No. 8 BYU secured a historic 5-0 start for the third consecutive season on Friday, Oct. 3, 2026, following a 24-10 victory over Iowa State at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier orchestrated the offense with both his arm and his legs, leading the Cougars through a Homecoming matchup in Provo.
Bachmeier's Dual-Threat Dominance
Bear Bachmeier delivered a standout performance, totaling 329 passing yards and 109 rushing yards. The Murrieta, Calif., native became the first BYU quarterback since Taysom Hill to record 300-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards in a single game. His 329 passing yards marked the highest total the Cyclones have allowed in a single game this season.
Bachmeier's dual-threat capabilities were on full display, including a career-long 39-yard rush late in the fourth quarter. This performance marked his fourth career game with more than 300 passing yards. He completed 22 of 30 attempts, throwing two touchdown passes to support the Cougars' victory.
Offensive Contributions
The Cougars' receiving corps provided significant support, led by true freshman wide receiver Legend Glasker. Glasker recorded five receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 75-yard reception in the third quarter. Kyler Kasper also contributed a touchdown on a catch in the second frame, while junior tight end Walker Lyons tallied five receptions for a career-best 61 yards.
Earlier in the game, BYU established an early lead when Journee Tonga rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter, following a 26-yard run by Bachmeier that positioned the Cougars at the Iowa State 25-yard line. This score, supported by Matthias Dunn's extra point, gave BYU a 7-0 lead with 8:52 remaining in the opening quarter.
Defensive Stand
The BYU defense proved decisive, holding Iowa State to just 200 total yards of offense. This represented the Cyclones' lowest yardage output since 2018. The defensive unit was particularly dominant in the first half, limiting Iowa State to only 49 yards of offense. This was the fewest yards the program had allowed in a single half since Oct. 28, 2017, when they held TCU to 40 second-half yards.
Faletau Satuala led the defensive effort with seven total tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. The Cougars recorded three sacks in the game: Cade Uluave, Jake Clifton, Hunter Clegg, and Anisi Purcell each recorded 0.5 sacks, while Ace Kaufusi earned a solo sack.
Injuries and Roster Depth
The victory comes amidst significant roster changes and injuries for both programs. BYU entered the contest without star running back LJ Martin, who was ruled out on Tuesday after injuring his lower right leg during a 17-10 victory over TCU. Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, was averaging 7.8 yards per carry with 344 yards and three touchdowns at the time of his injury. Additionally, No. 2 running back Sione Moa remained sidelined with a knee injury suffered in Week 1.
Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake noted that while playing without his top two running backs is not ideal, the team has developed a deep committee to fill the void. With Martin out, Preston Rex, a former safety, expected a larger role in the backfield alongside Journee Tonga and Devaughn Elka.
Cyclones' Offensive Profile
Iowa State entered the game with momentum, having recently secured a 45-42 victory over West Virginia. The Cyclones' offense is centered around running back Aiden Flora, who ranks seventh nationally in rushing yards. Flora has amassed 594 yards and six touchdowns this season, averaging 8.1 yards per carry. During the West Virginia game, Flora recorded a career-high 212 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Under first-year coach Jimmy Rogers, Flora has emerged as a premier talent after previously being a walk-on. Despite significant roster turnover in Ames—with 78 of 121 players departing for other programs—Flora remained with the Cyclones. Rogers has worked to rebuild the roster, adding 83 new players from Washington State to bolster the squad.
Postgame Outlook
Following the win, Coach Sitake expressed mixed feelings regarding the offensive efficiency, noting the team was 0-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. Despite these inefficiencies, he praised the team's defensive response and overall resilience.
This victory marks the first time in program history that the Cougars have achieved a 5-0 start in three consecutive seasons.
Historical Context
The matchup between the two teams follows a previous meeting in which BYU secured a 41-27 road victory over Iowa State. That game featured a 307-yard passing performance from Bachmeier and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by safety Faletau Satuala.
