BYU’s Kalani Sitake, LJ Martin, Bear Bachmeier Win Big 12 Football Awards
Dec 4, 2025, 12:19 PM | Updated: Dec 5, 2025, 8:18 am
ARLINGTON, Texas – BYU took home many of the Big 12 football awards for the 2025 season.
The individual accolades for the 2025 season were unveiled on Thursday, and key members of the BYU football program received recognition.
Kalani Sitake wins Big 12 Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/82rvGqE9Q6
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 4, 2025
Kalani Sitake: 2025 Big 12 Coach of the Year
Two days after signing a new long-term contract extension at BYU, head coach Kalani Sitake was named the Chuck Neinas Big 12 Football Coach of the Year.
It’s the first conference coach of the year recognition for BYU’s 10th-year head coach. Before the 2023 season, BYU was an FBS Independent.
Sitake has guided BYU to a 22-3 record since the 16-team Big 12 started last season. It’s the best record in the conference since last season.
That 22-3 mark is fourth-best in the nation dating back to last year.
What makes a coach look good is good players. Sitake has some star players on his 2025 BYU squad that are gearing up to take on Texas Tech in this weekend’s Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium.
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BYU football star LJ Martin earns Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
BYU’s top player this season was running back LJ Martin.
The junior star out of El Paso, Texas, was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Martin rushed for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns for an average of 5.7 yards per carry this season.
BYU RB LJ Martin wins Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year 🏆 pic.twitter.com/koJGeTnFXs
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 4, 2025
For the third consecutive year, Martin led BYU in rushing yards this season. He’s the number one in rushing yards in the Big 12, and 12th nationally.
Bear Bachmeier named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year
Then, to round out the individual awards for BYU, star quarterback Bear Bachmeier earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Bachmeier stepped on campus at BYU in June and didn’t expect to be the starting quarterback, as he was planning to be the backup to former BYU starter Jake Retzlaff.
But when the job became open in July, Bachmeier rose to the occasion, winning the job, and has been outstanding for BYU this season.
Bachmeier won the Big 12 Freshman of the Week recognition on seven different occasions during the regular season.
BIG 12 OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
No doubt about it!! Congrats @bearb47!! pic.twitter.com/tmWqLnFgDM
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 4, 2025
The Murrieta, California native has passed for 2,593 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only four interceptions this season.
To go along with his passing numbers, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Bachmeier is BYU’s second-leading rusher, running for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns, a single-season BYU record for most touchdown runs by a quarterback in a season.
Along with being the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, LJ Martin was recognized as a First Team All-Big 12 selection. Martin and three other BYU football players earned first-team nods.
The other three were center Bruce Mitchell, linebacker Jack Kelly, and safety Tanner Wall.
On Second Team All-Big 12, BYU produced two players for three spots. Parker Kingston was named a second-team All-Big 12 player at wide receiver and as a return specialist. Senior kicker Will Ferrin earned Second Team All-Big 12, one year after earning Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in the league.
For Third Team All-Big 12, wide receiver Chase Roberts, offensive tackle Isaiah Jatta, linebacker Isaiah Glasker, and safety Faletau Satuala all received recognition.
BYU football: Big 12 Awards for 2025 season
Coach of the Year: Kalani Sitake
Offensive Player of the Year: RB LJ Martin
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: QB Bear Bachmeier
First Team All-Big 12
- RB LJ Martin
- OL Bruce Mitchell
- LB Jack Kelly
- SAF Tanner Wall
Second Team All-Big 12
- WR Parker Kingston
- K Will Ferrin
- RET Parker Kingston
Third Team All-Big 12
- WR Chase Roberts
- OL Isaiah Jatta
- LB Isaiah Glasker
- SAF Faletau Satuala
Honorable Mention Selections
- DE Tausili Akana (Defensive Newcomer of the Year HM)
- QB Bear Bachmeier
- DE Hunter Clegg (Defensive Freshman of the Year HM)
- K Will Ferrin (Special Teams Player of Year HM)
- OL Andrew Gentry (Offensive Newcomer of the Year HM)
- LS Garrison Grimes
- DB Evan Johnson
- LB Jack Kelly (Defensive Player of the Year HM)
- OL Bruce Mitchell (Offensive Lineman of the Year HM)
- TE Carsen Ryan
- DL Bodie Schoonover
- DL Keanu Tanuvasa
- DL John Taumoepeau
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.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.
