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BYU Cougars are at the top of the world right now. Undefeated, No. 11 in the country, No. 1 in the Big 12. Kalani Sitake’s team has won 17 of its last 19 games. That kind of consistency is rare in their conference. But the main attraction is Sitake’s leadership. It’s one thing to have your players vouching for you. But when the head coaches of your opponents sing your praises, it means you’re exceptional. Ahead of the Cougars’ game against Iowa State, the Cyclones’ head coach Matt Campbell talked about Sitake, and the praise is as real as it gets. “They’re a really great team,” Campbell said during the weekly press conference. “And obviously, I’ve talked about Kalani before, my respect for him, man. If my own son could play for anybody in college football, I would want my son to play for him. I mean, that’s how much I think of him. And how he leads a football program and a team, and you see it. I mean, they play for each other, they play really great complementary football, and they play great team football.” Naturally, you’d think Campbell would want the Cyclones to be the first destination of his son. But it speaks to the kind of legacy that Sitake has built that even a opposing head coach would want his children to learn from the Cougars’ head coach. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Sitake has a different style of coaching altogether. He leads with joy, authenticity, and deep human connection. Sitake often says things like, “wishing bad things on good people is not good for the soul.” On top of that, he capitalizes on athletes having their own voice. This results in players feeling invested and responsible for their success. Sitake works on the “Love and Learn” culture. This approach makes players hold each other accountable and fosters a culture of teamwork on and off the field. Now that’s something coaches like Campbell want for his son. Also, Sitake’s decision to suspend Jake Retzlaff from BYU reflects his strict and no-nonsense approach towards the team. Retzlaff faced a seven-game suspension for violating BYU’s strict honor code that mandates a “chaste and virtuous life.” Sitake’s take? “Every school has its standards,” he said. “We have ours too. … And we expect our students to live, to live according to what they signed up for.” Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Everyone feels welcomed under Sitake. David Smailes, a leadership coach, shared how Sitake’s genuine care and recognition made him and his family feel like they belonged. Now, we are seeing the results on the field. The season is only halfway done, but the Cougars look like they may take the conference and a berth in the playoffs. Especially after the Red Raiders fell to Arizona State last week. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad What’s it going to take for the confetti shower? Matt Campbell may want his son to learn under Kalani Sitake. But it doesn’t really stop him from fighting tooth and nail against the Cougars. Now, who has the edge? While BYU is carrying a clean slate, the Cyclones are coming from two straight losses. ESPN’s FPI sees this as a nail-biter but slightly favors BYU, giving them a 54.3% chance to pull off the win. It’s a major boost from 47.1% in the preseason. That shows just how much life BYU has breathed into its season so far. Initially, the expectation was around 8.5 wins for the Cougars. But now projections have them at just over 10 wins. On top of that, this game is very much crucial for the Cougars for their Natty run. Winning at Iowa State would jump-start their chances to hit 10 or more wins at an impressive 87.2%. And it’ll position them as the second favorite in the Big 12 behind only Texas Tech, who leads with a 39.2% chance to clinch the conference. BYU follows closely with a 32.4% shot at the title. The stakes are even higher when you consider College Football Playoff chances. BYU currently boasts the best odds in the Big 12, with a 52% chance. It’s a full 10.4 percentage points ahead of Texas Tech. If they keep playing like this, BYU’s playoff berth could very well be a reality.
