2026-06-17 · USA Today

The BYU Cougars need an 8-1 conference record to make the Big 12 Championship Game, and their September 12 game against Arizona has become crucial in achieving this goal. With Brendan Sorsby no longer a factor at Texas Tech, the Cougars can gain an early lead in the Big 12 standings by defeating Arizona. A win against Arizona would put pressure on conference competitors like Texas Tech, who face Houston on September 18. Texas Tech's quarterback situation is uncertain, making it difficult to predict their performance against Houston. If the BYU Cougars can beat Arizona, they will send a clear message to Texas Tech and potentially take a game lead over the Red Raiders in the conference standings. The Cougars need to be solid and dependable in a nine-game span to earn a ticket to Arlington in December. TCU, Arizona State, and Utah are also games that BYU urgently needs to win to continuously show they belong at the top of the Big 12. The margin of error is small, and the Cougars cannot afford to slip up much. Beating Arizona would put the squeeze on the Cougars' main competitors and give themselves more leverage going into October. BYU football likely needs to go 8-1 in the Big 12 to make the conference title game, and a win against Arizona would be a significant step towards achieving this goal. The game against Arizona has grown in importance due to its timing, and the Cougars need to handle Arizona to stay on track. The Big 12 football season is a pressure point, and the Cougars need to set the tone early. With a strong performance against Arizona, the BYU Cougars can make a statement and establish themselves as a top contender in the Big 12.