1 / 2

BYU Athletic Director Brian Santiago together with BYU Coach Kalani Sitake during Tuesday's press conference. December 2, 2025

Courtesy BYU Photo

2 / 2

Saint Mary's guard Aidan Mahaney defends against BYU guard Dallin Hall (30) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

❮ ❯

Daily Herald sports writers Darnell Dickson and Brandon Gurney debate and pontificate on the hot BYU sports topics of the week.

1. So will Kalani Sitake and Brian Santiago shake hands and make up?

DICKSON: For those who haven’t been paying attention, the past week produced social media rumors that Santiago, BYU’s Director of Athletics, was on his way out. BYU officials took to the internet to assure fans that wasn’t true. Then Sitake let everyone know promises made to him about resources in the football program were not being kept.

None of this would have happened under Tom Holmoe’s watch — or at least, it wouldn’t have played out in public. Sitake is well aware of what other power conference schools are spending on resources after he was nearly stolen away by Penn State last winter. BYU made a late push to meet Sitake’s demands and keep him in Provo. Then last week happened. Safe to say there are some issues that Sitake and Santiago need to work out. For the good of the football team and the athletic department, it needs to happen. Hey, this is what BYU signed up for where it accepted the invitation to join the Big 12, right? Sitake says his needs are simple and should be easy to meet.

GURNEY: Wow, that’s quite the question, and honestly, the prospect of both men reaching an accord of understanding and is pretty dubious. Sitake is always open when discussing his relationships, and he genuinely loves just about everyone, so when he offered basically a ‘no comment’ when asked regarding about his relationship with Santiago, it was pretty surprising.

All of this was supposed to have been solved last December when Sitake ultimately agreed to stay at BYU after being courted heavily by Penn State. I was there, and my phone recorded all of the promises dulled out by both Sitake and Santiago, on top of the supposedly well-meaning comments each of them had for one another. The very fact that basically the same issues have propped up just eight months later indicates things have not been resolved and have maybe even become worse. So no, I don’t know if it can be repaired and BYU may soon head toward the prospect of having to let go either Sitake or Santiago, which could have massive repercussions.

2. What has stood out to you so far about Camp Kalani?

GURNEY: I’ve covered a lot of these camps, and just about all of them feature some frustrations or at least some concerns expressed by coaches during interview sessions. What strikes me this year is just how positive and downright excited coaches have been when discussing key aspects of this year’s team. Sitake has been remarkably forthright with his optimism, but perhaps the best indicators have come from BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. A-rod isn’t a hype guy, or anything close to it, but he’s been almost giddy during interview sessions when discussing BYU’s offensive prospects.

There’s a lot of reasons for A-rod’s optimism. The offensive line looks to be as deep and as talented as it’s been in years, LJ Martin is returning and the team received two very high-profile tight ends via the transfer portal in Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga, and both have acquitted themselves very nicely during practice sessions. But the biggest reason, at least from my perspective, is the overall progress made by quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The sophomore has looked very sharp and precise during open sessions, and fans can expect a lot of improvement from him this season.

DICKSON: Seems the offense is having its way with the defense. At least, it appears that way. Remember that the media is only allowed to watch about 20 minutes of practice a couple of times a week and BYU only shows a certain number of plays on its video highlights. The truth lies somewhere between the carefully crafted information that is being released by BYU and what’s really happening. I think the offense is going to be pretty good, and maybe that’s why Bear Bachmeier and his cohorts have had the upper hand. Or, it could be that Kelly Poppinga is simply trying to keep his guys healthy and his starters are getting limited live reps. We simply won’t know until the games start, which can’t be soon enough for me.

3. The receiver group for BYU is drawing a lot of discussion since the Cougars are replacing their top two guys. So, who do you think will lead the Cougars in receptions this season?

DICKSON: The WR1 spot appears to be a race between Jo Jo Phillips and Kyler Casper. Reports coming out of camp seem to favor one or the other depending on the day. I think it’s still up for grabs, to be sure. I’d also include the tight ends, specifically Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga, in this discussion. Between them, they could combine for 80 or more catches this season. I think I’ll go with Phillips (among the receivers) for now, as long as he can stay healthy.

GURNEY: I’m going with Kyler Kasper, although I’m tempted to select either Saleapaga or Lyons. Call it recency bias, but Kasper won me over during an interview I did with him early on during fall camp. The former 4-star prospect talked very confidently and presented himself as someone who is on the cusp of big things. He’s all of 6-foot-6 and he’ll likely enter this season as healthy as he’s been over the past two years after making notable strides during practice sessions last week. So yeah, I’m buying Kasper as a guy who could absolutely rise to become Bear’s top receiving option this season.

4. The preseason Associated Press college football poll came out on Monday and zero Big 12 teams were in the Top 10, with Texas Tech at 12 and BYU tied for 14. Fair or not fair?

GURNEY: This may not be a popular answer, but I think it’s fair in light of Texas Tech’s awful performance versus Oregon in the College Football Playoff last season. So pollsters connect the dots; The Red Raiders didn’t really belong last year and shouldn’t seriously be considered as legitimate contenders, as a result. And then there’s the fact that that illegitimate contender lambasted BYU not once, but twice last season. It makes sense, and if any Big 12 team seeks for better preseason recognition, the conference will have to present a much better postseason argument.

DICKSON: It’s a pretty big slap in the face from voters that nobody from the Big 12 warrants a Top 10 spot. It’s pretty amazing how year after year teams from the Big Ten and the SEC get all the votes and so many of them fall short of expectations. I’ve seen some data recently that BYU is probably the program that most often exceeds national expectations, and I believe that. The good thing for the Cougars is starting inside the Top 15 gives them a great starting point. Continue to win (and win impressively) and they could take any decision out of the hands of the committee. So far, that appears to be BYU’s only way into the playoffs, because the bias toward the Big Ten and the SEC is so overwhelming.

5. The latest court injunction has made former Cougars Keba Keita and Dallin Hall, as well as former Michigan State center Jaxson Kohler, eligible for the 2026-27 college basketball season (for now). Does BYU end up with one of these guys? Two of them? All three?

DICKSON: I would expect Kevin Young would most want Kohler in a BYU uniform right now. The Cougars have a bit of an inside track since Kohler grew up in American Fork and Young is in need of a center than can play 30+ minutes. Reports are that BYU isn’t the highest bidder for Kohler’s services but has a competitive offer on the table. I don’t think Young can afford to get both Kohler AND Keita this cycle. Hall seems like a long shot but would be a huge veteran pick up to fill out the roster.

I think the Cougars get Kohler and that’s it. But with daily updates from the courtroom as each side (the players and the NCAA) find sympathetic judges, who knows if anybody is eventually going to be eligible? What a mess.

GURNEY: I would love to see Dallin Hall finish his career at BYU, although there’s not really much of an open slot for him let alone much need when considering what the Cougars have in their backcourt. That aside, I think it’s likely that Kevin Young lands both Kohler and Keita, and that’s an exciting prospect. With Kohler, you have a local kid who is very experienced in manning the 5 position while Keita could perhaps recapture the level of play he showed forth as a junior, but escaped him throughout much of his senior season. BYU has to get at least one of the two bigs, right? I mean, who else is even out there at this stage?