PROVO, Utah – Former BYU football and current Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is on the sidelines while his alma mater hosts Portland State in the 2025 season-opener.
The BYU Cougars began the 2025 season by hosting the Portland State Vikings at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, August 30.
BYU vs. Portland State: Live Updates, Analysis, And More From Provo
Welcome home @AsapPuka 🤙 pic.twitter.com/1nzJQE8PaU
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 31, 2025
Nacua’s younger brother, Tei, is a redshirt freshman wide receiver with BYU.
About Puka Nacua
Before his college career, the Provo, Utah native played high school football at Orem High School. He finished his career with the Tigers as the owner of multiple state records.
After high school, the receiver attended the University of Washington and played for the Huskies for two seasons.
After the 2020 season, Nacua returned home to Provo and immediately became a star for the Cougars.
Nacua finished his BYU career with a total of 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as 39 carries for 357 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
PUKA NACUA!
📺: #BUFvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/yHduh0KtRG
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
In April 2023, the Rams selected Nacua with the No. 177 overall pick during the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Nacua finished his first season as a professional with an NFL rookie record 105 receptions for 1,486 yards. He also scored six touchdowns.
The rookie wideout received NFL All-Pro second-team honors for his play in 2023. He finished as the runner-up to C.J. Stroud for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Nacua’s sophomore campaign was plagued with injuries, but he still finished the season with 79 receptions for 990 yards and three touchdowns.
BYU Cougars 2025 Schedule (0-0, 0-0)
Saturday, August 30 – Portland State Vikings @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 6 p.m. MT
Saturday, September 6 – Stanford Cardinal @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:15 p.m. MT
BYE
Saturday, September 20 – BYU Cougars @ East Carolina Pirates | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, September 27 – BYU Cougars @ Colorado Buffaloes | Kickoff 8:15 p.m. MT
Friday, October 3 – West Virginia Mountaineers @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 11 – BYU Cougars @ Arizona Wildcats | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, October 18 – Utah Utes @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, October 25 – BYU Cougars @ Iowa State Cyclones | Kickoff TBA
BYE
Saturday, November 8 – BYU Cougars @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, November 15 – TCU Horned Frogs @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, November 22 – BYU Cougars @ Cincinnati Bearcats | Kickoff TBA
Saturday, November 29 – UCF Knights @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
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Find BYU’s entire 2025 football schedule here.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian onX,Instagram, andBlueSky at @bpreece24.