In a recent segment analyzing college football programs for the 2025 season, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt offered a candid assessment of Brigham Young University (BYU), labeling the Cougars an “easy sell.” Klatt’s comments were part of a larger conversation centered on whether to “buy or sell” stock in various college football teams ahead of the upcoming season, and BYU landed firmly on the “sell” list due to a convergence of challenges facing the program.
The primary issue Klatt identified was instability at the quarterback position, a critical concern for any college football team looking to compete in a Power Four conference like the Big 12. BYU is entering the 2025 season without a returning quarterback who has started at the Power Four level. The departure of Jake Retzlaff, who transferred to Tulane, marked a significant setback. Retzlaff had been a reliable leader for the team in 2024 and was someone the locker room trusted. His sudden exit has left a void that’s proven difficult to fill.
Klatt emphasized that the current quarterback competition within the program is both unresolved and underdeveloped. The Cougars now face a three-man battle involving McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, and true freshman Bear Bachmeier. Collectively, these three have just 12 college starts among them, and none have significant experience at a Power Four school. This level of inexperience, particularly in a conference as competitive as the Big 12, has raised red flags for analysts like Klatt, who believe the team lacks a steady hand to guide it through a difficult schedule.
Klatt didn’t stop at just the offensive issues. He also pointed to major changes on the defensive side of the ball, highlighting the loss of eight starters from what had been one of the most consistent defensive units in the country last year. That group helped keep BYU competitive in tight matchups throughout the 2024 season. Now, with so many new faces on defense, the unit is expected to undergo growing pains as it rebuilds chemistry and identity.
Complicating matters further is BYU’s 2025 schedule, which is filled with tough Big 12 matchups. Klatt noted that the level of competition in the conference makes it difficult for a team in transition—especially one with unresolved questions at quarterback and defense—to rack up wins. The Cougars won’t have many opportunities for a “soft landing,” and early struggles could easily snowball into a disappointing season.
Despite his blunt criticism, Klatt did offer a measure of balance in his evaluation. He made a point of praising BYU head coach Kalani Sitake for his leadership and program management, suggesting that the program’s current turbulence should be seen as a short-term issue rather than an indication of long-term decline. Sitake has been a steady presence at BYU and has built a reputation for developing players and cultivating a strong locker room culture. Klatt’s remarks make clear that he believes the current problems are more about timing and turnover than systemic flaws within the program.
Klatt also acknowledged that while BYU is undergoing a major transition in key positions, it’s not unusual for programs to experience these sorts of challenges—especially as the transfer portal has accelerated roster turnover across college football. He wasn’t writing BYU off permanently; rather, he was signaling caution for the 2025 campaign in particular.
The upcoming fall camp is expected to be crucial for BYU as the coaching staff evaluates the quarterback options and works to solidify a new-look defense. The team’s performance in the first few weeks of the season will be under intense scrutiny, especially as fans and analysts alike look for signs that the team can overcome its offseason upheaval.
The quarterback battle between Hillstead, Bourguet, and Bachmeier will likely dominate headlines. Each brings a different skill set to the table. Hillstead, while lightly experienced, shows promise as a game manager. Bourguet offers athleticism and versatility, while Bachmeier, though a true freshman, has high upside as a potential long-term starter. Still, none of them have the proven track record that Retzlaff brought, making it difficult to predict how effective the offense will be this season.
Meanwhile, the defense must overcome the loss of veteran starters, including several key contributors from last season’s secondary and linebacker corps. Developing cohesion among new starters will be essential, but it’s also a tall order to expect immediate results in a competitive league.
From Klatt’s perspective, all these variables—quarterback inexperience, defensive turnover, and a brutal schedule—combine to make BYU one of the more vulnerable programs heading into the 2025 season. That’s why he considers them an “easy sell” for anyone evaluating which programs are likely to rise or fall in the coming months.
Fans and supporters of BYU might take exception to Klatt’s evaluation, but the analysis is grounded in current realities. That said, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that BYU has a chance to exceed expectations. The program has surprised people before, and with strong leadership from Sitake and unexpected growth from young players, there’s always room to defy the odds.
Still, the tone surrounding BYU’s 2025 campaign is one of caution. Expectations have been tempered, and the program faces significant pressure to re-establish its identity in a Big 12 environment that’s only getting tougher.
Whether the Cougars can emerge from this period of uncertainty stronger and more unified remains to be seen, but their journey will be one of the more closely watched stories in the conference this fall. For now, BYU’s status as a “sell” stock is less about disbelief in the program’s long-term trajectory and more about the significant challenges it faces in the present.
