McCae Hillstead News, Rumors, Updates - BYU Cougars

Announced as starter Hillstead has been announced as the starting quarterback for Utah State for the 2026-27 season, per the team's official X account.

Impact Hillstead will take over as QB1 for the Aggies heading into 2026-27 season. The 5-foot-10 junior transferred in from BYU in the off-season, where he appeared in four games in 2025, completing four-of-five passing attempts for 33 scoreless yards while adding 28 rushing yards. Hillstead was competing for the starting gig with Grady Brosterhous, who appears set to serve as the primary backup heading into the season.

APRIL 23 • ROTOWIRE

Leading race for QB1 role Hillstead is the frontrunner to open the 2025 season as Utah State's starting quarterback, according to Jason Walker of the Cache Valley Daily.

Impact Hillstead is competing with Grady Brosterhous for the starting role under center. A decision on the QB1 is expected by Monday, according to head coach Bronco Mendenhall, and all signs point to Hillstead earning the gig. He completed 94 of 158 passes for 1,062 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the Aggies in the 2025 season.

APRIL 18 • ROTOWIRE

Returning to Utah State Hillstead is transferring back to Utah State, he announced viahis personal X account.

Impact Hillstead will return to Utah State after spending the 2025 season as BYU's backup quarterback. In 2024 with Utah State he completed 94 of 158 passes for 1,062 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He figures to compete for the starting job in his return to Logan.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Bear Bachmeier to become first BYU true freshman to start a season at quarterback

Bear Bachmeier will be the first true freshman to start a season at quarterback in BYU history

AUGUST 19, 2025 • Associated Press

Not named starting QB Hillstead will not be the Cougars' starting quarterback for their game Saturday against Portland State, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports.

Impact For the 2025 Cougars' first game, their starting quarterback is Bear Bachmeier. Since the summer, he and Hillstead competed for QB1 duties. Having outlasted Treyson Bourguet, the latter will be backup until further notice, likely until Bachmeier shows benchable struggles.

AUGUST 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

BYU looking to keep momentum building after unexpected quarterback competition

BYU entered the offseason with questions at receiver, cornerback, defensive line and kick returning

AUGUST 18, 2025 • Associated Press

Falling behind in competition Hillstead is falling behind in the starting quarterback race with Bear Bachmeier trending towards becoming the QB1, On3 Sports reports.

Impact Hillstead has been in a two-man competition for the Cougars' leading role, but it appears he's being outplayed by Bachmeier with a little over two weeks until the team's season opener. The starting quarterback hasn't been named yet, but it's trending the wrong way for Hillstead at this point.

AUGUST 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Down to two-man QB competition Hillstead and Bear Bachmeier will compete to be the Cougars' starting quarterback, BYU announcer Greg Wrubell reports.

Impact Jake Retzlaff departing BYU opened up a three-man competition at quarterback, with Hillstead and Bachmeier among the three. The other was Treyson Bourguet, but BYU's offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick made it clear that the QB1 will come down to Hillstead and Bachmeier. In terms of experience, the former wins out, having logged 1,062 passing yards and 11 touchdowns for Utah State's 2023 team.

AUGUST 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

BYU looking to fill unexpected hole at quarterback after Jake Retzlaff's offseason departure

BYU is unexpectedly searching for a new starting quarterback as the Cougars try to contend for a Big 12 title again this season

AUGUST 4, 2025 • Associated Press

BYU coach Kalani Sitake avoids comment on QB Jake Retzlaff's status amid transfer rumors

BYU coach Kalani Sitake is not directly addressing the status of Jake Retzlaff amid reports that the quarterback is transferring after being accused of sexual assault in a civil la...

JULY 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Will compete for starting gig Hillstead is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job following the departure of Jake Retzlaff, per Pete Nakos of On3.com.

Impact Hillstead will compete for the starting gig after the news of Retzlaff's entry into the transfer portal following a civil lawsuit. The 5-foot-10 signal caller is expected to be part of a three-man competition along with Treyson Bourguet and Bear Bachmeier. Hillstead bring a level of experience to the roster as he previously threw for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns to eight inerceptions across eight games for Utah State in 2023 before transferring to BYU.

JUNE 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Where Transfer McCae Hillstead Fits Into the BYU Quarterback Competition On Thursday, Utah State transfer quarterback McCae Hillstead committed to BYU. Hillstead, who prepped down the road from BYU at Skyridge Hig...

APRIL 26, 2024 • SI.COM

DNP at New Mexico Hillstead (ankle) did not play during Utah State's game Friday at New Mexico.

Impact Utah State resorted to just using Levi Williams as the team's starting quarterback Friday. Now, Hillstead's next opportunity to play would be a bowl game not yet scheduled for the Aggies.

NOVEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Day-to-day ahead of game Hillstead (ankle) is considered day-to-day, The Aggship reports.

Impact Hillstead came in to spell Cooper Legas who went down with a shoulder injury. Hillstead then went down a quarter later with an ankle injury and left Levi Williams behind center. Both Hillstead and Legas are day-to-day and the team will want to see more in practice before determining their status for the regular-season finale against New Mexico on Friday.

NOVEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Re-injures ankle Hillstead (ankle) re-injured his ankle during Saturday's game against Boise State, Trent Wood of the Deseret News reports.

Impact Hillstead exited Saturday's game in the third quarter following a sack. The ankle is the same one the senior quarterback previously injured against San Diego State. The severity of the injury is still unknown, and Hillstead will hope to be available for the Aggies' season finale against New Mexico.

NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers undisclosed injury Hillstead completed 12 passes for 62 yards before suffering an undisclosed injury Saturday at San Diego State, according to The Aggship.

Impact Hillstead required some medical attention after the last of his seven carries Saturday. He was replaced by Cooper Legas, who completed 11 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. As of Sunday, Hillstead's availability status remains uncertain. More should be known about it before the Aggies are scheduled to hosts Nevada on Nov. 11.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tosses two scores and two picks Hillstead (concussion) was 17-for-29 passing for 160 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions during Saturday's 42-21 loss against San Jose State. He also had eight rushes for 1...

Impact Hillstead was expected to be available Saturday and that was the case, but he didn't have his best outing. Despite back-to-back 300-yard passing efforts from Cooper Legas in the last two games in which he started, it's Hillstead who will retake the reins under center going forward.

OCTOBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set to start Saturday Hillstead (concussion) will start under center Saturday versus San Jose State, Scotty Garrard of 1280 KSL Sports Zone reports.

Impact Hillstead was expected to be available Saturday, and it appears that will indeed be the case. Despite back-to-back 300-yard passing efforts from Cooper Legas in the last two games, it's Hillstead who will retake the reins under center Saturday.

OCTOBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Likely available Saturday Utah State coach ben Anderson (concussion) said Tuesday that Hillstead is expected to be healthy for Saturday's game versus San Jose State.

Impact Hillstead has missed Utah State's last two games due to a concussion. While Hillstead is expected to be available, Cooper Legas could still get the starting nod at quarterback Saturday.

OCTOBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MCCAE HILLSTEAD NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

Bear Bachmeier to become first BYU true freshman to start a season at quarterback

BYU looking to keep momentum building after unexpected quarterback competition

BYU looking to fill unexpected hole at quarterback after Jake Retzlaff's offseason departure

BYU coach Kalani Sitake avoids comment on QB Jake Retzlaff's status amid transfer rumors