No. 8 BYU held on for a 27-20 victory over Arizona State on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium, overcoming a late surge from the Sun Devils to improve to 7-1 on the season. Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 236 yards and one touchdown to lead the Cougars through a difficult defensive struggle in the second half.
Sun Devils Near Upset
The Sun Devils, who fell to 4-4 (2-3 in the Big 12), nearly completed a comeback in Jake Fette's first career start. After trailing 17-3 at halftime, Arizona State erased the deficit in the third quarter through two touchdown passes from Fette: a 20-yard toss to Omarion Miller on third-and-2 and a second touchdown to Anthony Miller Jr. that tied the game at 17 late in the third quarter.
Despite the momentum shift, BYU reclaimed the lead in the final minutes. After a 44-yard field goal by Matthias Dunn pulled the Sun Devils within one touchdown with 57 seconds remaining, the Cougars recovered the ensuing onside kick. A critical fourth-down conversion by the BYU offense, including a 53-yard pass to Legend Glasker, set up Sione Moa for a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:09 remaining to seal the win.
Defensive Struggles and Turnovers
The game featured significant defensive pressure from the BYU defense, which recorded a season-high six sacks in the first half. The Cougars' defensive effort was anchored by Faletau Satuala, who recorded nine total tackles, including five solo stops and one tackle for loss. Isaiah Glasker and Cade Uluave each contributed a sack, while Jayven Williams added seven tackles and three pass breakups.
Arizona State's offense struggled with consistency, particularly in the first half when the Cougars' defense forced a turnover and held the Sun Devils to just 93 total yards. The Sun Devils' defense did manage to keep the game close, with linebacker Owen Long forcing a turnover that set up the Sun Devils in BYU territory. However, the ASU offense was unable to capitalize on several opportunities, including a blocked field goal attempt by Carson Smith that resulted in an automatic first down after a roughing the snapper penalty.
Coaches React
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake noted that while the victory was vital, the team has areas to address. "Interesting game. Glad we got the victory," Sitake said. "Obviously there's a lot of things we need to improve on, but I think we have to give Arizona State a lot of credit. They made things difficult for us. They made it interesting, especially at the end. That third quarter was tough."
Sitake also highlighted the team's decision to attempt a fourth-down conversion while leading 3-7. After Bear Bachmeier converted a second-and-yard keeper on fourth-and-1 at the BYU 14-yard line, Sitake said there was no hesitation from the players or the sideline. "The team was all for it," Sitake said. "That was a good moment for us. There was no hesitation from anyone: offense, defense, special teams, and even the sideline."
Fette's First Start
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham expressed optimism regarding his young roster despite the loss. Fette, who became the 10th starting quarterback in the Dillingham era since 2023, finished 22 of 42 for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Dillingham noted that Fette's performance improved significantly after the first half.
"We'll see where Mikey sits, but I thought Jake in the second half calmed down," Dillingham said. "He gave our guys chances for the most part. The communication he gives is really positive that he's seeing what's happening." Dillingham added that the future of the program remains bright despite the setback.
Officiating Controversy
The game was not without controversy regarding officiating. Following the match, the Big 12 Conference released a statement regarding a touchdown scored by BYU following a fumble recovery by Sione Moa. The conference stated that a replay error incorrectly awarded a touchdown, noting that the correct ruling should have been BYU ball for a third-and-goal attempt from the 2-yard line.
Next Matchups
Looking ahead, Arizona State will host Colorado next Saturday, while BYU travels to face Utah on Saturday. The Sun Devils' loss marks their third road loss to a Top-10 opponent this season.
