The BYU Cougars earned a road victory against TCU on October 3, 2026, improving their record to 4-0. While the win moved the team to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll, questions regarding offensive consistency and injuries to key players persist.
The offense faced challenges during the win, completing only one successful drive during the 60-minute game. Offensive line performance was noted for procedural penalties, which head coach Kalani Sitake attributed to disconcerting signals from the TCU defense. Additionally, the team dealt with the loss of running back LJ Martin, who is out at least for the time being due to injury. Other players who contributed to the victory included freshmen Journee Tonga and Preston Rex at running back, and Bott Mulitalo and Siosiua Latu-Finau at tackle. On the defensive side, Jake Clifton, Braxton Lindsey, and Kendal Wall were credited with making key plays.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the final drive to secure the win, despite recent struggles with accuracy and a quarterback rating of 44.6 in one of the previous two games. While his performance was vital to the October 3 win, analysts noted a lack of significant progression compared to his freshman season. The team's defensive performance remains a strength, though concerns remain about whether the offense can compete at a high level in upcoming matchups.
BYU is scheduled to host Notre Dame in 12 days. The Cougars must also prepare for a matchup against Iowa State on Friday.
In other sports news, the BYU women's volleyball team holds an 11-1 record after sweeping No. 19 Kansas on the road on Friday. Under head coach Rob Neilson, the team has transitioned to a 6-2 system utilizing setters Alex Bower and Kaylie Kofe. The team is currently playing without returning All-American middle blocker Brielle Kemavor, who is recovering from offseason surgery.
