How QB competitions have led to success for Cougars – Deseret News

As Kalani Sitake enters his 10th campaign at the helm of BYU football, he once again finds his program in the midst of quarterback uncertainty.

But if history is any indication, questions at QB might actually benefit the Cougars. No, seriously.

Since the Sitake era began in 2016, BYU is 48-16 (.750 winning percentage) in seasons where the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback was not chosen and/or announced until the end of fall camp:

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2016 — 9-4, Poinsettia Bowl victory2018 — 7-6, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory2020 — 11-1, Boca Raton Bowl victory, No. 11 final national ranking2021 — 10-3, Independence Bowl loss, No. 19 final national ranking2024 — 11-2, Alamo Bowl victory, No. 13 final national ranking

Conversely, in the four seasons during that span where the Cougars opened with a long-established starter under center, they’ve gone 24-27 (.470 winning percentage) with just one bowl victory and two losing campaigns:

2017 — 4-9, no bowl game2019 — 7-6, Hawaii Bowl loss2022 — 8-5, New Mexico Bowl victory2023 — 5-7, no bowl game

With Jake Retzlaff now withdrawing from BYU, Sitake will oversee his sixth quarterback derby of the past 10 years, with McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet and Bear Bachmeier all gunning for this year’s starting job.

“First of all, there is competition at every position. The one that gets the most attention is quarterback, on every program,” Sitake said at Big 12 football media days this past week. “But everybody in our program has to be committed, and has to fight for their spot. And then you have to balance it out with loving each other and mentoring and taking care of each other. So that is a fine line.”

Sitake continued: “If…

Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/07/14/byu-cougars-qb1-battle-could-be-good-thing/

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Publish date : 2025-07-15 03:00:00

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