PROVO — BYU may not be lining up on Saturday, but the Cougars are treating their early bye week like a crucial stretch of the season. Head coach Kalani Sitake made it clear: this is no time for rest. Instead, BYU is doubling down on practice, preparation, and getting healthy ahead of its Sept. 20 matchup at East Carolina.
The Cougars are 2-0 after wins over Portland State and Stanford, but Sitake sees plenty of room for improvement. Much of the focus is on the offense, where flashes of promise have been mixed with inconsistency. True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier has displayed poise, efficiency, and ball security in his first two starts, yet dropped passes, stalled drives, and red-zone struggles have kept the attack from firing on all cylinders.
“This isn’t a vacation,” Sitake emphasized earlier in the week. “We’ve got a lot to fix, and we’re going to take advantage of every day.”
The bye week also gives BYU a chance to heal. Wide receiver JoJo Phillips and several offensive linemen are working through injuries, and the extra days provide valuable recovery time. Coaches are also using practices to evaluate depth across the roster, ensuring backups are ready when called upon.
On the other side of the ball, the defense has been a bright spot through two games, showing toughness and discipline. Even so, Sitake wants to see his unit eliminate penalties and sharpen communication. Maintaining that defensive edge will be critical as the season’s schedule toughens.
East Carolina presents the next test, and Sitake has already turned his team’s focus toward the Pirates. Known for a physical defense and opportunistic play, ECU will demand a sharper, more efficient effort from the Cougars.
“We want to be at our best when we go to Greenville,” Sitake said. “That means making this week count.”
For BYU, the bye isn’t a breather. It’s an opportunity — a chance to polish fundamentals, restore health, and prepare for a challenging road ahead. And Sitake is making sure his team understands the message: staying unbeaten will require work, even when the schedule says “idle.”
