BYU’s Kalani Sitake addresses reported Penn State interest
Dec 1, 2025, 5:41 PM | Updated: 5:42 pm
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake speaks during Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (LM Otero, Asociated Press)
(LM Otero, Asociated Press)
PROVO — Reports are emerging that BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake is having talks with Penn State about their head coach vacancy.
FootballScoop.com reported on Monday that Sitake and Penn State are “continuing to discuss the Nittany Lions’ head football coaching vacancy.”
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, when asked about the report by @FootballScoop that he and Penn State continue to discuss the Nittany Lions coaching vacancy:
“I think I already commented on it before. I’m all about the Big 12 Championship and keeping our team focused on that. We’re… https://t.co/ZR5Af2MtfD
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 1, 2025
Kalani Sitake on the reported Penn State interest
Moments after that report, Sitake hopped on a Zoom call with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire to discuss the Big 12 football championship game this Saturday in Arlington. However, most of the questions for Sitake were tied to the reported Penn State interest.
When asked directly for comment by KSL Sports about the Football Scoop report, Sitake said, “I think I already commented on it before. I’m all about the Big 12 Championship and keeping our team focused on that, so we’re going to avoid all of the distractions.”
The comment that occurred “before” that question was in reference to Sitake’s first answer from a media member when asked in general about coaching rumors and how he addresses that with his team.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, when asked a general question on how he addresses coaching rumors with his team. pic.twitter.com/hEDzcIvcSp
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 1, 2025
“Well, I have to address it, because the world is small now, and people can stuff on social media and everything and so, you guys do a great job at covering things. So, yeah, I’ll address it (with the team). They’re used to me saying, ‘Hey, this is a good sign, you know, that things are going well for us.’ But I will say that this isn’t about me. What I’ve asked our team to do is to be focused on what we’re trying to accomplish. There are marks of finishers, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to finish the season the right way and get after and it’s required of us to be at our best to play against Texas Tech.
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“So as we go through this week and go through the prep, I also want them to live through all of the moments and have the great experience and now waste a moment thinking about anything else. So I’ve asked our team to be focused on what we can control, and that’s right now, what we can control what we’re doing as a team and not worry about all of the distraction. This is a great distraction to have, let’s be honest, but you know, right now we need to be focused on making sure that we’re giving our best shot in this game against Texas Tech.”
Kalani Sitake is in his 10th season as BYU’s head coach. Sitake played at BYU under former legendary head coach LaVell Edwards. Since taking over in 2016 as BYU’s head coach, Sitake has posted a record of 83-44.
Since the 2024 season, BYU is the winningest program in the Big 12 with a record of 22-3.
No. 11 BYU vs. No. 5 Texas Tech
2025 Big 12 Football Championship Game
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MST)
TV: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
