BYU great Steve Young tells OutKick in a recent interview that the honor code and culture built by head coach Kalani Sitake have been strengths for the university. "How is BYU gonna do this, right? How in the world?" That was the question NFL legend and BYU great Steve Young had when name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation transformed college football in 2021. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom. Instead? It’s been the opposite. Since 2021, BYU is tied with Boise State for the ninth-most wins in college football. The Cougars are currently No. 7 in the AP poll and reached No. 2 after beating Notre Dame. With a win over No. 3 Utah in the Holy War on Saturday, BYU has an opportunity to once again reach the top of the polls. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Steve Young takes a photo before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Getty Images) NIL didn’t shut BYU out but instead gave the school an opportunity to get into the recruiting game. "I'm not throwing anyone under the bus," BYU Vice President of Advancement Keith Vorkink told OutKick. "But there's rumored payment of players long before NIL. We're a university that does our best to adhere to whatever the policies are at the time. We're grateful for the avenue that opened up for us to participate in that space and do so in compliance." But how does BYU, a private university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah, assimilate into the NIL world without losing the institution's core values? Simply, the school doesn't stray from the culture that makes BYU what it is. "Our work was to figure out our play in the NIL space, but in doing so to never displace the primary role of our mission. Our football coach, as an example, Kalani Satake embraces the distinctive role of the university and the athletic department. We want student athletes coming because of, for example, in football, the culture that Kalani brings to that that aligns to the university and the church," Vorkink said. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake talks with defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW! Vorkink said BYU doesn’t want to lead the NIL market. The school wants students to come for the culture, not primarily for the money. Young praised Sitake for building such a strong culture despite college football being littered with players who want to play for top dollar and nothing more. "It's hard to build affinity," Young told OutKick in a recent interview. "And that's why I say what Kalani's done is what is, I think, impossible, nearly, I think he is doing it, so it's not impossible. He's doing it in a really complex environment that works away from affinity, works away from spirit of abundance." "Right now, it's a zero-sum game, right? It's, I'm a mercenary and just pay me. And, and he's built something. He's like, oh, no, we recognize you need to be paid. We recognize that this is part of the system, but can we put that aside, take care of that, and now build something that is unified." The culture at BYU has resonated with some of its star players. Vorkink said five-star freshman small forward Bruce Branch and star quarterback Bear Bachmeier could have left for more money but chose to stay. Vorkink said NIL and the ability to compensate players have allowed the school to recruit athletes it might not have been able to recruit before, including students who aren't members of the faith but find their way to campus and thrive. He mentioned 2026 NBA Draft No. 1 overall
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