Texas Tech has been working on setting up a home-and-home series for 2027 and ‘28 against a premier non-conference opponent and has had communication with teams such as USC and Notre Dame, sources tell @CBSSports
With less than 90 days until college football returns, kickoff feels simultaneously so close yet so far away.
Read more for two full preseason top-25 rankings from @skhanjr and @amock419:
https://t.co/B5w01YaIVP
Lindy's College Football National 2026 Preview magazine is out; some BYU-related content--
National ranking: 15th
Big 12 ranking: 2nd
National recruiting ranking: 21st
BYU v. Notre Dame: 4th-best non-conference game
BYU at Utah: 12th-best conference game
Bear Bachmeier: No. 25 QB
LJ Martin: No. 12 RB
Bruce Mitchell: No. 8 C (also projected elsewhere in the magazine as 5th-best draft-eligible C)
Cade Uluave: No. 7 OLB
Evan Johnson: No. 7 CB
Faletau Satuala: No. 11 S
National unit rankings:
LBs 10th
Big 12 1st Team:
LB Cade Uluave
CB Evan Johnson
S Faletau Satuala
Big 12 2nd Team:
RB LJ Martin
C Bruce Mitchell
DL Bodie Schoonover
Big 12 3rd Team:
OL Kyle Sfarcioc
LB Isaiah Glasker
Other: QB Bear Bachmeier = 'Coolest in the Clutch'
Overview quote: "Entering Year Four of Big 12 membership, BYU has its sights set on taking another step forward by capturing a Big 12 title and clinching a spot in the CFP. This fall, Texas Tech is not on BYU's schedule. But the Red Raiders and Cougars could well meet again in the Big 12 Championship Game in December--with a berth in the CFP at stake."
To give you all context the source was a former ESPN programming exec. He was one of three broadcast execs. who told me the @Big12Conference TV rights were worth between $28 m and $32m. I asked the former ESPN exec what pushed the conference to the higher end of the scale? He said it was "BYU b/c of their loyal national following. They were the money shot. Combine their add to the conference with a few other factors like hoops and that is w hat got them to $31.7m. " So, yes BYU was an important add.
Objectively, how do you defend this:
Miami (10–2)
– ESPN SOS: 45
– ESPN SOR: 14
– Did not play for a conference championship
– Losses: Two 8–4 teams (SMU, Louisville)
BYU (11–2)
– ESPN SOS: 22
– ESPN SOR: 9
– Played in the Big 12 championship
– Losses: No. 4 Texas Tech on the road & in the Big 12 title game
Notre Dame (10–2)
– ESPN SOS: 44
– ESPN SOR: 13
– Did not play for a conference championship
– Losses: Miami (who lost to two 8–4 teams) & No. 7 Texas A&M