Texas Tech may be the trendy pick to win the Big 12 this season, but if Athlon Sports’ annual anonymous coaches survey is any indication, several coaches around the conference believe the road to a championship runs through Provo.
Athlon Sports recently published its annual collection of anonymous coach evaluations, and when the conversation turned to BYU, the praise was overwhelming. In fact, three separate coaches offered comments that suggest the Cougars, not Texas Tech, may be viewed as the team to beat entering the 2026 season.
One coach didn’t mince words.
“They’re the best team in our conference. They’re the most physical team. They have the best coaches, and they have great energy. They play complementary football, offense, defense, special teams.”
That’s about as strong an endorsement as a rival coach can give another program.
While Texas Tech has generated enormous offseason buzz after its aggressive transfer portal additions and massive financial investment in the roster, BYU appears to be earning something equally valuable: the respect of opposing coaches who have to game plan against the Cougars every year.
BYU’s Edge on the Line of Scrimmage?
Another coach pointed directly to what has long been BYU’s identity under Kalani Sitake.
“At the line of scrimmage, they look totally different than any other Big 12 team. I think that program is about to skyrocket.”
That evaluation may be the most telling of the bunch. In a conference often associated with offensive fireworks and quarterback play, BYU’s physicality has become a defining characteristic. Over the last several seasons, the Cougars have consistently built through the trenches, and opposing coaches clearly believe that formula is paying dividends.
The comments also arrive at an interesting time in the Big 12 title race.
Throughout the offseason, much of the national discussion has centered on Texas Tech’s rise. The Red Raiders have been widely viewed as a legitimate conference championship contender after assembling one of the nation’s most aggressive portal classes. Arizona State remains a popular pick after last season’s run to the College Football Playoff, while programs like Kansas State and Iowa State continue to receive plenty of respect.
Are They the Favorite?
Yet when coaches were asked about BYU, the conversation sounded less like praise for a contender and more like praise for a favorite.
The third quote especially stood out.
“This is the year that they’ll get over the top. If they don’t this year, I don’t know that they ever will. The reason I say that is because of the influx of money they got with their roster.”
The mention of financial resources is particularly notable in the modern era of college football. NIL and revenue-sharing opportunities have dramatically altered roster building across the sport, and coaches clearly recognize that BYU is operating with significant backing and ambition.
Taken together, the three comments paint a fascinating picture of how BYU is viewed internally within the league.
Media members and fans may spend August debating Texas Tech, Utah, Houston and others. But if these anonymous coaches are representative of broader conference sentiment, BYU may be the program commanding the most respect behind closed doors.
Whether that translates into a Big 12 championship remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: while Texas Tech might be getting much of the offseason hype, several coaches around the conference appear convinced that BYU is going to be the team everyone must chase in 2026.
