Surely there will be interest in how much the Cougars have improved and how they look at the outset of what’s hoped for and even prognosticated as a historic season. Armed with a bevy of top-end returning talent and enough incoming and developing talent, expectations have never been higher and it all begins on Saturday with more than several fans raring to get a first glimpse at the initial product.

But there’s just one problem; the game is versus Utah Tech.

With all due respect to the Trailblazers, Saturday’s result is already well in hand and (spoiler alert) the Cougars will be winning this game, and probably by a lot of points. Consider Utah Tech’s initial outing last Saturday versus fellow FCS program Montana State with the result coming down as a 54-0 loss handed to the Trailblazers who were playing at home.

So no, there’s not much that can be gleaned from such a matchup for the Cougars although there’s at least some things fans can take away that should prove somewhat instructional with regards to what type of team BYU will be and what it will present over the next four months.

1. Who is Bear Bachmeier’s favorite target?

There’s a lot of candidates here and it’s something that should warrant a lot of interest from even the most casual fan. Gone are top receivers Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston and tight end Carsen Ryan from a season ago, so who will step up in their place and rise to become a favorite target of the now sophomore signal-caller?

At receiver there’s a familiar option in Jojo Phillips (6-5, 205 Jr.), whose 2025 campaign was truncated due to injury, although Bachmeier did find him four times for completed passes during the Pop-tarts bowl. And then there’s exciting additions such as Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper (6-6, 212) and true freshman Legend Glasker (6-1, 175), both of whom made waves during BYU’s recent fall practice session. And don’t forget about Bear’s brother, Tiger Bachmeier, who just may warrant some perceived nepotism with the strides he’s made.

But will the top target necessarily even be a receiver?

Tight end transfers Roger Saleapaga (6-4, 235 So.) and Walker Lyons (6-4, 245) are smart bets considering what they’ve shown during open practice sessions, sure, but mostly due to how much praise they’ve received from both BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and Bear Bachmeier himself.

So noting who exactly Bear Bachmeier likes to look for will be of interest as it’s very much in question who will wind up as the team’s top pass-catcher for the 2026 season.

2. Backing up LJ (and Sione)

What LJ Martin accomplished last season was extraordinary. Sure, the numbers themselves reach the bar of being termed ‘extraordinary,’ although the overall durability Martin exhibited was even more so when considering the amount of touches he had to take on, not to mention the blocking assignments and everything else that takes a toll on a body during the course of a season.

But Martin had to.

BYU didn’t enjoy much if any depth at all at running back after Sione Moa went down with his serious medical condition after just the third game of the season. This year it very much won’t be the case with the Cougars looking relatively flush with intriguing depth at the position, which includes Moa, who made his miraculous return to the team this season which has been well reported on.

We pretty much know what Moa can do, so all eyes should be focused on options such as converted safety Preston Rex (6-0, 200 Sr.), true freshman DeVaughn Eka (5-11, 195), Journee Tonga (5-8, 198 Fr.) and Logan Payne (5-10, 210 Fr.), among others. All of them should get plenty of looks when assuming BYU should be going up big on the scoreboard early and it will certainly be of note with regards to how deep and talented BYU’s backup running back corps looks to be at the outset of the season.

3. Defensive alignments

BYU has showcased a defense that has proven variable in its formations over the past two seasons while putting forth productive products that have indeed led the charge in providing the impressive win totals during both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. But gone is defensive coordinator Jay Hill and cornerbacks coach Jenaro Gilford, which should bring about at least some change with how the Cougars operate schematically.

Sure, Kelly Poppinga takes the reins of the defensive operation as the overall coordinator, and he’s certain to maintain a lot of the same system that proved so successful under Hill. But there’s going to be at least some changes, and perhaps particularly in the defensive secondary with new cornerbacks coach Lewis Walker and safeties coach DeMario Warren.

So which type of front will Poppinga trend toward? How much variation of formations will we see and which defensive players will be rotating in and out to make plays most often? No, Utah Tech’s offense probably won’t warrant Poppinga releasing all of his defensive arsenal and schematics, but the game should give fans a pretty good idea of what the style of defense will be overall and which players will be showcased.

So show up or tune in on Saturday night for a matchup that almost assuredly won’t prove competitive, but should give a decent preview of what’s in store for the coming four months of the 2026 college football season.