BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier received a trio of major honors on Monday, Oct. 13, 2026, following a dominant performance in the Cougars' recent victory over Iowa State. The sophomore was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, selected as one of the Davey O’Brien Foundation's Great 8 quarterbacks, and named a Manning Award Stars of the Week honoree.
Historic Performance Against Iowa State
Bachmeier's recognition follows a historic performance on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2026, during BYU's 24-10 win over the Iowa State Cyclones. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound sophomore from Murrieta, California, completed 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed 109 rushing yards on nine attempts, averaging 12.1 yards per rush.
This performance made Bachmeier the first BYU quarterback to record at least 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game since Taysom Hill achieved the feat in October 2013 against Houston. Additionally, Bachmeier joined Jalen Hurts (2019), Kyler Murray (2018), and Sam Ehlinger (2017) as one of only four Big 12 quarterbacks to pass for over 325 yards and rush for over 100 yards without being sacked.
National Quarterback Recognition
The Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Monday that Bachmeier is one of eight quarterbacks selected for its Great 8 list for the sixth week of the 2026 college football season. By earning a spot on the list during the first nine weeks of the season, Bachmeier has officially joined the Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List.
Other quarterbacks named to the Week 6 Great 8 include Braden Atkinson of Oregon State, Blake Baker of Louisiana Tech, Jackson Gutierrez of Navy, Gio Lopez of Wake Forest, LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina, Gunner Stockton of Georgia, and Conner Weigman of Houston.
Defensive Line Honors
In addition to individual offensive honors, BYU's defensive unit was recognized by the Big 12 for its performance against the Cyclones. The Big 12 announced that the BYU defensive line was named the conference's Defensive Line of the Week.
The unit's performance helped hold Iowa State to just 10 points and 200 total yards of offense. Before the matchup, the Cyclones averaged 197.4 rushing yards per game, but the BYU defense held them to 94 rushing yards, marking the Cyclones' lowest offensive output since 2018.
Season Statistical Overview
Bachmeier has been a consistent force for the Cougars throughout the 2026 season. Through five games, he has completed 77 of 116 passes for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns. He also serves as BYU's second-leading rusher, with 239 yards and four touchdowns on 36 attempts.
His current season totals follow a highly productive 2025 campaign where he was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. During that season, he completed 2,513 passes for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also recording 527 rushing yards and 11 scores.
About the Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O’Brien Foundation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary season in 2026, established the National Quarterback Award in 1981. The foundation has provided more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to support student-athletes. The organization's namesake, Davey O'Brien, was the first player to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award in the same year in 1938.
Upcoming Announcements
The Davey O'Brien Foundation will reveal the National Quarterback of the Week, selected from the Great 8 list, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 11 a.m. Central Time.
