Sexual Assault ALLEGATIONS Once Again Upend BYU Football’s Season—How Do BYU & Kalani Sitake RESPOND? | Where Does BYU Basketball Turn Post-Richie Saunders? | Hope Still on Horizon for BYU Cougars?

Sexual Assault ALLEGATIONS Once Again Upend BYU Football’s Season—How Do BYU & Kalani Sitake RESPOND? | Where Does BYU Basketball Turn Post-Richie Saunders? | Hope Still on Horizon for BYU Cougars?

27:26 Feb 17, 2026
About this episode
BYU sports are reeling after a devastating 72-hour stretch that could define the future of Cougar athletics. Standout wide receiver Parker Kingston, fresh off a breakout season and poised to become a marquee face of the Big 12, has been dismissed from the football program following felony sexual assault charges. Can head coach Kalani Sitake steady the ship and maintain the team’s high ambitions as BYU loses not just an offensive star, but also experiences a second straight offseason rocked by serious controversy? Drake Toll and Jake Hatch dissect the bombshell, contrasting Kingston’s immediate expulsion with previous cases like Jake Retzlaff’s, and examine what this means for the Cougars’ conference outlook. With promising young talents such as JoJo Phillips and Tate Nakua now in the spotlight, will the Cougars retool quickly enough to stay in title contention, and how aggressively can BYU pursue key targets in the upcoming transfer portal window?Adding to the turmoil, the BYU basketball program endures a gut punch as All-Big 12 performer Richie Saunders suffers a torn ACL, ending his season and likely his Cougars career. The loss raises burning questions: Can AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright shoulder the scoring and leadership burden? How many injuries can Kevin Young’s squad sustain before NCAA tournament hopes fade? With six scholarship players sidelined, Utah high school prospects waiting in the wings, and a portal search likely, the Cougars’ ability to rebound is put to the ultimate test. Hatch offers insight into coaching strategies, what it means for BYU’s on-court grit, and why Saunders’ absence could be the tipping point in their quest for a historic Final Four run.The episode wraps with a look at the emotional state of Cougar Nation—can fans find hope while mourning not just star athletes, but the recent passing of BYU matriarch Patti Edwards? The hosts explore the resilience in the Cougars’ DNA and debate whether brighter days are ahead in Provo, both on the gridiron and hardwood. Don’t miss this comprehensive analysis of BYU’s most challenging week in recent memory, as Toll and Hatch take you inside the headlines, heartbreak, and the pursuit of redemption in the Big 12..Support Locked On Cougars:Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms and on YouTube!Join the NEW Locked On Cougars Everydayer Club by clicking here!If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubJake Hatch brings you da
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