No. 14 BYU secured a commanding 63-7 victory over Utah Tech on Saturday night, Sept. 5, to open the 2026 football season at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars' offense with three touchdown passes and a rushing score, while true freshman Legend Glasker recorded three touchdowns to fuel the decisive win.
Cougar Offensive Dominance
The Cougars' offensive surge was marked by a historic display of ground production. For the first time in 30 seasons, five different BYU players recorded rushing touchdowns: Legend Glasker, Devaughn Eka, Preston Rex, Journee Tonga, and Bachmeier. The team finished the game with 308 rushing yards, with 11 different players contributing to the total on the ground. Senior running back LJ Martin, the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, started the game and finished with 54 yards on seven carries.
Bachmeier Leads Attack
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 16 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns during the matchup. Bachmeier also added a 13-yard rushing touchdown, a performance that contributed to BYU's 521 yards of total offense. In the second half, quarterbacks Treyson Bourget and Enoch Watson also made appearances for the Cougars.
Freshman Impact
True freshman Legend Glasker, a Lehi, Utah, native, made an immediate impact by scoring three touchdowns. Glasker caught two touchdown passes on three receptions and added a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep in the first quarter. The freshman's performance contributed to BYU scoring over 60 points in their season opener for the second consecutive year.
Trailblazers Struggle with Turnovers
Utah Tech struggled to find momentum, committing three costly turnovers in the first half that BYU converted into touchdowns. The Trailblazers trailed 42-0 at halftime. While Utah Tech managed a touchdown in the third quarter when running back Ace Chatman scored from one yard out, the offense finished the game with only 184 total yards. Junior quarterback Bronson Barben entered the game in the second quarter, completing 12 of 22 passes for 115 yards.
Defensive Performance
BYU's defense, led in its debut under coordinator Kelly Poppinga, recorded 45 tackles. Jarinn Kalama, Matthias Leach, and Kendal Wall each recorded four tackles. The defensive unit also secured three interceptions, recorded by Leach, Therrian Alexander III, and Evan Johnson, while Tausili Akana recovered a fumble. Cornerback Cannon DeVries contributed a 46-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half.
Coaches React
Following the win, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake expressed pride in the team's energy and performance but noted a need for more discipline, citing five penalties during the game. Sitake also praised the support from the ROC fan base. Utah Tech Head Coach Lance Anderson noted that while the results were not what the team desired, the offense showed encouraging signs of ability to sustain drives late in the game.
Season Outlook
The victory moves BYU to a 1-0 record in the 2026 season and 10-1 in season openers overall. Utah Tech falls to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in Big Sky Conference play. The Trailblazers' next game will be a road matchup against Montana in Missoula.
