POWER STRUGGLE? Kalani Sitake & Brian Santiago CLASH Over BYU Football & Athletic Department Future | How Ugly Could Saturday Look? | Former Cougars in the Pros

The BYU Cougars sent shockwaves through college football by separating their football program, led by Kalani Sitake, from the broader athletic department under athletic director Brian Santiago. Is this bold administrative realignment a short-term “Band-Aid fix” or the beginning of a deeper philosophical split within BYU Athletics? Jake Hatch unpacks insider perspectives—including Brett McMurphy’s report and Dick Harmon’s analysis—on whether true success in the Big 12 era depends on choosing between Sitake’s modern, adaptable approach and Santiago’s established structure, or if BYU can forge a new hybrid model to keep all sports thriving. The rising professionalization of college athletics, with massive budgets and NIL-driven dynamics, makes this more than just an internal shake-up—it’s a question about the future of sports at Brigham Young University on a national stage. Amid the off-field drama, the Cougars also prepare for Utah Tech, who stumbled badly against Montana State in a 54-0 thrashing. Can Bear Bachmeier and the BYU football program’s deep roster turn their opener into a showcase and get key reps before a high-stakes Big 12 Conference matchup with Arizona in Week 2? Jake Hatch debates Sitake’s consistent sportsmanship—his reluctance to run up scores even when the odds are lopsided—against the need to keep the team sharp and evaluate young talent. He also questions whether FBS vs. FCS openers make sense given the wide talent gap and suggests alternative scheduling formats that could benefit both powerhouse and up-and-coming programs. Plus, it’s NFL cutdown week: find out which former BYU stars survived the final roster trims and earned spots on 53-man lineups. Get updates on Puka Nacua, Fred Warner, Tyler Allgeier, and surprising news on Zach Wilson and Zayne Anderson. What’s next for players like Tanner Wall, Chase Roberts, and Tyler Batty, among others, as they fight to land on practice squads and stay in contention for midseason call-ups? Injury setbacks and tough decisions loom large, but Jake Hatch provides optimistic outlooks for several on-the-bubble Cougars determined to break through. As BYU navigates a new administrative era and the start of football season, can Sitake’s leadership keep the Cougars competitive and united through mounting pressures, or will unresolved friction force a major crossroads for the entire athletic department?