KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper is loaded with content to get you ready for the 2026 BYU football season. Mitch opens the show with a deep dive into the biggest on-field storyline of Saturday's opener: Kelly Poppinga calling a defense for the first time as BYU's defensive coordinator. "K-Pop" takes over for Michigan-bound Jay Hill, inheriting a unit that ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense each of the past two seasons and produced eight defensive touchdowns over three years. Poppinga, a former BYU linebacker star and 18-year coaching veteran, has promised to keep the foundation Hill built while adding his own flavor — swapping Hill's word "chaos" for his own mantra of havoc. His first depth chart features 13 defensive positions, signaling a multiple-front approach with five-DB packages and a nickel look. Kalani Sitake has praised Poppinga all camp, calling him "probably the hardest-working coordinator I've ever been around". Next, Mitch is joined by KSL colleague Alex Kirry for a conversation about BYU football heading into the season. Kirry, the host of "KSL Brightside" on KSL NewsRadio and former Cougar Tracks host, joined the show to preview the season and play a game of "Bear or Bull." To close the show, Mitch goes around the Big 12 Conference with his Week 1 picks. From Colorado at Georgia Tech to Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta, and every other game in between around the league. Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast sponsored by Zions Bank to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes. Cougar Tracks is on YouTube 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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