upon its bridesmaid status achieved last season.

“Obviously we want to win a Big 12 Championship,” Johnson said. “We kind of got our feet wet, so now it’s ‘what do we have to do to get to the next level.’ I think what we have to do is just those small and simple things. Those small and simple things are going to be what makes us really great and Big 12 Champions… Those small, simple details are what separates you from a Big 12 Championship and going home from that field.”

“There’s the given goals. Everyone knows everyone wants to be champions. You’re not a competitor if you aren’t trying to get that done,” Sitake added. “But our focus needs to be on how we get that done. Just saying you want to be a champion doesn’t make it happen. It’s about what you are willing to do in the offseason when no one is watching. By the time you get to the season much of the work has been done already…I’m not fixated on ‘Do or Die’ with the Championship. My job is simple; Get these guys to play 12 times at their best…if we do that right we should earn more time to play. And we did enough of that last year but we can do better.”

BYU will begin its fall practice camp in late July in preparation for the upcoming 2026 season which begins with a home game versus Utah Tech on September 5.