DICKSON: No rest for the weary … or the BYU sports fan
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- BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (right) and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa pose for a photo at Big 12 Media Days in Dallas on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
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- BYU senior running back LJ Martin takes questions during Big 12 Conference Media Day on Tuesday. July 7, 2026
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- Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald
It was just one tweet out of what seems like a million others, but this one kind of summed up what used to be the offseason in sports.
ESPN NBA expert Brian Windhurst: “Free agency never stops.”
He could have tweeted, “college sports never stops” and that would have been entirely accurate.
I thought about this after taking in the two-day hype machine that was the Big 12 Football Media Days. The Big 12 was the first of the power conference media day events, where everybody is undefeated and feeling their best selves.
Nothing wrong with that. It just got me thinking about how pro and college sports linger far longer than the end of the results on the field or the court.
Professional sports figured this out a while ago, starting with what was known as the “Hot Stove League” in major league baseball. Quaintly, it conjures up images of baseball fans gathered around a hot stove during the cold winter months of the offseason, discussing their favorite teams and players.
The NFL and the NBA followed suit, riding the wave of free agency signings, summer league games and schedule releases to keep their name on the tip of the tongue of fans around the world even when there weren’t any games or even practices taking place.
College sports have jumped into the offseason tumult now as well. The transfer portal, NIL, conference realignment, the house settlement, and playoff expansion for both football and basketball are some of the headlines dominating social media discussion this spring and summer. There are dozens of college sports and BYU podcasts available to keep the conversion going.
Sometimes, it’s controversy that bubbles to the surface, something BYU and its fans know all too well.
Last year it was Jake Retzlaff and his off-field troubles. This year it was similar issues for Parker Kingston. Then there was Brendan Sorsby’s gambling saga, which saw Texas Tech attempt to strong arm the Big 12 and all of college football before getting outmaneuvered in the court room.
Now the Red Raiders are sore about it, apparently, and feeling picked on. It’s a built-in chip on their shoulder for the coming season, where they are favored to repeat as conference champion.
By all accounts Kalani Sitake and the six BYU players who trekked to Dallas for the media days acquitted themselves quite well. When Sitake was asked about how much full contact his team went through, he said, “I’m not going to bubble wrap these guys.”
That very well could be applied to Big 12 Media Days. Sitake and his players fully embraced the opportunity to represent their program and their school, patiently answering the same questions over and over again with a smile on their face.
Especially sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who Sitake said he has told he doesn’t have to do everything by himself. If there’s any position that takes on the mantle of getting things done, it’s the quarterback, who pretty much has the ball in his hands on every offensive play.
Sitake and his coaching staff consistently refer to “complementary football” as a key to the Cougars success. As a reminder, that is “complementary” (two or more things that combine or interact to form a balance whole) not “complimentary” (expressing praise or flattery).
Complementary football means all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — doing their job and lifting the others when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Complementary football also applies on the individual player level. Football is a series of wins and losses, completing your assignment or making a mistake. Bachmeier has to know he can rely on his teammates to pick him up if screws up. All 11 players on the field need to do their job and not feel like they are carrying the whole team. It’s an extension of the “one-11th” manta we’ve heard from the Cougars for a while now.
That’s the kind of program Sitake and his staff have built and that has resulted in a 23-4 record over the past two seasons.
Fans of college sports really don’t get much of an offseason anymore, and that really is just par for the course. They are being asked to invest more and more each season, with ticket prices at a premium and opportunities to contribute to collectives for recruiting. While some fans are being priced out of actually attending games, others are stepping up to fill the gap.
In truth, college football has never been more popular.
After listening to all the coaches and players interviews at Big 12 Media Days (just accept that I listened to all of them and don’t ask any questions), it would appear Texas Tech and BYU are at the top of most predictions with Utah and Houston getting some nods as well. Then there is Oklahoma State, with a new coach and 85 new players on its roster. And Iowa State, with a new coach and zero returners on either side of the ball.
We’re already just weeks away from the start of fall camp for BYU, with the first game against Utah Tech on Sept. 5. While the constant banging of the offseason drum can get a bit annoying, the promise of actual games on Saturday afternoons and evenings makes for a pretty sweet run-up.
