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BYU safety Tanner Wall (28) fires up his teammates before a Big 12 football game against Colorado at Folsom Field in Boulder on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU safety Tanner Wall leaps up high to pull down a key interception during the Cougar's 26-14 win over Cincinnati. November 22, 2025

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Tanner Wall upends UCF's Myles Montgomery in a Big 12 football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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BYU senior Tanner Wall makes a tackle during the Big 12 game against Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU senior safety Tanner Wall (28) is a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, the top scholar-athlete award in college football.

Courtesy BYU Athletics

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BYU junior safety Tanner Wall runs the ball up the field after intercepting a pass during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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What a 24-hour whirlwind BYU football went through to wrap up the 2025 regular season.

The combination of preparing for a solid opponent in UCF, honoring the Cougar seniors for their final home game, knowing they had a spot in the Big 12 Championship game and knowing the College Football Playoff committee would be watching, there was a lot to deal with.

“It was kind of weird,” BYU senior safety and captain Tanner Wall said. “For us seniors, we were thinking about how it was potentially last game at LaVell Edwards Stadium. There was last year when we had our destiny in our hands and kind of let it slip away. But then it was kind of weird to be sitting in the hotel last night watching Arizona win and being like, that game tomorrow does still matter.”

Then the Cougars had an awful first few minutes of the game against the Knights, giving up two touchdowns on defense and going three-and-out on their first offensive possession.

Wall, though, said he never felt like BYU was panicking by the sloppy early performance.

“There was a little bit of a tough start for us, but we adjusted well,” Wall said. “The rest of the game I thought we played really, really stout on defense, and thought the offense played well. We also got a good touchdown on special teams too. We just wanted to come out and get one last great win for the seniors and for the team, wrap up a 6-0 undefeated season at home, which was big for us.”

Reaching many of the team’s goals in 2025 — including protecting the House that LaVell Built and getting a chance to win the Big 12 title — are things Wall and the rest of the Cougars appreciate accomplishing.

But this was also a milestone moment for seniors like Wall as they concluded their final regular season as BYU players. The Cougar safety said he tried to find the right balance of appreciating his past experiences and focusing on the present.

“I tried to stay focused but it’s definitely good to remember all the good moments and sacrifices and the people who helped me get here,” Wall said. “But you still have to stay focused and not let any of that emotion distract from preparation or execution for the game.”

In some ways, though, the moment it sets in for many of the seniors is when they do the traditional senior post-game walk from the north end zone to the south end zone as their teammates, family and friends cheer them on.

“It is really special to just be locked arms with the boys, with the guys that you’ve shed blood, sweat and tears with here through several years,” Wall said. “These are guys who are really like your brothers, so it means a lot to be able to to walk with them. Then to have so many amazing people here supporting us. It’s definitely an emotional moment. As you watch the video on the screen there with the guys, I just tried to keep it in and not get too emotional.”

He said he also takes personal satisfaction in being able to be a leader and set the tone for the team’s success, while recognizing that he is just one part of the grand scheme.

“I’m extremely proud of that,” Wall said. “I’m just grateful that have a coach who believed in me and gave me an opportunity to do that. I’m grateful to God for helping me take advantage of that opportunity and blessing me with those gifts. But there’s been so many teams who have come before us and so many amazing players and leaders who set that standard.

“With Coach Kalani (Sitake), we really tried to ingrain that mentality and so that it’s something that will continue and continue to bless future teams as this goes on. But I’m just very, very grateful for my role and the opportunity I have had to lead this team.”

But while a few moments of reflection and appreciation are appropriate, Wall also pointed out that BYU wants to play a lot more football in 2025 and even into 2026.

To do that, the Cougars have to start by avenging their earlier loss at Texas Tech as BYU takes the stage for the rematch against the Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6.

As one of the team’s captains, Wall said he and the rest of the leaders need to make sure the Cougars have the right tone as they prepare for the Big 12 Championship.

“I think you’ve just got to have just relentless effort on all fronts this week, as far as practice, film preparation, everything,” Wall said. “We’ve got to be borderline obsessive in the way that we prepare for this game, just making sure we hold everyone to that high standard because we’re only as strong as the weakest man. If we can have everyone to that level, I think we’re going to be in a great spot to come out and get a win on Saturday.”