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BYU Coach Kalani Sitake and his father, Tomasi Sitake pose for a photo with Georgia Tech Coach Brent Key. December 22, 2025

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU players Bear Bachmeier and Faletau Satuala enjoy an off-day after arriving in Orlando for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. December 22, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU players Bruce Mitchell and Austin Leausa chomp on Pop Tarts while posing by the Bowl game trophy. December 22, 2025

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU will be fielding a team come Saturday that won’t feature Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin. Cougar Coach Kalani Sitake stated to the media following Tuesday’s practice session that the senior running back won’t be participating in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl, putting the onus on his younger and more inexperienced players to step up and perform.

“We have some great depth on this team, and with LJ not being able to play in this game I think everybody kind of knows there’s a small window to get this surgery done,” Sitake said in relation to Martin opting to surgically repair his shoulder injury in preparation for his future. “His decision is going to be whether he comes back, and plays his senior year or goes to the NFL.”

Martin is in Orlando and has been with the team the entire time, according to Sitake, although he won’t play in BYU’s game on Saturday.

A great spot to be in

Bowl games aren’t just about the game itself, and few other bowls seem to emphasize that fact more than the Pop-Tarts Bowl, which will pit BYU versus Georgia Tech in a game played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida this coming Saturday.

The Cougars arrived in Orlando on Monday and will spend Christmas with the team while engaging in the many activities the Orlando area has to offer, along with other bowl-specific activities.

“Everybody’s just excited to be here in Florida and excited to be here in the Orlando area, and are excited for this week and for the game,” said BYU Coach Kalani Sitake shortly after arriving at the team hotel.

Sitake’s in-laws are from the Orlando area, so he’s more than used to the area and has mentioned since BYU received the invite to the Pop-Tarts Bowl how excited he is because of that unique aspect. As for the rest of the team, many of them traveled to Orlando with their spouses and children to celebrate BYU’s season along with Christmas.

“To me, bowl games are really exciting because you get these (players) in different communities around the country,” Sitake said. “I don’t know how many of our guys have actually been out this way…So it’s good for them to be involved with the community…and serve with the platform we’ve been given, and then we get to cap it off with a football game.”

With regards to specific team activities, they involve a day of activities for kids, some trips to Disney World, the Universal Amusement Parks, Seaworld and the plethora of fun spots Orlando has to offer.

“I’m excited to go to Universal and Disney just because I haven’t been to the ones in Florida. I’ve only been to the ones in California,” said BYU receiver Parker Kingston. “Everyone says these ones are better, so I’m excited to see how it is.”

Of course playing the actual game is also a big deal, and despite all the extracurricular activities going on, is the major focus, at least on BYU’s end. Sure, the Pop-Tarts Bowl wasn’t the goal at the start of the season, but the opportunity to show well in what could be considered the top bowl game outside of the College Football Playoff this season, is one Cougar players are taking seriously.

“It’s been a great season for us. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot of the goals that we set for ourselves,” said BYU senior safety Tanner Wall. “Obviously our (main) goal was to win a Big 12 (Conference) Championship, and we came up short of doing that, but we’re still thrilled and very grateful to be playing in this bowl game and all it represents.”

Perhaps there’s no player on BYU’s team this season who consistently offers the perspective and historical context than Wall, and he provided a lot of it during his interview upon arrival at the team hotel.

“We’re excited to finish our season off on the right note and carry a lot of momentum and good energy into the offseason,” Wall said. “A win here for us would be our first 12-win season since 2001. So that means a lot to us and we want to finish the year ranked in the Top 10…It’s the culture of who we are and who are coach is. Whatever we’ve earned at the end of the year, we’re going to continue to put forth our best.”