Honestly, if you looked at the preseason polls back in August, nobody—and I mean literally nobody—saw this coming. The BYU football schedule 2024 looked like a gauntlet designed to welcome the Cougars to their second year in the Big 12 with a cold, hard slap of reality. Media members picked them to finish 13th in the conference. 13th! People were talking about bowl eligibility as if it were some distant, flickering mirage in the Mojave Desert.
Instead, Kalani Sitake’s squad went out and staged a 100th-anniversary season for the history books. They didn't just survive; they thrived, finishing with an 11-2 record and a share of the top spot in the Big 12 standings.
The Run That Shocked the Big 12
The season kicked off with what felt like a standard tune-up against Southern Illinois, a 41-13 win that didn't necessarily scream "national contender." But things got weird, and then they got exciting, very fast.
The real turning point? That Friday night in Dallas. BYU traveled to SMU and ground out an 18-15 win that was, frankly, ugly. It was a defensive slugfest. But it proved this team had a spine. They followed that up by handling Wyoming in Laramie 34-14, setting the stage for a home opener against No. 13 Kansas State that changed everything.
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Provo was electric that night.
In a span of about six minutes of game time, BYU turned a tight contest into a 38-9 blowout. It was a defensive masterclass led by Jay Hill’s unit, which eventually finished the season ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense. If you weren't a believer after the K-State game, you probably just weren't watching.
BYU Football Schedule 2024: Game-by-Game Results
Looking back at the full slate, the consistency was actually the most surprising part. Here is how the 2024 journey actually played out on the field:
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- Aug 31: vs. Southern Illinois — W 41-13. A clean start.
- Sept 6: at SMU — W 18-15. The defense shows up in a big way.
- Sept 14: at Wyoming — W 34-14. Nine straight wins over the Cowboys.
- Sept 21: vs. No. 13 Kansas State — W 38-9. The Statement Game.
- Sept 28: at Baylor — W 34-28. Surviving a late McLane Stadium surge.
- Oct 12: vs. Arizona — W 41-19. The "After Dark" magic starts early.
- Oct 18: vs. Oklahoma State — W 38-35. A Friday night thriller.
- Oct 26: at UCF — W 37-24. The Cougars take Florida by storm.
- Nov 9: at Utah — W 22-21. The Holy War return. One point. Pure chaos.
- Nov 16: vs. Kansas — L 13-17. The first crack in the armor.
- Nov 23: at No. 21 Arizona State — L 23-28. A tough road loss in Tempe.
- Nov 30: vs. Houston — W 30-18. Senior night victory to cap the regular season.
- Dec 28: vs. No. 23 Colorado (Alamo Bowl) — W 36-14. Total dominance.
Why the Defense Was Different This Year
It’s easy to talk about Jake Retzlaff’s growth at quarterback or LJ Martin’s bruising runs, but the BYU football schedule 2024 was conquered because of the guys on the other side of the ball.
The Cougars led the country in interceptions for a massive chunk of the year. They finished with 22 picks in total, tying with Texas for the most in the FBS. What’s even wilder is that 12 different players recorded an interception. That’s not a fluke; that’s a system.
They allowed just 19.6 points per game, which was the best mark in the Big 12. For a team that struggled so mightily to stop the run in 2023, the 2024 turnaround was nothing short of miraculous. Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill basically rebuilt the identity of the program in twelve months.
The Holy War and the November Slump
We have to talk about that Utah game.
Winning 22-21 in Salt Lake City was arguably the emotional peak of the decade for the fanbase. It kept the undefeated dream alive at 9-0. But honestly? It might have taken everything they had.
The following two weeks were the only low points. A 17-13 loss to Kansas at home was a head-scratcher, followed by a 28-23 loss to a very good Arizona State team. For a second there, it felt like the wheels might come off. But the team steadied the ship against Houston and then absolutely dismantled Deion Sanders and Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
Ending the year 11-2 and ranked No. 13 in the final AP Poll is a far cry from that 13th-place preseason prediction.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at the data from the BYU football schedule 2024, here are the takeaways that actually matter for the future of the program:
- Special Teams are a Weapon: BYU finished 4th nationally in Special Teams SP+. This was the hidden margin in close wins like SMU and Utah. Never overlook the punting and return units under Sitake.
- The Retzlaff Era is Solid: Despite the mid-season "interception funk," Jake Retzlaff proved he is a high-ceiling Big 12 starter. His ability to extend plays with his legs was the difference-maker in the Oklahoma State and Baylor wins.
- Recruiting Momentum: Finishing 11-2 has already spiked BYU's recruiting profile. They finished with a top-50 class, and the "Power 4" transition is officially complete. They aren't just "happy to be here" anymore; they are a Tier 1 Big 12 contender.
To truly understand this season, stop looking at the final scores and look at the fourth-down efficiency. BYU converted 75% of their fourth downs, ranking 5th in the country. They played fearless football. That's how you beat a schedule that the "experts" said would break you.