Welcome to the Big 12 Brigham Young University
STILLWATER – BYU may be the most famous of the schools entering the Big 12 on July 1, 2023. The institution built by, educating the masses, and representing the Mormon faith has been a sports blueblood even winning a football national championship under the leadership of Hall of Fame head coach Lavell Edwards in 1984.
The Cougars have won 23 conference football championships but none since becoming an independent. Their last conference title was 2007 in the Mountain West.
Byu has special events planned to commemorate the school entering the Big 12 with Ring in BYU to the Big 12 with special guest appearances, fireworks and lighting of the Y on the mountain. Saturday, July 1 from 3 - 6 p.m.
Need to Know Facts
Official Name/Location/Date Established: Brigham Young University/Main Campus Provo, Utah/Oct. 16, 1875
Mascot: Cougars
Official Colors: Navy and White
Enrollment: 34,390
Famous Alumni: Orin Hatch, politician; Mitt Romney, politician; Gary Crittenden, business; Kevin Rollins, business; Miss America Sharlene Wells Hawkes, sportscaster; Rick Aguilera, baseball; Wally Joyner, baseball; Jack Morris, baseball; Danny Ainge, basketball, Shawn Bradley, basketball; Steve Young, football; Ty Detmer, football; Jim McMahon, football; Johnny Miller, golf
President or Chancellor: C. Shane Reese
Athletic Director: Tom Holmoe
Sports Offered Total (Men’s/Women’s): 17 (8/9)
Current Head Coaches
Head Football Coach: Kalani Sitake - 8 seasons (56-34)
Football Stadium/Capacity: LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,470)
Head Basketball Coach: Mark Pope - 4 seasons (87-41)
Head Women’s Basketball Coach: Amber Whiting - one season (16-17)
Basketball Arena/Capacity: Marriott Center (18,987)
Head Baseball Coach: Trent Pratt - 2 seasons (40-37)
Baseball Stadium/Capacity: Larry H. Miller Field (2,204)
Head Softball Coach: Gordon Eakin - 20 seasons (765-355)
Softball Stadium/Capacity: Gail Miller Field (2,100)
History Lesson with Oklahoma State
BYU offers 17 sports (9 womens/8 mens) when you count cross country and track and field together as one sport for men and one for women. Oklahoma State has competed against BYU in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, and softball. They’ve played in most sports against each other, but the relationship in football is unique.
Two game all-time as Oklahoma State beat BYU in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl 16-6 and then clobbered the Cougars in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl 49-21.
The first meeting Jim Stanley led the Cowboys against Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards and BYU. Charlie Weatherbie quarterbacked the Cowboys and reserve running back Kenny Walker was the offensive Player of the Game. Phillip Dokes was the Defensive Player of the Game and he knocked star BYU quarterback Gary Sheide out of the game on a first quarter sack.
Stanley and Edwards coached against each other again in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl as Terry Miller, College Football Hall of Fame running back that will go into the Oklahoma State Ring of Honor this fall was the Offensive Player of the Game with 173-yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries. Phillip Dokes was the Defensive Player of the Game as he was in 1974 in the Fiesta Bowl. Dokes ravaged the BYU backfield and his pressure helped set up a pick six score to open the game.