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BYU Cougars aim to bounce back after first season loss | BYUI Radio

BYU-Idaho Radio · BYU Cougars aim to bounce back after first loss of the season

After a hot 8-0 start to the 2025-2026 college football season, the BYU Cougars got their first taste of defeat last week against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. This week, the Cougars play the Horned Frogs of TCU in what seems to be a must-win game if BYU wants to have a chance in the College Football Playoff.

Last week's game was brutal, with BYU taking the 29-7 loss to the Red Raiders. The Cougars were held to a scoreless first half - the only game this season where BYU hadn't scored in the first half.

Texas Tech led BYU in nearly every category. They had more passing yards, more rushing yards, more first downs and forced three BYU turnovers.

The loss was ugly, and one that Cougar Nation would like to forget. They now drop to 8-1 on the season, but head coach Kilani Sitake said the game was a big learning opportunity for his guys.

"We'll definitely learn from the game. I've said it before - stay humble and stay hungry," Sitake said on Monday when addressing the media. "Unfortunately, when you experience a loss like this, it makes it easier to be humble and hungry. We'll bank on that, and we'll also bank on the opportunity that we can still learn from it, and we can still play better football."

Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick made it very clear: BYU did not play well.

"Tough day in the office for sure. We did not play well," Roderick said. "So yeah, it was a really tough day. We played poorly and we're just trying to put it behind us and move on now."

True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier struggled last week against a very strong, very tough Texas Tech defensive line. But he says he focused on the week ahead and is not dwelling on the past, something his older brother, Hank, has been talking to him about.

"The true test of a man and a football team is how you bounce back from adversity," Bachmeier said. "He's just been telling me that. He's got some great experiences with that and, yeah, I mean we just got to bounce back and obviously learn from it and grow."

BYU is suiting up against the TCU Horned Frogs this week. Historically, TCU leads the series 7-5, with the Horned Frogs winning the last five meetings.

The last time the two programs met, back in 2023, TCU demolished the Cougars 44-11.

"This isn't going to be easy," Sitake said. "It didn't go well for us a couple of years ago, and we remember that. So, we're going to have to find ways to be better than we were against them the first time around. And we get to have them at home, which is going to be helpful for us."

The BYU Cougars host the TCU Horned Frogs tomorrow night at LaVell Edwards Stadium for a Big 12 Conference clash. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. The game will be streamed at The Crossroads in the Manwaring Center at BYU-Idaho.

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BYU-Idaho celebrates first week with First Friday event | BYUI Radio

Students have fun during the 1st Friday dance. | Courtesy Photos

Abby Kottkey

BYU-Idaho Radio · BYU-Idaho Gearing up for Spring 2025 First Friday Event

REXBURG - Do you drive too slow, or chew your food too loudly? These quirky characteristics and other 'toxic traits' on campus will be celebrated as the theme of BYU-Idaho's First Friday event at the Hart Auditorium.

"We're doing red flags or 'my toxic trait ... We're encouraging people to wear red and then display their toxic trait. Disclaimer--we want everyone to be kind, this is meant to be a funny thing," BYU - Idaho's Campus Life Event Coordinator Abby Kottkey says.

Kottkey suggests that having a theme enhances the energy and participation at these types of events.

"We've found that people really love dressing up and having some kind of dress code," Kottkey says.

First Friday is one of the first activities of each semester. Tonight, students are gearing up for a night of showcasing their character flaws in a charismatic and sarcastic way, along with dancing, fun, and food.

First Friday celebration at BYU-Idaho

Abby Kottkey

"Just like in the title, it's the first Friday, it's the chance for students to celebrate surviving their first week of school. We get a professional DJ. He's awesome ... It's just like a big party," Kottkey says.

Kottkey says every semester's planners try to mix up First Friday's offerings. The activities depend on the size of the semester and the student population.

"We've been trying to change it up so it's not just a repeat of I-Night. We have I-Night every semester and First Friday, and we're trying not to have the same event a week apart," Kottkey says.

"We've gotten feedback from students that they like having just a social atmosphere where they can come and do their own thing," Kottkey says.

Campus Life offers something for students to be engaged in weekly, and there is plenty to look forward to this semester. Kottkey says there will be new activities like a Midnight Breakfast and a Mr. BYU-Idaho pageant, potentially.

"We do a ton every semester. We have weekly events that happen every night throughout the semester," Kottkey says. "There's a lot going on for this semester, we have Date Night of course,e that's become a really popular event. I'm really excited, we have some new things for this semester that I'm excited for people to see, and a few other new events that we're trying to get up and running."

To attend First Friday, register at byui.evenue.net or follow campus life events on Instagram.
BYU signs record-breaking recruiting class on early signing day

BYU-Idaho Radio · BYU lands elite talent with the highest-ranked class ever

BYU football and Head Coach Kalani Sitake announced 19 new high school signees on the first day of the December early signing period.

On Wednesday, 19 recruits made their BYU commitment official by signing with the program.

"I'm excited about the type of playmakers that we brought on the program, and I mean a lot of them we already knew about and so we are really fired up about the talent that's coming in and the fit they are to our program," Sitake said.

More signees may be announced later, but these 19 players represent the top-ranked recruiting class in school history, coming in at No. 20 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12, according to a news release from BYU football.

The class includes 10 offensive players and nine defensive players, hailing from various parts of the country.

Headlining the entire class is quarterback Ryder Lyons. He is one of the highest rated recruits in the history of the program and the top ranked recruit under the direction of Sitake. He was the California Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 and was ranked No. 35 on ESPN's Top 300 Recruits.

Lyons gave cougar fans a scare, initially stating he wouldn't be signing on Wednesday. He ended up signing later in the day, giving BYU an elite quarterback room to work with in Lyons and Bachmeier.

"It's not a negative. I mean if anything it's positive," said Offensive Coordinator Aaron Roderick. "Most quarterbacks want to go to a place where there's been a history of good quarterback play, especially in recent history. So, I haven't had anybody say, 'I don't want to, I'm not interested in BYU because you're starting a freshman.' That has not come up yet."

More recruits will be signed during the offseason in February, but BYU seems to be in good position to be national competitors for several years to come.

"The sky's the limit for this class," Sitake said. "We can do some really great things with it. I feel like we've got a great thing going, we just need to keep adding to the system, and these guys fit exactly what we're looking for - on and off the field."

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Country Star Walker Hayes shares about faith, family, love for music

Walker Hayes | Facebook

Walker Hayes | Facebook

BYU-Idaho Radio · Country Star, Walker Hayes, shares about faith, family and his love for music.

He's a native of Mobile, Alabama, a family man, and a lover of all things Applebee's, at least that's what we gather from his popular song, 'Fancy Like.'

45-year-old country star Walker Hayes, more recently known for songs like AA, and chart topper 'Fancy Like,' has been pursuing music for 21 years-- and after writing over 2,000 songs, that pursuit is something he's still hungry for.

"I swear, even driving in today, I'm just as excited to walk into this room that I'm about to walk into and chase down this song with my friends, and just try to do something great," Hayes says.

Hayes says he's always trying to 'lasso' a good song, and impressing his manager (Rob) is well... near impossible.

"I know--I know, history tells me that there's a 99.999 pi chance that Rob's gonna go, 'I don't know man, like, it's not that great,' but I'm going to try, I just want to try," Hayes says.

Hayes expresses gratitude to God for putting the love of music inside of him.

"I'm just grateful, so grateful that God wired me to where my favorite song is the one I'm working on right this minute," Hayes says.

While Hayes has gotten more comfortable talking about his faith, his walk with God hasn't been long. During our interview, Hayes got more vulnerable and said his true testimony began after one of the greatest tragedies of his life--losing his daughter Oakleigh at birth in 2018. He says, holding his perfect infant, pointed to what was eternal.

"Through that grieving process, I began to see my need for a Savior," Hayes says.

Now Hayes says he's a new man, and unlike before, he shows up wanting to connect with family and friends more than he ever has.

"I crave friendship beyond work relationships, I crave family," Hayes says.

Hayes is humbled and appreciative of the support of his fans and says those who connect with his music are like his new friends.

"We need to just be silly and dance and say Applebee's over and over," Hayes says. "That's kind of how I feel at my shows, you know, that I'm standing in the living room with some like-minded people."

You can see Walker Hayes perform live at BYU-Idaho this Friday at 7:30 p.m. You can get tickets online at the BYU-Idaho Ticket Office.
Fresco transforms ghost kitchen into new restaurant

Fresco logo

Fresco Kitchen and Grill

BYU-Idaho Radio · Fresco to transform ghost kitchen into new restaurant

Fresco Kitchen and Grill in Rexburg has been making pizzas, burgers, pasta, and other favorites since 2017. Now, the locally owned restaurant is growing in perhaps an unexpected way.

In the back of the restaurant is another restaurant--a ghost kitchen called Doorzza, which delivers pizza with free delivery throughout Rexburg. It started six years ago, and now, with the help of Fresco, the pizza restaurant is building its own location in Rexburg.

 "It's really exciting that we have had such good support from the community, such good support from the college students, that we, not only do we want to have our own building, but we need to have our own building," said Matt Pyles, co-founder of Fresco and manager of Doorzza. "We are so busy on the weekends that we can't handle the capacity and the demand that is happening."

Pyles says that with the change, Fresco will be able to have more items on the menus. This also gives Doorzza a chance to become its own company instead of a ghost kitchen inside Fresco. Pyles expects its new location to open as soon as next March.

"Actually, we originally wanted it to be open this year, but as we started building, we need to make a few adjustments and changes to the building," Pyles said. "And so, it's looking like March. We would love to have it open, right before graduation, just like we opened up Fresco, the week of graduation in April. We're hoping to have it open a little bit earlier. But it seems like it'll be a great time for the community**.**"

Fresco will still operate out of its main location at 1181 S. Yellowstone Highway, while the new Doorzza location will be between Chipotle and the McDonald's on University Blvd. in Rexburg. To learn more about both companies or order food, go to frescokitchengrill.com or doorzza.com. Also, be sure to check out the Fresco Facebook page for future updates.
Giving Machines make their final stop in Idaho Falls

Jeff Roper talks to the audience ahead of the ribbon-cutting for the Light the World Giving Machines at the Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls.

Hannah Haneberg

BYU-Idaho Radio · Turning a vending machine into romance

For the first time, the Light the World Giving Machines have made their way to Idaho Falls.

The machines had a ribbon-cutting in the Grand Teton Mall Monday in front of Dick's Sporting Goods, marking their last stop in Eastern Idaho, where they will stay through New Year's Day.

The machines are full of items that will help communities around the world as well as local charities in Idaho Falls.

These charities include:

-The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center

-Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP)

-The Village

-The Idaho Falls Branch Community Food Basket

-Friends in Service Here (FISH)

-Idaho Falls rescue mission

Jacque Burt, who helps run The Village with the Idaho Foster and Adopted Parent Association, is excited to have the extra support over the holidays.

"It's going to exponentially bless the lives of many children, many, because, you know, that's the things they purchase a day we won't have to ask for tomorrow," Burt said. "So, it'll really going into the new year, we'll be able to provide these items for these children without having to ask. It'll just be there, and it'll be ready to go."

Fifth grade students at Rimrock Elementary School were challenged by their teachers to earn $15 each to donate to the machine, so combined, they would be able to purchase everything in the machine--otherwise known as a 777 donation.

Through babysitting, snow removal and some creative odd jobs, they ended up with double their goal.

"I'd have to say it's one of the best things we've ever done in our teaching career to watch them earn the money," said Deridee Brooks, one of the teachers. "And they were getting so excited about it that one student earned $239. Another student earned $75.25 and they actually contributed that 25 cents. So, to watch them like earn and it just humbled our hearts to see it. It was really a great experience.

The machines are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. To learn more about the machines in Eastern Idaho, visit the Giving Machine East Idaho website.

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Local author and math teacher reflects on new book

"Shaken" by Jeff Downs

Jack Esplin

BYU-Idaho Radio · Local author and math teacher reflects on new book

When Jeff Downs isn't hard at work teaching math to students at Madison Junior High School, he's writing his latest novel. His newest release titled "Shaken" came out in July, and he says it symbolizes a lot more to him than just a good idea and hard work.

"Shaken" is about a man who has a bad relationship with his father. One day he leaves his dad's house after an argument. Shortly after leaving, an earthquake hits, putting the man in danger and making him want to return to his father to make things right. He encounters dangerous side quests and meets a religious girl along that way who helps him in his journey.

Downs says this story took 20 years to write.

"Little did I know that my family would be facing a major health crisis in these last several months and many of the themes my younger self was writing about all those years ago, my family needed to be reminded about today," Downs said.

While Downs began writing the book about two decades ago, he stopped because the publishing company he was working with at the time let him go. Downs saw that as a blessing and has used the last 20 years to focus on his family.

"Note the beauty of all this. I wrote it for my children, put it aside for the benefit of my children and now my children and I are finishing creating it together, and you can't tell me God's not in the details there," Downs said. "I've had the experience of publishing in the past and then I'm revisiting it one more time, and this time involving all my kids."

"Shaken" is the sixth book Downs has written and published.

Downs is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has always stayed true to the way he writes and the audience he writes for.

"I try to weave in gospel-related themes in subtle ways to try to lift and inspire," Downs said. "Over the years, some people have encouraged me to rip out some of those gospel themes so I can sell more or reach a broader audience, but my target audience has always been my kids and my grandchildren. I want to unapologetically share my testimony through my writing. I don't back away from the gospel themes; I lean into them. I think that's more important now than ever."

You can find "Shaken" on Amazon or on Downs' website.

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Local ballet studio honors Mexican heritage

Ballet Folklorico Heritage in Rexburg

Mariana Vitali

BYU-Idaho Radio · Ballet Folklorico Heritage: Dance studio that honors Mexican heritage

Ballet Folklorico Heritage in Rexburg isn't your typical dance studio.

Not only does it teach dance and movement, but it offers traditional Mexican and Hawaiian dancing along with instruction on Native American traditions.

Mariana Vitali is the director of the nonprofit organization. She moved from Mexico City to Rexburg with her friend Claudia, and they missed their Mexican traditions so much, they wanted to introduce them to Rexburg.

Vitali says they decided to create the studio to help their children learn how to honor their heritage.

"Not only to learn traditional Mexican dancing, but also to learn about beautiful cultures that are part of American society that we don't see here in Rexburg," Vitali said.

Vitali originally learned dance while growing up through the school curriculum in Mexico.

Vitali says the most rewarding part of running the studio is how students and their families react to the dances.

"After seeing the dances and being embraced by their families, the kids just feel so happy that they're able to share their culture and bring it here to Idaho," Vitali said. "It really makes them proud of their roots and their heritage."

The ultimate goal of the studio isn't complicated.

"I would love for it to grow and for the kids to explore the world through the art of dance," Vitali said.

Everyone is welcome at Ballet Folklorico Heritage.

"We want to invite everybody to come learn and embrace the beauty of diverse cultures," Vitali said. "There's so much more beyond food. We have so much more to tell when it comes to our stories, and a lot of them are told through dance."

For more information, you can follow the organization at @balletfolkloricoheritage on Instagram, or go to Ballet Folklorico's website.

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Local dentist office collecting toys for children in need

Family First Dental's 1000 Smiles Project

William Stout

BYU-Idaho Radio · Local dentist office collecting toys for children in need

Family First Dental in Rexburg officially opened in October 2025. Since then, it has strived to make a positive impact on the community, and its current initiative continues that mission.

The 1,000 Smiles Project is a mission to collect and donate toys to children in need. Anyone can go to Family First Dental's office and drop off new, unwrapped toys now until Dec. 18. Each toy donated is one entry into a giveaway where five winners will be selected to receive free dental care for an entire year.

Dr. William Stout is the lead dentist at Family First Dental, who says the inspiration to do the project came suddenly.

"I was woken up in the middle of the night and given the idea that if I wanted to create a culture that is meaningful, this is how I'm going to do it," Stout said. "That night the 1,000-smile project was born. This idea of giving back to the community and creating smiles."

Stout first introduced the project in the Tri-Cities area in Washington, but this is the first time it has happened in Rexburg.

He says the enriching influence of the project affects all involved.

"It really does have an effect on families and on those that participate in it too," Stout said. "For those families who really need dental work but can't afford it, what a huge blessing it is to them to get needed dental work done that they've been putting off for years. It's made a huge difference for them."

Although this is only the second time, Stout says the project has been special.

"We were able to hand these gifts to the children and their families and see the smiles on their faces and how excited they were," Stout said. "Many of these families can't afford food, let alone gifts for Christmas. It's super special."

Anyone can participate and make donations, not just clients.

"This is a great opportunity to give back to the community, give to families who need it, to love your neighbor and do good in our community."

Family First Dental is located on East Moody Rd. near Walmart. For more information, visit the Family First Dental website.

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Mrs. Rexburg 2026 to teach marriage class to begin new year

Jessica Pearson, Mrs. Rexburg 2026

Jessica Pearson

BYU-Idaho Radio · Mrs. Rexburg 2026 to teach marriage class to begin new year

Mrs. Rexburg for 2026, Jessica Pearson, will teach a class for married couples in the new year.

Pearson is a marriage and parent educator. She is teaching a one-hour class titled "Level Up Your Marriage" to help couples start 2026 on the right foot.

Pearson was born and raised in Rexburg, and she graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in Marriage and Family studies.

"I loved BYU-Idaho, it's the best," Pearson said. "While I was at school, I also got a certificate to be a marriage and parent educator, and I just grew a passion for marriage and for families and the importance that they have in society."

Pearson applied to enter the Mrs. America Pageant to get her message on the importance of marriage and family out to the world. She will compete for the title of Mrs. Idaho America in Boise in February. Then if she wins that, she'll move on to the final competition for Mrs. America.

Pearson's personal experiences have inspired her mission.

"When my husband and I got married, we had a little bit of a different experience," Pearson said. "We fought a lot more than I'd like to admit. I wanted a happy, strong marriage. It was really tough, but we worked and worked and worked, and we are so happy now. I like back and think, 'What if I would have given up?' It makes me want to help as many people as I can."

She says the title of Mrs. Rexburg has brought her a greater platform and voice to share her message with more and more people.

"My hope is to get these couples to the point where they're intentional about their marriage," Pearson said. "I hope that I can get these tools out to as many people as possible so they can have stronger marriages, and those strong marriages will make strong families, and in the end, that's a strong community for all of us."

Pearson says it will be a beneficial night for those who attend.

"Come, you won't regret it," Pearson said. "You'll have an hour of learning and hopefully inspiration that you can take with you for the rest of your life."

The class will be held Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 7 p.m. above the Medicine Shoppe in the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce building. Admission is free, and seats are limited.

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