Locked On Cougars - Daily Podcast On BYU Cougars Football & Basketball

BYU football is officially your Pop-Tarts Bowl Champion! On today’s episode of Locked On Cougars, Jake Hatch breaks down a gritty, gutsy, and frankly improbable 25-21 comeback victory for the Cougars over Georgia Tech in Orlando. In a game defined by "next man up" mentality, BYU showed the nation why they were a top-15 program all season long, finishing the year on the highest of notes.

Bear Bachmeier: The Ultimate Competitor

The Michigan Wolverines threaten a seismic shift in college football by courting Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, but the spotlight intensifies on BYU Cougars as defensive coordinator Jay Hill emerges as a potential target for Ann Arbor. Could Michigan’s pursuit create a ripple effect in Provo and prompt a major staff shake-up? Jake Hatch unpacks the swirling rumors, dissecting Jay Hill’s deep ties to Utah, his unique coaching phi...

(NOTE - LJ Martin has been declared out for this game after this show was recorded)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and BYU Cougars collide in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, each with unfinished business and hungry to rewrite their postseason narrative. Can Haynes King’s dynamic legs propel Georgia Tech past a stout BYU defense, or will LJ Martin’s bruising style continue his breakout season as the Cougars chase a statement 12th win? With the Yell...

The BYU Cougars scored a scheduling coup, inking a home-and-home series with the storied Notre Dame Fighting Irish—a move that electrifies their 2026 non-conference football slate and answers critics questioning the program’s strength of schedule. How did BYU orchestrate this high-profile showdown in Provo, and what does it signal about their standing in the Big 12 and the national landscape?

Jake Hatch unpacks the whirlwind events ...

Quarterback play stands at center stage as the BYU Cougars prepare to take on Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, with Bear Bachmeier and Haynes King poised to be the decisive factors in Orlando. Both teams showcase balanced offenses built around potent rushing attacks—Georgia Tech leans on King’s dual-threat dynamism, as he leads in passing and rushing, while BYU turns to L.J. Martin and, when needed, relies on Bachmeier's mobilit...

Playoff disappointment casts a shadow over the BYU Cougars as they gear up for the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech. Jake Hatch raises tough questions: does being snubbed two years running from the College Football Playoff sap motivation for both coaches and players, despite their confident public statements? BYU’s resume—highlighted by 11 wins and a Big 12 title game appearance—stacked up with the nation’s elite, but the playof...

Utah’s Kyle Whittingham emerges as a likely candidate to take over at Michigan, setting off one of the most unexpected coaching carousel moves in recent college football history. Can Whittingham’s approach and legacy translate to success in Ann Arbor, and would his staff follow him or remain tied to Morgan Scalley? The crew breaks down the drama, and questions abound over Michigan’s future roster, leadership, and the impact on Big ...

ACC chaos strikes BYU football, jeopardizing the Cougars’ 2026 College Football Playoff ambitions and sparking outcry—can Kalani Sitake’s program find a solution before it’s too late? Jake Hatch breaks down how the ACC’s unbalanced conference schedule forced Cal to cancel its much-anticipated home-and-home series with BYU, leaving the Cougars without a Power Four opponent just nine months ahead of the 2026 season. With College Foot...

The BYU Cougars dominate Pacific Tigers 93-57 on the hardwood, but the real fireworks ignite after the game with Pacific AD Adam Tschuor’s headline-grabbing rant. Tschuor calls BYU “walking bags of cash,” criticizing the new NIL era and the financial dynamics of college athletics. Does this social media dust-up signal deeper tensions between mid-majors and Power 4 programs, or is it simply sour grapes after BYU’s resounding victory...

Will the BYU Cougars truly be at full strength for the Pop-Tarts Bowl showdown with Georgia Tech? Jake Hatch takes a critical look at internal optimism from coaches Aaron Roderick and Jay Hill, spotlighting the tough choices facing key contributors like Jack Kelly, LJ Martin, and Bear Bachmeier. Weighing the risks of injury against high-stakes NFL Draft preparations, these stars must determine whether to play or protect their pro f...

The BYU-Utah rivalry is entering uncharted territory as legendary Utes coach Kyle Whittingham steps down, paving the way for Morgan Scalley to take over in Salt Lake City. With the unexpected coaching change, all eyes turn to how BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and defensive coordinator Jay Hill will respond. Will Scalley’s leadership inspire a new era for Utah, or does this mark an opening for BYU to surge ahead after having the uppe...

The Big 12 Conference has been nothing short of a whirlwind over the past week, marked by a major championship, postseason selection drama, and a groundbreaking business announcement that reinforces its "New Look" identity.

1. Championship and CFP Breakthrough

The week started with the Big 12 Championship Game where Texas Tech defeated BYU in a commanding fashion (34-7). This victory propelled the Red Raiders to a 12-1 record, securi...

The BYU Cougars brace for pivotal changes as Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick reveals that quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s injury is “not serious” and expects him ready for the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech. With bowl season approaching, roster stability takes center stage— how will BYU handle player opt-outs and portal defections in a landscape where program culture and player commitment are being tested? Jake Hatch offers ...

Can Kalani Sitake’s new contract extension truly reshape the trajectory of BYU football, or is university leadership still holding the program back? Jake Hatch dives into the layers behind Sitake’s record-breaking deal with Brigham Young University—a fourth extension in as many years—and what it signals for the Cougars’ ambitions in the Power Four era. While Sitake publicly pushed for the deal, Jake Hatch questions why BYU administ...

Utah stuns the college sports world by securing a historic $500 million private equity investment from OTRO Partners, raising urgent questions about the future of NCAA athletic funding. Will this gamble give the Utes a competitive edge, or open the door to new financial risks? Jake Hatch contrasts Utah’s aggressive cash infusion with BYU’s debt-averse, donor-driven approach, highlighting how BYU insists on upfront financing for fac...

The BYU Cougars’ latest College Football Playoff snub exposes deep flaws in the CFP committee and power-conference bias. Jake Hatch breaks down BYU’s season-long pursuit of a playoff berth, analyzing how their 11-win campaign and the Big 12’s limited representation were steamrolled by shifting committee rules and questionable treatment of championship losses. Debate heats up as Hatch compares BYU’s résumé to those of Oklahoma, Miam...

The dream season hit a brick wall in Arlington, Texas, as the BYU Football program suffered a devastating 34-7 blowout loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship Game. Despite sporting an absolutely remarkable 11-2 overall record, this performance was a gut-punch that leaves the program—and the entire fanbase—reeling. We dedicate this episode to a raw, no-holds-barred post-mortem analysis of what went wrong in th...

BYU Football faces its defining moment as the Cougars prepare to battle Texas Tech for the Big 12 championship in a sold-out AT&T Stadium. A win not only secures BYU its first Big 12 title but could catapult them into the College Football Playoff, challenging a system that’s underestimated their breakthrough season. Can Kalani Sitake’s team seize this generational opportunity and force the playoff committee to reconsider BYU’s nati...

Big 12 heavyweights BYU and Texas Tech shake up the championship picture as powerhouse coach Kalani Sitake nearly exits for Penn State, triggering a wild flurry of NIL deals and university power plays. Is the Big 12’s new financial arms race redefining the path to playoff success, or will legacy programs like Baylor and Kansas State be left behind? The roundtable debates elite coaching moves, jaw-dropping staff salaries, and the ex...