KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper reacts to the Cougars landing at No. 15 in the 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll — their highest preseason coaches ranking in years and a significant jump from the No. 23 slot they occupied entering the 2025 season. BYU is the second-highest ranked Big 12 team behind No. 12 Texas Tech, with Utah slotting in at No. 21 and Houston at No. 24. Mitch breaks down what the ranking signals about national perception of the program after a 12-2 season, a Big 12 Championship Game appearance, and a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory — and whether No. 15 is too high, too low, or just right for a team that finished No. 12 in the final coaches poll a year ago. With the AP Top 25 preseason poll still two weeks away, Mitch discusses where BYU could land there given that composite projections have the Cougars around No. 13 nationally. He also examines what preseason poll positioning means for BYU's College Football Playoff math come November, and how Kalani Sitake's staff plans to manage the highest expectations in program history without letting them become a distraction. Then, as players report for fall camp meetings and equipment fittings today with on-field practices beginning Wednesday, Mitch spotlights the under-the-radar names he's most intrigued to watch during media observation periods this August: Siosiua Latu-Finau, Bott Mulitalo, Trevin Ostler, Devoux Tuataga, Maverick McManus, Adney Reid, TJ Johnson, Cole Shuman, Rayden Heintz, and Brody Laga. Also in this episode, Mitch goes on the recruiting trail to discuss the reclass announcement from five-star basketball recruit AJ Williams, who BYU has offered. Then, on the gridiron, Mitch sat down with Maple Mountain High star Uhila Wolfgramm to discuss his commitment to BYU and his goals for his upcoming senior year. Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes. Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT). Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609 YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh Download the KSL Sports app Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593 Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper. Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go. Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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