BYU's Transfer Portal Haul Changes Everything in Big 12 Race

BYU’s offseason story is no longer just about elite roster retention. After keeping stars like Bear Bochmeyer, LJ Martin, Isaiah Glasker, and the core of that defense, the Cougars have now added one of the nation’s better transfer portal classes on top of it. In this video, John breaks down how adding Cal linebacker Cade Uluave (a first-team All-ACC defender), USC tight end Walker Lyons, and multiple Power Four offensive linemen changes BYU’s ceiling in 2025.

Has BYU actually narrowed the gap on Texas Tech, or are the Red Raiders still clearly the Big 12 favorites? John digs into the trenches matchup, why BYU absolutely has to run the ball better against Tech, how continuity and culture stack up against Tech’s raw portal firepower, and whether the Cougars’ upgraded talent is enough to flip the Big 12 title race.

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Timestamps
0:00 BYU adds a new element: from retention win to portal power
0:52 How BYU held its roster together despite Kyle Whittingham to Michigan
1:43 Offensive retention: Bear Bochmeyer, LJ Martin, Parker Kingston and more
2:30 BYU’s next step: moving from retention to talent upgrades
3:25 Landing Cade Uluave: replacing Jack Kelly with a first-team All-ACC LB
4:26 Walker Lyons to BYU and the Lyons–Lyons family storyline
5:08 Beefing up the offensive line with Stanford, Washington, and Utah State transfers
5:57 Where BYU’s portal class ranks nationally compared to Texas Tech
6:53 Has BYU actually upgraded overall talent versus last year?
7:40 Sorsby vs. Bochmeyer: who’s the better QB in 2025?
8:30 The real question: can BYU handle Texas Tech in the trenches?
9:25 Why BYU’s run game vs. Tech is the key to closing the gap
10:09 Continuity, culture, and a second-year leap for Bochmeyer
11:01 Final verdict: has BYU narrowed the gap on Texas Tech?

About This Video
In this video, John Kurtz explains why BYU’s offseason can no longer be framed as just “great retention.” After keeping nearly every key starter on both sides of the ball, BYU went into the portal and landed impact pieces at linebacker, tight end, and along the offensive line. John compares BYU’s moves to Texas Tech’s approach, looks at how the two programs match up in the trenches, and gives his early read on whether the Cougars are now a legitimate threat to the Red Raiders in the 2025 Big 12 title race.

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