3 days ago
BYU Cracks ESPN's Future Power Rankings Top 25
BYU Cracks ESPN's Future Power Rankings Top 25 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The roar in Provo just got louder.
After years of fighting for respect in the national conversation, BYU football fans finally have something new to celebrate: a Top 25 spot in ESPN's Future Power Rankings, a forward-looking evaluation of college football programs across the next two seasons (2025 and 2026). For the first time ever, the Cougars cracked the list, coming in at No. 25.
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It's not just a number. It's a signal.
For a program that's been dismissed as an outsider during the Power Four era, ESPN's nod is a recognition of progress and potential. The rankings consider a mix of quarterback stability, line play, roster management, recruiting, star power and coaching. And for BYU, those boxes are finally being checked.
The quarterback room is murky but promising. Jake Retzlaff, who led BYU to an 11-win season in 2024, is expected to return, although legal issues involving a civil lawsuit could cloud his future. Behind him, BYU has real options in McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet, both of whom have FBS starting experience.
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff© Rob Gray-Imagn Images
The trenches will look different in 2025, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Honorable mention All-Big 12 guard Weylin Lapuaho anchors a reshuffled offensive line that includes Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry and Southern Utah's Kyle Sfarcioc. On defense, Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa and returner Logan Lutui headline a unit that added much-needed bulk and power in the portal.
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Despite losing some key players to the spring transfer window, the Cougars hit back in the portal. They added former Texas edge rusher Tausili Akana and Oklahoma State tackle Justin Kirkland. Linebacker Jack Kelly, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, returns to lead a unit that's short on experience but long on potential.
BYU also retained impact playmakers on offense. Chase Roberts, the team's leading receiver, and LJ Martin, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024, are both back. Add in first-team All-Big 12 kicker Will Ferrin and a top-20 ranked 2026 recruiting class, and the pipeline looks promising.
Kalani Sitake enters his 10th season with his most complete staff yet. Coordinators Jay Hill and Aaron Roderick return after an 11-2 season that rewrote the expectations for BYU in the Big 12. And now, they've got the national validation to prove it.
ESPN's Future Power Rankings aren't a prediction, they're a projection. But for BYU, this moment feels like a turning point. If the Cougars can navigate the quarterback uncertainty and keep developing depth in the trenches, they have a real chance to rise even higher.
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Cougar Nation: this is your call to stay loud, stay loyal, and stay ready. The national spotlight is finally turning toward Provo. And this time, it's not going anywhere.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
