The Loyal Cougars Podcast | For BYU Cougars Sports Fans

Rumors involving BYU athletic director Brian Santiago lit up Cougar Nation over the weekend—but what do we actually know?Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh unpack the claims of tension inside BYU Athletics, questions surrounding NIL communication and whether the situation could strain Santiago’s relationships with Kalani Sitake and other department leaders.They also react to Jon McBride’s CougarBoard post confirming that Santiago remains BYU’s athletic director. Did the official response calm the speculation—or add more fuel to the fire? Is CougarBoard the right place for BYU Athletics to address major rumors?Plus:🏈 The biggest storylines and standouts from BYU fall camp📱 Treyson Bourguet’s daily camp updates🔒 Jake and Tosh name their 20-in-20 #3 top player.Subscribe for more BYU football, basketball and recruiting coverage from the Loyal Cougars Podcast.

New Michigan and former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham says he wants to beat Ohio State as badly as anyone in Ann Arbor, but hate is a strong word. Was he the reason the Holy War was so toxic over the last 20 years?Jake and Tosh also discuss the court ruling that could give certain college athletes a fifth season, including whether former BYU stars such as Richie Saunders, Keba Keita or Dallin Hall could return.Plus:• Is Utah athletics really worth $138 million more than BYU?• How seriously should fans take these hypothetical program valuations like the one written by The Athletic?• Our Top 20 in 20 rankings - Player #4.#BYUFootball #KyleWhittingham #HolyWar

TCU will look very different when BYU visits Fort Worth this season. The Horned Frogs have a new offensive coordinator, a Harvard transfer at quarterback and must replace stars Josh Hoover and Eric McAlister.After BYU’s 44–13 win last season, can the Cougars take down TCU in Fort Worth?Plus, we discuss:• What Polish big man Jakub Urbaniak adds to BYU basketball• Our best BYU football season prop bets. (Participate here: https://forms.gle/oekPNb2FAAXWx3bs8)• Our No. 5 players in the Loyal Cougars Top 20 in 20Subscribe for weekly BYU football and basketball discussion.#BYUFootball #BYUSports #Big12

Could Jaxon Kohler receive another year of eligibility—and could that open the door for a move to BYU? Jake and Tosh break down the former Michigan State captain’s eligibility battle, what the experienced big man would bring to Kevin Young’s roster, and how he could change the complexion of the Cougars.Plus, Rob Wright scored an absurd 101 points in a Powder League game. Was he held back last season, and should he become BYU’s primary offensive option?The show also includes an early preview of Arizona and Noah Fifita, a debate over BYU’s biggest win since joining the Big 12, and the latest reveal in the Top 20 in 20 countdown.Subscribe to The Loyal Cougars Podcast for weekly BYU football and basketball conversation, analysis, and debates.

Monster Energy is officially entering the Big 12 in a major way. As part of a reported $20 million-per-year agreement, co-branded Monster Energy and Big 12 logos will appear on football and basketball jerseys, fields and courts. What does that mean for BYU—and is this partnership a comfortable fit for the university’s brand?Jake and Tosh also break down a Big 12 coaches poll that picked BYU to win the conference championship and debate how seriously Cougar fans should take ESPN’s latest FPI projections. Plus, another BYU player is revealed in the Loyal Cougars Top 20 in 20.Topics include:• Monster Energy’s new Big 12 jersey patch• Whether corporate jersey sponsorships are becoming inevitable• BYU’s surprising support from Big 12 coaches• ESPN FPI’s outlook for the Cougars• Jake and Tosh's No. 7 player in BYU's Top 20 in 20#BYUFootball #BYUSports #Big12Football #MonsterEnergy

Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh break down a huge week for BYU football, starting with LJ Martin being named Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.The guys look at how LJ stacks up against past Big 12 honorees, what other Cougars landed preseason recognition, who got snubbed, and what the early rankings and projections say about BYU’s place in the conference.Plus, BYU adds two more key commits in Uhila Wolfgramm and Peyton Higginson, Egor Demin flashes in NBA Summer League, and the 20 in 20 countdown continues with Jake and Tosh's No. 8 players.Subscribe for more BYU football, basketball, recruiting, and Big 12 talk from Loyal Cougars.

AJ Dybantsa is the No. 2 odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year — Jake and Tosh break down what that says about the hype, the expectations, and how real the AJ buzz is getting.We also dive into BYU beating out Ohio State in a major recruiting battle, what that win says about the Cougars’ momentum on the trail, and what Will Voigt’s quiet exit from BYU basketball could reveal about that relationship.Plus, we hit the bigger-picture questions around BYU football recruiting, basketball roster movement, and where the Cougars are gaining ground nationally.Subscribe for more BYU football, BYU basketball, recruiting talk, Big 12 takes, and Loyal Cougars debates.#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUBasketball #AJDybantsa #BYURecruiting #LoyalCougars

BYU basketball may have found its tallest answer yet. Jake Edmonds and Tosh Mackintosh lead off with Xu Xin, the 7-foot-5 international big man who brings rim protection, size, and a brand-new nickname debate to Provo. Is “Xuperman” ready to fly for the Cougars?Then the guys break down the latest around Parker Kingston, including what his legal situation could mean for his BYU future, before diving into the Brendan Soresby fallout and how it could reshape the Big 12 race. Does BYU have a clearer path now?Plus, the 20 in 20 countdown continues with Roger Saleapaga and Andrew Gentry, and the crew reacts to the Dusty May/Mavericks coaching carousel news and what it could mean for the transfer portal.Subscribe to Loyal Cougars for BYU football, BYU basketball, Big 12 takes, recruiting talk, CougarBoard chaos, and everything happening in Cougar Nation.

On this week's episode, we kick things off with Utah’s ugly financial situation and why it makes BYU’s position look even better as college sports keeps shifting.From there, Jake and Tosh get into the future of college football, whether super leagues are actually coming, where BYU fits in that world.They also keep the Top 20 in 20 rolling with the 12th and 13th best players on BYU's roster. Plus a quick look at BYU athletes competing at track and field nationals.Subscribe for more BYU football, Big 12 talk, and loyal Cougar nonsense.

Is LJ Martin one of the five best running backs in the country? We open the show with Greg McElroy ranking BYU’s star RB at No. 5 nationally, then debate whether the Cougars have the best running back room in the Big 12 — and how they stack up against Utah and Texas Tech.Then we dig into BYU’s College Football Playoff path, what has to happen for the Cougars to make the Big 12 title game, and what could keep them out. We also react to Cody Hagen’s retirement and ask what’s more concerning right now: BYU football’s wide receiver situation or BYU basketball’s center situation?Plus, we reveal No. 14 in our Top 20 in 20 countdown.In this episode:- LJ Martin ranked No. 5 RB in the country- BYU vs Utah vs Texas Tech running back rooms- Can BYU make the College Football Playoff?- Cody Hagen retires and BYU’s WR depth takes another hitSubscribe for more BYU football, BYU basketball, Big 12 talk, and CougarBoard-fueled takes.#BYUFootball #BYUCougars #LJMartin #Big12Football #CollegeFootball #BYU #LoyalCougars