PROVO, Utah — The debate is over. For years, the question in Provo was whether winning brings recruits or recruits bring winning. Kalani Sitake just answered it with a sledgehammer: It’s both.
Fresh off a stunned-the-world 2025 campaign—12 wins, a No. 11 AP finish, and a sugar-coated victory in the Pop-Tarts Bowl—BYU didn’t just rest on its laurels. They leveraged them. The Cougars just finalized a recruiting haul that isn’t just “good for BYU.” It’s a national statement.
The “Receipts” Era
You want proof of concept? Look at the ink on the letters of intent. Sitake’s 2026 class ranks No. 21 nationally and sits at No. 2 in the Big 12. That’s not a typo. It’s the highest-rated group in school history, boasting an 89.00 composite average.
But the real story isn’t the stars; it’s the surgery. Sitake didn’t just stockpile athletes; he fixed problems.
“I thought it was awesome. I believe it was a top-20 to top-25 class. It might be BYU’s highest-rated class in at least a decade, maybe longer.” — Greg Biggins, On3 National Analyst
Biggins, who has graded rosters since the modem era, noted the tactical precision. “If you sign 12 receivers but needed offensive linemen, that’s not great roster construction,” he told @espnthefan. “BYU filled needs everywhere. Quarterback, running back, tight end, skill players, line depth.”
The Portal Kings: Lyons, Finau, and Uluave
While the high school ranks brought the depth, the transfer portal brought the immediate firepower. BYU’s transfer class ranks No. 15 nationally, with an average rating of 87.22.
The headliners are terrifying for Big 12 defensive coordinators:
- Walker Lyons (TE): The former USC Trojan is coming home. A mismatch nightmare at 6’4″, he brings elite pedigree to an offense that loves the tight end.
- Paki Finau (OL): Washington’s loss is Provo’s gain. Finau adds instant grit to the trenches.
- Cade Uluave (LB): The crown jewel of the defense. 247Sports rated him the top transfer linebacker in the cycle after he wrecked shop at Cal.
Add in eight returned missionaries enrolling midyear, and you have a locker room that is older, stronger, and physically mature before spring ball even starts.
NFL Bound: The Development Machine
Recruits are watching the exit velocity, too. The program is sending two stars to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, proving you can get to Sunday from LaVell Edwards Stadium.
WR Chase Roberts (6’4″, 210 lbs) is headed to Indy to show off a catch radius that bailed out the offense time and again in 2025. But the buzz is loudest around LB Jack Kelly.
Kelly transferred in, became a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker, and anchored a defense that logged 10 Power 4 wins. Only national champion Indiana and playoff semifinalist Oregon had more wins over winning teams than BYU last season. That’s the resume. Kelly isn’t just a draft pick; he’s a billboard for transfer success.
The Bottom Line
The “dip” is gone. Sitake has established a rhythm of 10 and 11-win seasons, and with this roster, the floor just got a lot higher. The Cougars aren’t hunting for respect anymore. They’re hunting for hardware.
