Anonymous Big 12 coach sees offensive line as BYU's weakness in 2025

The BYU Cougars are heading into their third season in the Big 12. After nearly making it to the conference championship game in 2024, the Cougars are now hoping to make a leap and compete for the championship and therefore the College Football Playoff.

BYU appears to be in a position to compete in 2025. However, there is a position of concern for some coaches around the Big 12. As one of those coaches, who spoke anonymously to Athlon, shared, the offensive line is a concern in Provo.

“If there’s a weakness,” a Big 12 coach said, “it might be their offensive line.”

BYU is coming off a season where they went 11-2 and won a bowl game. That wasn’t quite good enough to make the Big 12 Championship Game, but they were clearly a threat late into the season. Even amid legal issues, quarterback Jake Retzlaff returns and hopes to make an impact. So, it’s not surprising that expectations are high for the Cougars.

“They could’ve played in and won the championship last year,” a Big 12 coach said. “I think they’ll be right back there in the hunt with [Jake] Retzlaff. If he can take that next step and refine the decision-making, they’re going to be really hard to beat.”

There is some turnover on BYU’s roster going into next season. However, the Cougars have proven capable of replenishing those talent pools in the past. This season, BYU has the 45th-ranked transfer class in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That does include 31 players leaving, but it also includes 13 key incoming transfers. Importantly, as another Big 12 coach pointed out, grabbing a couple of players from Utah is also a statement.

Regardless of issues on the offensive line, Big 12 coaches expect BYU to be good again. That’s, in no small part, because of the job Kalani Sitake has done developing the program’s culture and defensive mentality.

“This is a physical defense that gives you real problems,” a Big 12 coach said. “I think they’re successful because they’re a development culture, and that culture is contact and aggression. Their style runs counter to the offensive mentality of the league really well, and they embrace contact. It’s a hard place to play when you’re on the road, too.”

BYU will begin the 2025 season, trying to prove “they’re a legit power in this league,” as coaches think. The Cougars open with Portland State out of the FCS ranks. They then begin Big 12 play on September 27th with a road trip to Colorado.