You’d think BYU would be riding easy into the 2025 season. They’re fresh off an 11–2 campaign and the Alamo Bowl blowout over Colorado? That was a big flex. They manhandled a Power 5 team on national television and walked off the field like a squad that had just kicked in the door to the College Football Playoff conversation. But then spring hit, and so did chaos. Their QB1, Jake Retzlaff, the guy with wheels, flair, and nearly 3,000 yards in the air? Gone. Off the board after a major Honor Code violation and a looming seven-game suspension.

Suddenly, the high-octane machine hit a red light. And now? Kalani Sitake is sitting in Provo with three unproven QBs and a whole lot of pressure. McCae Hillstead, the Utah State transfer who redshirted last season, just might be the cleanest option. He has got eight games of college action under his belt, a smidge over 1,000 passing yards, and the calm poise of someone who is not trying to be a superhero. Not flashy, but functional—and in Aaron Roderick’s system, that might just be enough.

Remember, BYU isn’t running a gimmicky offense. They’re physical, balanced, and designed to punish mistakes on both ends. Hillstead’s calm temperament fits that mold, and coaches are taking notice. Hillstead broke his silence on July 20th when he hopped on the ‘Coug Connect’ podcast and dropped a surprisingly transparent take about the QB room. What did he say?

“You know, honestly, really good vibes,” Hillstead said when asked about the current quarterback situation. “I think the whole team as a unit, everyone wants the same thing, and that’s the Big 12 championship. We got super close last year. One game, really. And I think everyone’s united, and I think that leaks into the quarterback room.” That being said, he didn’t sugarcoat what he had seen before in QB rooms.

“Like I’ve been in selfish quarterback rooms before, you know, where it’s just this is what, this is my agenda, and I’m going to kind of force it upon guys. And I don’t even think that’s good for the person doing it,” Hillstead shared. “So, I think everyone knows that like, ‘Hey, if someone else is performing well, then that’s going to push me.’ And that’s the mindset I have.”

The camaraderie is deep in BYU. They lift together, joke around, and treat the QB battle like brothers grinding for the same dream. As far as leadership presence and locker room fit go, Hillstead checks all the boxes.

Hillstead’s not alone in this dance, though. There’s also Treyson Bourguet—with 1,300 yards under his belt. He transferred in from Western Michigan, worked behind the scenes, and now? He’s right there in the mix. Then there is Bear Bachmeier, the freshman prodigy and 4-star recruit with all the hype but none of the game reps. HC Sitake has options, but none of them come prepackaged with power 4 confidence. Hillstead has got the most experience but not the most juice. Bourguet has got culture fit. Bear has got upside. Here’s where it gets messy. The Cougars’ spring game didn’t exactly light fireworks.

Kalani Sitake is having a hard time naming Jake Retzlaff’s successor…

KSL Sports’ Matt Baiamonte summed it up best. “What I kind of get worried about a little bit is just Bourguet and Hillstead in particular. Watching them in spring, nothing just blew me away,” Baiamonte said. And that’s the thing. For a team dreaming of playoffs, that lack of spark matters. Fans remember Retzlaff juking defenders and chucking 40-yard lasers like it was backyard football. Nobody has stepped into that role yet. Still, Baiamonte tried to keep the faith.

He added, “They were throwing to second-string and third-string guys… I’d like to think with Chase Roberts and LJ [Martin] that they’re going to look different.” Fair point. Give them BYU’s starters and maybe things shift. The talent is clearly there; it’s chemistry that’s the question mark. But when it comes to that BYU fit—you know, the culture, the grit, the loyalty—Bourguet’s name keeps rising. Baiamonte even called it: “Treyson Bourguet… I think he fits the culture of BYU the best. The guy wants badly to be at BYU. He sought BYU out.” That type of hunger is hard to ignore. Walk-ons don’t transfer in just for fun. They grind because they’ve got something to prove, and Bourguet’s been doing exactly that since day one. Now here’s the twist.

BYU does better when the starter isn’t named until late. Sitake’s record when choosing his QB deep into fall camp? 48–16. That’s a .750 win percentage. But when does the decision get made early? The Cougars are a subpar 24–27. So maybe—just maybe—this indecision is part of the secret sauce. Sitake might be playing chess, not checkers. What do you think?