Arizona State · W 27-20
9 tackles, 1 for loss
The other 7 games average 5 tackles. This one was 4 above.
“After blocking a FG last week, Satuala recovers a clutch onside kick today. He's not just one of our best defenders, he's one of our best special teamers too.”
4 stories in the last 60 days, from 3 outlets.
Faletau Satuala
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. Third year in the same secondary at BYU. The first one came in 2025: All-Big 12. One game to point at: 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss against Arizona State — Week 9, 2026.
43 tackles · 0 sacks
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
Activity vs finishing · season enumeration
What the box score actually says
43 tackles. 2 passes defended. 1 interception. 3 TFL.
Counts only, never a rate — splash-event sample sizes this small (interceptions, pass breakups, TFL) are noise as a rate and signal only as a tally.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 3 outlets
How BYU’s Faletau Satuala returned quickly from a foot injury that required surgery on June 5
Deseret News Oct 2 · 1 outlet
from 5 outlets
Faletau Satuala claims Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week vs. TCU
BYU Cougars Wire Oct 5 · 1 outlet
BYU AthleticsFaletau Satuala named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch ListAug 12
Sports IllustratedBYU AthleticsEach week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Faletau Satuala vs Arizona.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Last game (Wk 9): 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 63-7vs Utah Tech | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 28-17vs Arizona | 7 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | W 41-23@ Colorado State | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | W 17-10@ TCU | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 6 | W 24-10vs Iowa State | 7 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 7 | W 28-24vs No. 2 Notre Dame | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 8 | L 31-39@ UCF | 6 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 27-20vs Arizona State | 9 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 9 tackles |
| Total | 43 | 24 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 |
Oct. 31 · W 27-20 vs Arizona State, play by play
9 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 8 of his 9, sacks included.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 3 tackles for loss, in the 8 games with play by play.
How BYU’s defense played that day
Arizona State’s 11 drives: 7 stopped (1 takeaway) · 4 scored. While the game was within a score they held 5 of 7.
6 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles, including 1 pass broken up.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
7 tackles, including 1 pass broken up. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. It places 8 for him; the box score credits 7.
4 tackles, including 1 more for loss, 1 interception. His interception on 4th and 4 ended TCU’s drive (int).
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Intercepted on 4th and 4. Second quarter, tied 0-0. Ended TCU’s drive (int).
4 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
7 tackles, including 1 more for loss.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play: 6 of his 7, sacks included.
1 tackle.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Week 5 · 2026
W 17-10
at TCU
1 interception · 1 tackle for loss · 4 tackles
A close one, won by 7 on the road.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -8 to +25 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
5%2 pass breakupsInterceptions
1interceptionsTackle volume
43tackles this seasonTFL rate
7%3 TFL43 tackles · 3 for loss · 2 pass breakups · 1 interception.
3 seasons under Kalani Sitake — 30-5 over that span.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 5.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Road3g | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 7.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kalani Sitake
Pass share
47.3%
248 pass / 276 run
Plays / game
65.5
8 games
Team sack rate
2.6%
230 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Balanced.
Player standing · 2025
Picked for an all-conference team by at least one selector.
Recognition
2026 outlook
In the mix to repeat All-Big 12
Based on 2025: #3 of 40 Big 12 Ss
A base rate for the rank, not a forecast of this player: 49% of returning players who ranked #1–3 at their position in their conference made an all-conference team the next season (95% confidence interval 43–54%).
2026 is in progress.
A blue-chip recruit with honors.
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-BIG 12
All-Big 12 mention (2025)
Weekly recognition
1 weekly honor (2025)
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coachPlayed every college season under Kalani Sitake.
