Bear Bachmeier has become the latest quarterback to excel at BYU, following his transfer from Stanford. The move to Provo has benefited both the athlete and the No. 8 ranked Cougars.
Bachmeier is entering a matchup against No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday, October 14, following a standout performance in a 24-10 victory over Iowa State. In that game, he threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards. He became only the fourth quarterback in Big 12 history to finish a game with at least 325 passing yards and 100 rushing yards without being sacked.
In 19 career games with the Cougars, Bachmeier has recorded nine games with over 200 passing yards and four games with 300 yards. For the current season, he has accumulated 1,033 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception, helping the Cougars maintain a 5-0 record.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake noted that Bachmeier possesses a great work ethic and matures quickly within the offensive scheme. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, who has tutored previous successful quarterbacks such as Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall, and Jake Retzlaff, said the coach tailored the offense to Bachmeier's strengths. Roderick stated that Bachmeier's ability to absorb concepts allowed the team to execute plays previously reserved for third-year starters.
The success of Bachmeier continues a lineage established by former head coach LaVell Edwards, who built the program's reputation as a quarterback factory. Edwards produced notable players including Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer, and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. This legacy includes multiple Western Athletic Conference championships and the school's 1984 national championship.
Notre Dame cornerback DJ McKinney, who previously played against Bachmeier while at Colorado, described the 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback as a big player who utilizes both rushing and deep passing plays.
