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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake talks to his team during the scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU players get warmed up during the scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU players get hyped before the start of a college football game against Baylor at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, September 10, 2022.

Nate Edwards/BYU Photo

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BYU defensive lineman Jackson Cravens runs a drill during practice in Provo on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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Now that Independence Day is in the rearview mirror, college football fans will really start to get antsy for the fall to arrive.

While the first games are still nearly two months away, there are a lot of milestones coming up that will heighten the anticipation: Realignments are now official, conference media days are around the corner and fall camp starts at the end of the month.

But for the players and coaches, this is a time to savor the last moments before frenetic whirlwind of the next few months.

BYU junior defensive back Micah Harper talked in June about how much he enjoys the summer workouts and time being with the other Cougar players.

“The best part of this time is all of the workout and the team bonding, getting ready for the football season,” Harper said. “It’s all beautiful when you look back at the end of summer. You know that you worked hard with your boys.

“Summer workouts are no joke and you have to put in everything you have to make it through some of the hardest workouts you may have in your entire life. But then afterwards you go bowling or golfing or doing whatever you want with your boys. All of it is great.”

This is also a time when veterans and newcomers learn a lot about both each other and themselves.

BYU senior quarterback Gerry Bohanon described how going through the year-long routine for multiple seasons provides perspective, but it can take time for players to get things figured out.

“Most young guys come in and they want to prove a point,” Bohanon said. “They want to fit in and they want to make sure the older guys accept them as well, see who they are and see that they love balling.”

He talked about how that is important, but athletes also need to recognize how all of the pieces fit together to be the best they can be on the gridiron.

“I think there’s a balance at the beginning stage where you understand you have to develop and respect that work ethic,” Bohanon said. “From the guys that are around, you understand that this is not high school football anymore. This is college football. This is a big deal. We have to win games and you have to work hard and this is a year-round sport for everyone.”

He said he loves seeing the passion and desire, which really comes through during the offseason workouts.

“I love it because you see the guys are trying,” Bohanon said. “That’s the biggest part. You’d rather get a guy that wants to overdo it than a guy that you can’t get to do anything.”

The reality for BYU this season is that all of the players — from the most experienced to the least experienced — need to elevate their level of play to avoid another disappointing season.

The Cougars have known that since 2023 ended but seeing the negative prognostications that have come out this summer have reinforced it, according to Cougar junior wide receiver Kody Epps.

He said seeing people say that BYU won’t be very good gets him fired up.

“I do not like the underdog role,” Epps said. “I don’t like any role that anyone forces on us. I like the role I want to be in.”

Right now, according to Epps, that is all about making the most of the rest of July.

“The role now is enjoying the moment, going to workouts, having fun getting ready for football season,” Epps said. “That’s the role that I love.”

But he also said that it’s most important to keep things in perspective and embrace the journey.

“Right now I don’t care about being on top and I don’t care about being on the bottom,” Epps said. “What matters is that wherever we are at the end of the season, how can we learn from it? How can we grow from it? How can we do what we’re supposed to do? How can we enjoy the moment? That’s all I’m focused on. I don’t care about the rules that anybody else is putting on us right now.”