Days ahead of the Big 12 Championship Game between BYU and Texas Tech, it appears the Cougars are in the process of locking in a deal with coach Kalani Sitake, CBS Sports reports.
Sitake emerged as the target of Penn State’s search on Monday, per multiple sources. He was offered by the Nittany Lions and momentum seemed to be trending toward the 50-year-old taking the Penn State job. However, sources tell CBS Sports that BYU made an aggressive push over the last 24 hours to keep Sitake home.
All of this comes to a head the day before the start of the early signing period and just a few days out from BYU’s first appearance in the Big 12 title game. The Cougars (11-1) remain a strong playoff contender and would clinch a spot in the 12-team bracket with a win over Texas Tech.
Amid all the Penn State discourse that emerged Monday, Sitake met with his team, per a source. He didn’t shoot down the Penn State rumors in that meeting.
Penn State’s cookie problem: Crumbl CEO, other BYU donors make push to keep Kalani Sitake in Provo
Robby Kalland
But the Cougars donor base has deep pockets, including Crumbl founder Jason McGowan, and they’re rallying to keep Sitake, an alumnus of the program, around for the foreseeable future.
Sitake is in Year 10 with the Cougars and has a 83-44 overall record with the school. He helped BYU navigate the transition to the Big 12 in 2023. The Cougars are 22-3 over the last two seasons.
Penn State’s coaching search has been a labored and secretive process, with a wide range of candidates rumored. Coaches who have been linked with the process include those like Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Nebraska’s Matt Rhule. All three have received contract extensions since the job opened. Interim head coach Terry Smith has also been a factor in the search.
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