Five Things We Learned From Kalani Sitake’s BYU/Portland State Presser
Aug 26, 2025, 12:44 AM
PROVO, Utah – BYU football opens the 2025 season against the Portland State Vikings on Saturday.
In preparation for the game, BYU kicked off the first game week of the season on Monday with a virtual press conference from head coach Kalani Sitake.
Sitake spent 18 minutes during his weekly Zoom call with the media to set the stage for Saturday’s season opener, his 10th as the head coach at his alma mater.
Here are five things we learned from Kalani Sitake’s presser.
How Kalani Sitake views games against FCS opponents
Kalani Sitake has a perfect 9-0 record as BYU’s head coach against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponents. Saturday will be the 10th time he faces such an opponent, the second against Portland State.
He was asked how he views these matchups between Power Four teams and squads from FCS.
“I think the approach is just to make sure that we’re playing at our best. It’s one of the 12 games we have guaranteed on our schedule. And this one happens to be week one,” said Sitake.
Sitake later continued, “I have a lot of respect for every opponent at the same time. We want to make sure that we do what we want to do in terms of executing the plays and being fundamentally sound. But you still have to have respect for your opponents. You still have to. You see it on film, they do everything that you do, too. They work hard. They’re not just going to show up and bow down to us. They’re going to give us a game. So we need to make sure that we give it to them, too.”
Expectations for Bear Bachmeier entering the BYU/Portland State matchup
All eyes will be on true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The Stanford transfer beat out McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet to win the job in camp. What are Sitake’s expectations for the first true freshman signal-caller to earn the starting job in week one?
Kalani Sitake doesn't need Bear to be anybody but himself against Portland State 🐻#GoCougs @Mitch_Harper pic.twitter.com/oc0JuUhybW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 25, 2025
“Just do what he’s been doing all camp. And you know, just lead the offense,” Sitake said.
“I think he’s done a great job, especially when we announced him as a starter. He’s done a great job being the leader and connecting with his teammates, working with everyone.
Sitake later added, “I just expect him to do what he does, and nothing more. I don’t need him to do anything extra. Just be Bear Bachmeier and we’ll be fine.”
More competition to decide the backup quarterback spot
Bear Bachmeier earned the starting job in fall camp. What about the guys who lost the battle?
McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet are both listed with an “OR” in between their names on this week’s depth chart. That leaves an ongoing battle to decide the number two spot.
It’s interesting because in fall camp, Bachmeier and Hillstead were the ones who created separation before Bachmeier won the job. Why the ongoing battle for the backup job?
“We want more competition, still. We like that,” Sitake said. “I felt like the competition was really good at the beginning of the year for the entire room. It elevated Bear (Bachmeier) and the others. We’d like to see that continue to elevate the entire room. We also feel comfortable with all those quarterbacks being able to get on the field and play for us. So that’s pretty much the reason for it.
The entire Front Seven has impressed Kalani Sitake
Sitake received a question about his defensive line and his thoughts on that group entering week one. Instead, the veteran head coach used that question as a way to highlight BYU’s defensive front.
“I think the entire front seven has been really impressive to me. I think that goes down to the leadership,” Sitake said. “You mentioned Keanu (Tanuvasa), JT (John Taumoepeau), Viliami Po’uha, Bodie (Schoonover), I mean, all of those guys have done an amazing job.
“I know I’m leaving some guys out like Logan (Lutui) and all of those guys, but they’re a really good group, close group, and to have Sione (Po’uha), K-Popp (Kelly Poppinga), Gary Andersen, Justin Ena, Chad Kauha’aha’a, those guys handle the front seven. It’s been nice for me, because I know what they’re doing. I know all the things that have been taught. The guys are responding really well together.”
Kalani’s additional responsibilities as an Associate Athletic Director
In July, it was announced that, along with being the head football coach at BYU, Kalani Sitake received the title of “Associate Athletic Director” in Brian Santiago’s athletic department.
Santiago added current coaches Sitake and track and field coach Diljeet Taylor as Associate ADs in his “enhanced leadership team.”
What does the role entail for Sitake?
“It gives me a little bit more meetings,” Sitake said. “I’m able to be in different settings, probably not just all ball, but fortunately for me, I have coaches who are able to delegate decision-making on offense, defense, and special teams. But what I don’t want to do is jeopardize my time with the players or my availability to them. So it’s a little bit extra work, but it’s OK. I don’t mind it. I like being busy, and I like things to do.
“So if it’s a benefit for the program, benefits our student athletes, and can be a benefit for the university, then I’m excited to do it. So, hopefully I can do that role just as good as I can do everything else.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
