Kalani Sitake, BYU agree to long-term contract extension after heavy Penn State pursuit

Days ahead of the Big 12 Championship Game between BYU and Texas Tech, the Cougars have agreed to a long-term contract extension with coach Kalani Sitake. 

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 told CBS Sports that BYU made an aggressive push over the last 24 hours to keep Sitake home. That culminated Tuesday when BYU announced its new deal with Sitake. 

"We are excited to announce a long-term agreement to extend Kalani Sitake as BYU's head football coach," athletic director Brian Santiago said. "He is a proven leader, and we are grateful he is once again choosing BYU. His legacy of building a championship program the BYU way will continue on. He is one of the best people in the business. We are excited to continue to ride the wave of positive momentum with him."

All of this came 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 11th-ranked Cougars (11-1) remain a strong College Football Playoff contender and would clinch a spot in the 12-team bracket with a win over No. 4 Texas Tech on Saturday. 

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. 

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But the BYU donor base has deep pockets, including Crumbl founder Jason McGowan, and they rallied to keep Sitake, an alumnus of the program, for the foreseeable future. 

"I am humbled and full of gratitude for the outpouring of love from BYU fans and the trust and support provided to our football program by our university leadership," Sitake said. "I'm thankful to President Shane Reese, Vice President Keith Vorkink and our Athletic Director Brian Santiago and his leadership team for the confidence they continue to place in me to lead our program and to take care of our players, coaches and staff. This is good for the stability and future of BYU football. I'm excited about our 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.