Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- BYU's football and basketball teams achieved significant success, raising future expectations.
- Football won 11 games, basketball reached Sweet 16, boosting national exposure.
- Recruit AJ Dybantsa's commitment and NIL strategy enhance BYU's competitive edge.
PROVO — For much of the last year, BYU athletics has been awash in a sea of positive publicity for the two most visible sports.
The football and basketball programs finished spectacular seasons ranked 13th in the final Associated Press polls. Kalani Sitake's football team won 11 games for the first time in five years, beating a school-record nine teams from power conferences. The basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 for only the third time since 1981.
BYU shocked the football world by finishing in a four-way tie for first place and punctuating the uprising by dominating publicity-magnet Colorado in the Alamo Bowl game that attracted a record-breaking 8 million viewers, which was the highest number for non-playoff or New Year's Day games since the Citrus Bowl between Michigan and Alabama five years ago.
By then, the nation's top high school recruit had announced his college decision on national television sitting across from mega-media personality Stephen A. Smith. AJ Dybantsa's choice to play for coach Kevin Young at BYU instantly generated widespread shock across virtually all media platforms.
On his national talk show the next day, Dan Patrick admitted he was surprise to learn of Dybantsa's destination. His first reaction was simply "huh?"
Reciting Dybantsa's basketball journey that began in his native Massachusetts and included stints at prep schools in California and southern Utah, Patrick said: "Now he's going to go to Salt Lake City and play at BYU. Wow, that one surprised me, but there you go with NIL."
No amount of money could have given BYU the kind of exposure it got with Dybansta's commitment, even if he won't be spending much time playing in Utah's capital city. Putting aside NIL, which has been rehashed the last several months, money is not the only reason Dybansta wants to play for Young.
As good as both programs were, none of it matters anymore. With 2024-25 sports ending, the focus turns to the next year.
Suffice it to say, collective expectations for BYU football and basketball have never been higher. The goal for both will be to meet or exceed the standards the teams set last season.
Between the two, basketball probably has the better chance to surpass last season's accomplishments. The collective talent of Baylor transfer point guard Rob Wright and returning star Richie Saunders, along with Dybantsa, tops the list of reasons why the Cougars are likely to start next season ranked among the top five teams in the country.
Get this, too: Young is barely getting started in a tenure that is expected to be the best in program history. Going all in on NIL has allowed BYU to compete with the nation's bluebloods.
"Now BYU can play in that game," said former BYU assistant coach Tim Lacomb. "Above board, they're proving they can play that game really good."
Turning to football, Sitake has proven capable of leading a program built for success. Entering his 10th season, the former BYU fullback has guided the Cougars to double-digit win totals in three of the last five seasons.
BYU has the talent to continue its winning ways, although the task may get tougher than expected. The lawsuit filed last week against returning senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who is accused of sexually assaulting a Utah woman in November 2023, may impact his standing with the team.
The Cougars are fortunate to have two other quarterbacks with starting experience, a rare commodity in the transfer portal era. Look no further than up the road with Utah, which had no quarterback with extensive experience last year after longtime starter Cam Rising suffered multiple injuries during the disastrous 5-7 season.
Redshirt junior Treyson Bourguet played in 10 games at Western Michigan over two seasons in 2022-23. Redshirt sophomore McCae Hillstead started four of the eight games he played in for Utah State two years ago.
