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Cougar Tracks - Daily BYU Cougars Football, Basketball Podcast · Monday · 40 min

Thoughts on LES upgrades + BYU practice notes + Kevin Gilbride interview

With the September 5 opener against Utah Tech now less than two weeks away, KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper delivers a loaded episode. First up, BYU unveiled a slate of upgrades to LaVell Edwards Stadium that are ready for the 2026 season. The headliner is the new PACS Recruit Lounge located under the east stands — a dedicated space for recruits and their families featuring new seating, food and beverage options, and entertainment areas designed to give BYU's recruiting staff a premium game-day resource. The home locker room also received a full renovation with new lockers, technology, and player amenities, while LaVell's Lounge has been refreshed with an expanded concessions menu, new TVs, décor, and seating. Mitch breaks down what these investments signal about the program's trajectory and how they stack up in the Big 12 facilities arms race. Next, Mitch tackles the big question every Cougar fan is asking: Will No. 14 BYU make the College Football Playoff in 2026? One national pundit is buying into BYU reaching their first Playoff. Also on today's show, Mitch chats with third-year BYU tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride. The 20-year coaching veteran who brings over a decade of NFL experience — including stints with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers — discusses what he believes could be the best tight end room since he arrived on campus. Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga have been running with the first-team offense in 12-personnel packages throughout camp, and Gilbride talks about the intersection of college football and the NFL, the development of his group, and the role the tight ends will play in Aaron Roderick's offense this season. Mitch then shares his latest practice observations from the final stretch of fall camp as the Cougars close out week three with a "Cougar Stock Exchange," discussing what's trending up and trending down in camp. To close the show, Mitch gives his thoughts on an NFL player, Dae'Quan Wright, expected to join the LSU Tigers after spending the spring and summer with the Cleveland Browns organization. Should college football fans be concerned? Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes. Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT). Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609 YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh Download the KSL Sports app Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593 Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper. Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go. Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

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show notes

With the September 5 opener against Utah Tech now less than two weeks away, KSL Sports BYU Insider Mitch Harper delivers a loaded episode.

First up, BYU unveiled a slate of upgrades to LaVell Edwards Stadium that are ready for the 2026 season. The headliner is the new PACS Recruit Lounge located under the east stands — a dedicated space for recruits and their families featuring new seating, food and beverage options, and entertainment areas designed to give BYU's recruiting staff a premium game-day resource. The home locker room also received a full renovation with new lockers, technology, and player amenities, while LaVell's Lounge has been refreshed with an expanded concessions menu, new TVs, décor, and seating. Mitch breaks down what these investments signal about the program's trajectory and how they stack up in the Big 12 facilities arms race.

Next, Mitch tackles the big question every Cougar fan is asking: Will No. 14 BYU make the College Football Playoff in 2026? One national pundit is buying into BYU reaching their first Playoff.

Also on today's show, Mitch chats with third-year BYU tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride. The 20-year coaching veteran who brings over a decade of NFL experience — including stints with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers — discusses what he believes could be the best tight end room since he arrived on campus. Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga have been running with the first-team offense in 12-personnel packages throughout camp, and Gilbride talks about the intersection of college football and the NFL, the development of his group, and the role the tight ends will play in Aaron Roderick's offense this season.

Mitch then shares his latest practice observations from the final stretch of fall camp as the Cougars close out week three with a "Cougar Stock Exchange," discussing what's trending up and trending down in camp.

To close the show, Mitch gives his thoughts on an NFL player, Dae'Quan Wright, expected to join the LSU Tigers after spending the spring and summer with the Cleveland Browns organization. Should college football fans be concerned?

Subscribe to the Cougar Tracks Podcast to stay up-to-date with all the daily episodes.

Cougar Tracks is on YouTube and X every weekday at Noon (MT), and KSL NewsRadio at 6:30 p.m. (MT).

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-tracks/id1146971609

YouTube Podcast: https://kslsports.com/category/podcast_results/?sid=2035&n=Cougar%20Tracks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NCF1KecDsE2rB1zMuHhUh

Download the KSL Sports app

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bonneville.kslsports&hl=en_US

 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ksl-sports/id143593

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Want more coverage of BYU sports? Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. Allows you to stream live radio and video, keeping you up-to-date on all your favorite teams.

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