{"id":994875,"date":"2026-09-08T04:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T04:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/994875\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T04:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T04:33:17","slug":"what-you-may-have-missed-at-byus-home-opener-vs-utah-tech-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/994875\/","title":{"rendered":"What you may have missed at BYU\u2019s home opener vs. Utah Tech \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

BYU coach Kalani Sitake gave a shoutout to the fans following the Cougars\u2019 season-opening 63-7 win over Utah Tech<\/a> late Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Even with BYU taking on an FCS opponent, Sitake was impressed not just with his team\u2019s play, but with the fan support in the home opener at LaVell Edwards Stadium.<\/p>\n

He believes it set an impressive standard for players who transferred in from other schools, in their first experience playing at home in Provo.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally proud of the team, proud of the way the guys played, proud of the energy that we had. And just want to tell all the fans, thank you so much for your energy. They stayed here till the very end. The ROC (BYU\u2019s student section) was here the whole entire time,\u201d Sitake said. <\/p>\n

\u201c(That) impressed a lot of our players that came from the portal, been other places. They couldn\u2019t believe the support that the fans had for the team and the energy \u2014 made a lot of noise. And you know, we\u2019re going to need them next week (vs. Arizona). It\u2019s going to be a lot of fun, but we need them all year long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch Sitake\u2019s message for the fans, as well as players\u2019 reactions and scenes from the dominant win in the video above, as the Cougars started the season 1-0.<\/p>\n

Jake Retzlaff back supporting the Cougars<\/p>\n

Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was one of several former BYU players at the contest \u2014 so, too, was former Cougar running back Jamaal Williams.<\/p>\n

Retzlaff, who left BYU after facing an honor code violation and played the 2025 season at Tulane, was back in Provo for the next game now that his college career is done.<\/p>\n

IDK all the details and maybe I am
Missing something but the fact Jake Retzlaff comes back to @BYU<\/a> to support the program says a lot. When you have a school that kicks you out over breaking the honor code\u2026 and you still come back and show support\u2026 that means something on both\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/aKhQh4Cvo9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thoughtful-Faith (@ThoughtfulSaint) September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Retzlaff spent time on the sidelines, and after freshman running back Devaughn Eka scored a fourth-quarter touchdown, Retzlaff was there to congratulate the young back.<\/p>\n

Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was on hand for the Cougars’ season-opening win over Utah Tech.High-fives all around<\/p>\n

Call it a bit of karmic goodwill.<\/p>\n

As BYU headed back out on to the field following halftime, a young Cougar fan had secured a spot where he could greet players as they headed down the tunnel.<\/p>\n

The first player to take him up on a high-five ended up being Cannon DeVries, who minutes later returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

After DeVries gave the fan a high-five, he built up his confidence and took another step towards the players and coaches heading out to the field and received several more high-fives from BYU players and coaches, including head coach Kalani Sitake.<\/p>\n

One lucky young BYU fan gave players and coaches high-fives as the team returned to the field following halftime during its home game against Utah Tech.