| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | BYU Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Short Conf: | Independent |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Head Coach: | Kalani Sitake |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Jeff Grimes |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Ilaisa Tuiaki |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | Power spread |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | LaVell Edwards Stadium |
| Champion: | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 49–18 vs. Western Michigan |
The 2018 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars were led by third-year head coach Kalani Sitake, and played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the seventh year BYU competed as an NCAA Division I FBS independent. They finished the season 7–6. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they defeated Western Michigan.
On December 14, 2017, LSU offensive line coach Jeff Grimes was appointed the offensive coordinator replacing Ty Detmer who was relieved as offensive coordinator following the final game of the 2017 season. On December 27, 2017 it was announced that Aaron Roderick, Ryan Pugh, and Fesi Sitake would join the staff as offensive coaches. It was also announced that Steve Clark would remain on staff. On January 19, 2018 Preston Hadley was named to the defensive staff replacing Steve Kaufusi. On February 6, 2018 AJ Seward was named to the offensive staff. Finally Alema Fitisemanu replaced Tevita Ofahengaue as the recruiting coordinator.
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Hometown | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Pay | 270 | Mission prior to enrolling[1] | ||||
| Campbell Barrington | 275 | Mission prior to enrolling[2] | ||||
| Jacob Smith | 295 | [3] | ||||
| Tysen Lewis | 260 | Mission prior to enrolling[4] | ||||
| Ben Tuipulotu | 200 | Mission prior to enrolling[5] | ||||
| Brayden Cosper | 200 | [6] | ||||
| Oliver Nasilai | 236 | Mission prior to enrolling[7] | ||||
| Isaac Matua | 205 | Mission prior to enrolling[8] | ||||
| Brach Davis | 170 | [9] | ||||
| Talan Alfrey | 185 | Mission prior to enrolling[10] | ||||
| Stacy Connor | 187 | [11] | ||||
| Zach Wilson | 205 | [12] | ||||
| Isaiah Herron | 175 | [13] | ||||
| Dallin Holker | 225 | [14] | ||||
| Gunner Romney | 200 | [15] | ||||
| Viliami Tausinga | 220 | Mission prior to enrolling[16] | ||||
| Malik Moore | 175 | [17] | ||||
| Tyler Allgeier | 200 | [18] | ||||
| Dax Milne | 180 | [19] | ||||
| Payton Wilgar | 210 | [20] | ||||
| Michael Thorson | 290 | [21] | ||||
| Ben Ward | 235 | [22] | ||||
| Michael Biagi | 205 | [23] | ||||
| Jaylon Vickers | 180 | [24] |
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hank Tuipulotu | 225 | [25] | |||
| Jaren Hall | 195 | [26] | |||
| Atunaisa Mahe | 286 | [27] | |||
| Darius McFarland | 265 | [28] | |||
| Hirkley Latu | 230 | [29] | |||
| Devin Kaufusi | 250 | [30] | |||
| Drew Jensen | 195 | [31] | |||
| 195 | [32] | ||||
| JT Gentry | 280 | [33] | |||
| Clark Barrington | 270 | [34] | |||
| Ethan Atagi | 320 | [35] | |||
| Sione Finau | 180 | [36] | |||
| Jackson Kaufusi | 210 | [37] | |||
| Skyler Southam | 195 | [38] | |||
| Koy Harris | 175 | [39] | |||
| Tanner Leishman | 230 | [40] | |||
| Brock Bastian | 200 | [41] | |||
| Sam Lee | 200 | [42] | |||
| Morgan Pyper | 205 | [43] | |||
| Mitchell Price | 190 | [44] | |||
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ului Lapuaho | 330 | Return after sitting out 2017 [45] | ||||
| Zac Dawe | 275 | Return after sitting out 2017 [46] | ||||
| Hayden Griffitts | 205 | Return after sitting out 2017[47] | ||||
| Harris LaChance | 301 | Transfer from Utah State University[48] | ||||
| Baylor Romney | 190 | Transfer from University of Nevada[49] | ||||
| Matthew Criddle | 195 | Transfer from Snow College[50] | ||||
| Danny Jones | 235 | Transfer from La Trobe University[51] | ||||
| Michael Bruno | 240 | Transfer from Weber State[52] | ||||
| Dylan Collie | 180 | Transfer from University of Hawaii[53] | ||||
| Jeddy Tuiloma | 281 | Transfer from Butler College[54] | ||||
| Joshua Buhler | 205 | Transfer from Snow College[55] | ||||
| D'Angelo Mandell | 175 | Originally Signed 2016 [56] |
| Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 230 | Graduation, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL draft | ||||
| Va'a Niumatalolo | 235 | Graduation | |||
| Grant Jones | 205 | Graduation | |||
| Jonah Trinnaman | 190 | Graduation, signed free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals | |||
| Kesni Tausinga | 300 | Graduation | |||
| Handsome Tanielu | 315 | Graduation | |||
| Keyan Norman | 305 | Graduation | |||
| 290 | Graduation, signed free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs | ||||
| Tuni Kanuch | 320 | Graduation | |||
| Cody Stewart | 185 | Graduation | |||
| Hiva Lee | 190 | Graduation | |||
| 190 | Graduation, signed free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns | ||||
| Kamel Greene | 185 | Graduation | |||
| Jonny Linehan | 205 | Graduation | |||
| Corey Edwards | 210 | Graduation | |||
| Tanner Balderree | 250 | Graduation | |||
| Creed Richardson | 235 | Graduation | |||
| Young Tanner | 195 | Graduation | |||
| Bentley Hanshaw | 225 | LDS mission | |||
| Chaz Ah You | 205 | LDS mission | |||
| Tanner Baker | 255 | LDS mission | |||
| Chayce Bolli | 190 | LDS mission | |||
| Rylee Gautavai | 225 | Transfer to University of Utah | |||
| Koy Detmer Jr. | 175 | Transfer to Texas A&M University Kingsville[57] | |||
| Kainoa Fuiava | 295 | Transfer to Idaho State University[58] | |||
| Kody Wilstead | 223 | Transfer to Coffeyville Community College[59] | |||
| Tariq Buchanan | 190 | Transfer to Texas Southern University[60] | |||
| Phillip Amone | 235 | Medical | |||
| Trey Dye | 180 | Medical | |||
| Morgan Unga | 220 | Medical | |||
| Cody Savage | 265 | ||||
| Garrett England | 210 | ||||
| Hunter Marshall | 230 | ||||
| Taggart Krueger | 235 | ||||
| Solomone Wolfgramm | 285 | ||||
| Taipe Vaka | 275 | ||||
| Leroy Sitake-Tanoai | 320 | ||||
| Will Sedgwick | 224 | ||||
| Joe Tukuafu | 275 | ||||
| Ula Tolutau | 242 | ||||
| Rickey Shumway | 196 | ||||
| Beau Tanner | 189 | ||||
| David Low | 240 | ||||
| K.J. Hall | 185 | Announced Retirement from Playing[61] | |||
Listed in the order that they were released
| Doak Walker Award[62] | Squally Canada | RB | SR | |
| John Mackey Award[63] | Matt Bushman | TE | SO | |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[64] | Corbin Kaufusi | DE | SR | |
| Paul Hornung Award[65] | Austin Kafentzis | DB/KR | JR | |
| Wuerffel Trophy[66] | Adam Pulsipher | LB | SR | |
| Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award[67] | Micah Simon | WR | JR |
Football Media Day was held at the BYUtv studios on June 22, 2018 and was once again simulcast on BYUtv and ESPN3. TV news was shared as Athletic Director Tom Holmoe announced BYU would formally begin new contract negotiations with ESPN in the fall. Coach Sitake dodged questions about a potential quarterback controversy by saying their main goal was to play the best player possible in each position, and that would be determined in close door practices. The new coaching staff was also interviewed by Dave McCann. Additionally BYU held YouTube and radio player interviews throughout the day and did a feature show on BYU players who are currently in the NFL.[68]
The 2018 BYU Sports Network will appear slightly different from previous years. Greg Wrubell and Marc Lyons return as play-by-play and analyst, and Jason Shepherd returns as the host. However sideline reporter Nate Meikle left after becoming a lawyer, author, and being hired at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business to be a postdoctoral teaching and research fellow.[69] Replacing Nate as the sideline reporter is Mitchell Juergens.
In August, it was announced this will be Marc Lyons final season calling BYU football, his 38th year with that responsibility.[70]
Affiliates[71]
See also: 2018–19 BYU Cougars men's basketball team, 2018–19 BYU Cougars women's basketball team, 2018 BYU Cougars women's soccer team and 2018 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team.
See also: Arizona Wildcats football and 2018 Arizona Wildcats football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, white pants w/ blue accents.
----See also: California Golden Bears football and 2018 California Golden Bears football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, white pants w/ blue accents.
----See also: Wisconsin Badgers football and 2018 Wisconsin Badgers football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, blue pants w/ white accents.
----See also: 2018 McNeese State Cowboys football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, navy blue jersey, white pants w/ blue accents.
----See also: Washington Huskies football and 2018 Washington Huskies football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, navy blue pants w/ white accents.
----See also: BYU–Utah State football rivalry, Utah State Aggies football and 2018 Utah State Aggies football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, royal blue jersey, white pants w/ royal blue accents.
----See also: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football and 2017 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, navy blue jersey, white pants w/ blue accents.
See also: Northern Illinois Huskies football and 2018 Northern Illinois Huskies football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, navy blue jersey, white pants w/ pink accents. (Breast cancer awareness game)
----See also: Boise State Broncos football and 2018 Boise State Broncos football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, blue pants w/ white accents.
----See also: UMass Minutemen football and 2018 UMass Minutemen football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, blue pants w/ white accents.
----See also: New Mexico State Aggies football and 2018 New Mexico State Aggies football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, royal blue jersey, white pants w/ royal blue accents.
----See also: Holy War (BYU–Utah), Utah Utes football and 2018 Utah Utes football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, royal blue jersey, white pants w/ royal blue accents.
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See also: 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Western Michigan Broncos football and 2018 Western Michigan Broncos football team. Sources:
Uniform combination: white helmet, royal blue jersey, royal blue pants w/ white accents.
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See also: 2019 NFL draft.
| 3 | 80 | LB | Cleveland Browns |