BYU Football Set To Host Final Media Day As Independent Program

PROVO, Utah – The final BYU football Media Day is on Wednesday. Since becoming an FBS Independent in 2011, BYU Media Day has become an annual June tradition.

It’s a tradition that has let people know that summer might be here, but BYU football is just around the corner.

The 2022 edition of BYU football Media Day ends the tradition, as BYU will join the Big 12 Conference in 2023. Big 12 Media Days are a two-day event in July at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

To highlight the last Media Day of Independence, BYUtv will air a “The Independence Era” feature at 2:30 p.m. that will examine BYU football dating back to 2011.

Announcements?

Typically, media days at conferences are not grounds for some major announcement. But over the years, BYU AD Tom Holmoe has always dropped a tidbit that provides a newsy item for a program that was doing things on its own.

Maybe Holmoe could drop info about the 2023 non-conference schedule. After Tennessee opted to play Virginia in Nashville instead of a trip to Provo to face BYU, there’s an opening on the schedule. Holmoe told KSL Sports earlier this month at the Big 12 Spring Business Meetings that the 2023 slate was waiting on some t’s to be crossed and some i’s to be dotted. But it wasn’t a concern for him.

A possible bowl tie-in could be news as well for Holmoe. BYU is contracted to play in an ESPN Events bowl game assigned by the network. Could ESPN make it easy on everyone and have BYU assigned to a specific bowl game for the 2022 postseason? We’ll see.

Regardless, it will be a day filled with interviews and commentary from the notable individuals around BYU football.

BYU football looks for third consecutive 10+ win season

Head coach Kalani Sitake enters his seventh year as the leader of his alma mater. Once viewed as a coach on the hot seat as early as the 2019 season, Sitake has completely changed the program’s trajectory. From being mired in mediocrity in the early years of his tenure, Sitake has BYU fresh off back-to-back nationally-ranked seasons, with hopes of more in their final Independent season.

The offense, which is always a topic as hot as the summer temps at BYU, is led by quarterback Jaren Hall. Hall enters his second year as BYU’s starting quarterback. He’s dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he has displayed elite playmaking ability. The ability could lead to him being a first-round draft pick next season.

On defense, what changes will defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki make?

Last year’s defensive unit was 74th nationally in total defense and 51st in scoring defense (24.7 points per game). Do they also have the depth to withstand injuries?

It should be an entertaining day of BYU football chatter. KSL Sports will have you covered throughout the day.

BYU Football Media Day coverage

7 a.m.-6 p.m.: The KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM, KSLsports.com, KSL Sports app)

• Interviews with players and coaches from the BYU football program.

9 a.m.: State of the Program address (BYUtv)

• Follow for updates on Twitter (@kslsports)

10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Social media updates from the KSL Sports staff on social media.

12 p.m.: Live Cougar Tracks Podcast from BYU Football Media Day (KSL Sports YouTube, Twitter, Facebook)

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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