Aug 27, 2026 · 50 min
BYU’s defense pairs star power with untested depth
Can BYU's Defense Be Even Better in 2026?
The episode tests whether returning talent and Kelly Poppinga’s leadership can produce BYU’s strongest defense of the Kalani Sitake era.
- 1BYU’s linebacker group brings unusual depth and potential star power, while the defensive line and secondary remain the biggest questions.
- 2Kelly Poppinga sets 19 points or fewer per game as the standard tied to a realistic 10-win season.
- 3Kendall Wall and Jake Clifton emerge as under-the-radar names in a defense built around returning production and new leadership.
Don't miss
Kelly Poppinga explains why 19 points or fewer is the defense’s benchmark and ties it to the possibility of winning at least 10 games.
The brief
BYU’s defense enters 2026 with returning production and more potential star power than recent groups, prompting comparisons with the 2012 and 2013 units.
The optimism is uneven: linebacker depth inspires confidence, while the defensive line and secondary must replace established leaders and adjust to new coaching.
Kelly Poppinga makes the standard explicit: allowing 19 points or fewer per game, a mark he connects to winning at least 10 games.
Poppinga singles out Kendall Wall, young defensive ends and Isaiah Glasker, while Jake Clifton gives the linebacker room another experienced option.
Claire Little Chambers then previews a more competitive BYU volleyball team, its opening Florida matches and its belief that it can exceed preseason expectations.