Episode
NIL SHORTAGE: BYU Baseball’s Program AT-RISK—How a Lack of Investment is HURTING Program's Fortunes
- Published
- May 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 525
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-cougars/
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Summary
The BYU Cougars and Utah Utes baseball and softball programs are reaching a turning point as financial realities and shifting priorities could threaten their future. Jake Hatch and Drake Toll spotlight how, despite top-tier facilities like Miller Park and Gail Miller Field, BYU and Utah lag behind Big 12 powerhouses—especially Texas Tech, where targeted $2 million donations have reinvigorated the Red Raiders' softball program. The episode unpacks why, with significant athletic department resources and passionate fan bases, these programs remain stuck “behind the eight ball,” citing the absence of dedicated boosters and the overwhelming focus on revenue-driven sports like football and men’s basketball. The discussion highlights BYU's proud baseball tradition, boasting decorated alumni such as Cy Young award winner Jack Morris, and a decade-long stretch of softball postseason berths. Yet history and infrastructure only go so far when NIL funding is minimal and administrative emphasis is wavering. Hatch reveals insider knowledge, including his wife’s experience as a four-year BYU softball letter winner, emphasizing that success could be within reach if investment matched enthusiasm. Conversely, Utah’s lack of baseball tradition and spotty results raise difficult questions about how to compete in a changing Big 12 landscape, especially given the demands of cold-weather competition and new conference adversaries. Jake and Drake draw attention to a national trend—universities like Arkansas, Iowa State, and Wichita State have already begun eliminating non-revenue sports as resources funnel ever more toward football and men’s basketball. The episode explores the possibility that either BYU or Utah may eventually walk away from baseball or softball, particularly if the broader…