As college football fans start turning their attention to the upcoming 2025 season, one topic generating significant conversation is the state of the BYU Cougars football program. Once viewed as a rising force following an impressive 2024 campaign, BYU is now facing major questions about its readiness to compete in the Big 12. A major voice adding to that concern is FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt, who has recently expressed skepticism about BYU’s trajectory heading into the new season.
On his latest podcast episode, Joel Klatt listed five college football programs he’s optimistic about for 2025—programs he’s metaphorically “buying stock” in—and five others he believes are set to decline—programs he’s “selling stock” in. Unfortunately for Cougar fans, BYU made the list of programs he’s selling.
Klatt made it clear that his lack of faith in BYU is less about a broad condemnation of the program and more about poor timing, especially at the quarterback position—the most critical role in modern football. He pointed out how promising things looked for BYU in 2024, especially as they raced to a 9-0 start and had their sights set on the College Football Playoff. Though they faltered late in the regular season—dropping two of their last three games—they still capped off the year with a bowl game victory over Colorado, ending 11-2.
That level of success created high hopes heading into the offseason. With returning quarterback Jake Retzlaff expected to lead the offense again, there was optimism that BYU could weather the departure of several key defensive starters. Retzlaff was viewed as a stabilizing presence, someone who had earned the confidence of both teammates and coaches through his leadership and consistent play.
However, BYU’s offseason took a dramatic and unfortunate turn when Retzlaff violated the university’s honor code. The incident led to a suspension for part of the 2025 season. Rather than serve the suspension, Retzlaff chose to leave BYU and has since committed to Tulane, ending his time in Provo. His departure dealt a significant blow to BYU’s continuity and leadership on the field.
In his remarks, Klatt emphasized how damaging this loss is for BYU, especially because the team now finds itself in a precarious position at quarterback. “He [Retzlaff] was a guy that was steady. A good leader from last year. They believed in him. And now all of a sudden, you lose your quarterback, and the three-man battle [for starting QB] has had no time to develop,” Klatt said. “In total, they have just 12 combined starts at the college level, and zero at the Power Four level. That’s incredibly difficult to overcome.”
The new quarterback group is largely unproven, which would be a concern in any conference, but particularly in the highly competitive Big 12. BYU’s schedule for 2025 is not especially daunting in comparison to others, but Klatt pointed out that most games will be against opponents of similar talent, meaning many could come down to one-score margins. In such tightly contested matchups, experience at quarterback often makes the difference. BYU, without Retzlaff, lacks that advantage.
In addition to the instability at quarterback, BYU is also replacing eight starters on defense—a unit that was one of the team’s strengths in 2024. The combination of inexperience on both sides of the ball poses a major challenge for head coach Kalani Sitake, who will need to guide a young team through a critical transition year.
Klatt made a point to differentiate his critique of BYU’s 2025 prospects from a broader criticism of the program. “This is not indicative of an overall program decline,” he explained. “I love Kalani Sitake. Everything he stands for and represents. I like this program, but for 2025, this is an easy sell.”
This comment highlights Klatt’s respect for Sitake’s leadership and the overall culture at BYU. Sitake has built a program known for its toughness, unity, and discipline—traits that were on full display during the 2024 season when the Cougars defied expectations. Coming off a season that started with very modest hopes, BYU shocked many by going undefeated through their first nine games and finishing with 11 total wins. Their sudden rise had them knocking on the door of the playoff conversation, and the momentum they generated had analysts and fans alike believing they could become a consistent force in the Big 12.
Now, however, the loss of their starting quarterback and the turnover on defense have shifted expectations once again. Rather than entering 2025 with a target on their back, the Cougars might find themselves flying under the radar. That status could work in their favor, allowing a young and unproven team to develop away from the national spotlight.
It’s worth noting that transitions like this are not uncommon in college football, especially in an era where the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities can rapidly alter a team’s fortunes. Programs that experience sudden success often struggle the following year due to roster churn and heightened expectations. Whether BYU can defy that pattern will depend on how quickly their new quarterbacks can get up to speed and whether Sitake and his staff can find capable replacements for their departed defensive stars.
The 2025 season could also serve as a litmus test for the depth of BYU’s program and their ability to sustain success in the Power Four landscape. While Klatt and other analysts are down on BYU’s immediate future, there’s still plenty of opportunity for the Cougars to develop talent and prove the doubters wrong.
Ultimately, Klatt’s message is not one of doom and gloom, but of caution. The timing of Retzlaff’s exit, combined with defensive losses and a still-challenging schedule, creates a high degree of uncertainty for BYU in 2025. That uncertainty is why Klatt, though respectful of the program’s direction and leadership, is advising fans and analysts alike to temper expectations for the season ahead.
As BYU prepares for training camp and begins to sort out the quarterback competition, one thing is clear: 2025 will be a season defined by adaptation, growth, and resilience. If the Cougars can rise to the occasion, they may yet write another surprising chapter in their Big 12 journey. But for now, national analysts like Klatt are urging caution—and calling it a “sell” year for BYU football.
