BYU Football Ranked 9th in Big 12 Offseason Power Rankings by ESPN’s Bill Connelly

With just over 100 days until the start of the 2025 college football season, ESPN’s Bill Connelly has released his annual Power Four offseason rankings — and BYU comes in at 9th out of 16 Big 12 programs. The Cougars, coming off a 9-2 season and an Alamo Bowl victory, face both optimism and significant transition heading into their third year in the conference.

What Went Right

Connelly highlighted several key positives for BYU. Most notably, quarterback Jake Retzlaff returns after a standout 2024 campaign in which he totaled over 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns. Historically, BYU has performed best with experienced signal-callers at the helm, and Retzlaff fits that mold heading into his senior season.

BYU also brings back six additional offensive starters, providing much-needed continuity on that side of the ball. The Cougars strengthened key areas via the transfer portal, particularly along the defensive front — a major need with four senior linemen departing. The additions of Keanu Tanuvasa, Justin Kirkland, and Texas transfer Tausili Akana offer a promising foundation in the trenches.

To offset losses at receiver and tight end, BYU brought in Stanford transfer Tiger Bachmeier and addressed depth with portal additions like tight end Jackson Ryan, helping replenish skill position talent around Retzlaff.

What Went Wrong

Despite the strong returning leadership, BYU faces the daunting task of replacing 12 players who started nine or more games in 2024. That group includes key contributors on both sides of the ball such as Tyler Batty, Jakob Robinson, and Connor Pay. Most concerning, seven of those 12 losses come from the offensive and defensive lines, raising questions about how well the team can hold up in the trenches.

Additionally, BYU lost spring contributors Keelan Marion (WR) and Harrison Taggart (LB) to the transfer portal, further thinning a roster already in transition. According to Connelly, BYU’s limited portal haul beyond the trenches could pose a challenge when replacing the sheer number of departing starters.

Connelly’s Assessment

“Returning your quarterback and both coordinators after a good year is never a bad thing,” Connelly noted, “but the Cougars are replacing a number of starters and didn’t bring in much of a portal haul. Sitake will need to find some internal answers.”

Looking Ahead

While BYU didn’t land a top-tier transfer class, the staff addressed critical needs, especially along the lines. If Retzlaff can elevate his play and the rushing attack — led by a healthy LJ Martin — improves, the Cougars have a chance to exceed expectations. But depth and development will be tested early in a competitive Big 12 landscape.

The pieces are there for another strong season — but whether they fit together in time will define BYU’s 2025 campaign.