Bear Bachmeier threw for a season-high 329 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 8 BYU to a 24-10 victory over Iowa State on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Bachmeier's dual-threat performance, which included a career-best 109 rushing yards, allowed the Cougars to move to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in Big 12 play despite the absence of running back LJ Martin.
Bachmeier's Dual-Threat Dominance
Bachmeier's performance marked his fourth career 300-yard passing game and his second consecutive season throwing for more than 300 yards against Iowa State. He also achieved his first career 100-yard rushing game during the contest. The victory was fueled by a dominant opening drive where Bachmeier completed his first seven passes, including a 26-yard run that helped power the Cougars to their first touchdown of the night.
Cougar Offensive Execution
The first touchdown for the Cougars was finished by Journee Tonga, who scored on a 6-yard run. Following that drive, Bachmeier utilized a misdirection play to hit Roger Saleapaga for a 63-yard pass, setting up the second scoring drive. Kyler Kasper subsequently scored on a touchdown run, backpedaling across the goal line to give BYU a 14-3 lead with 1:51 remaining in the first half.
Defensive Dominance
The BYU defense was a decisive factor in the shutout-style performance for much of the game. The defense held Iowa State to just six total yards during the second quarter, yielding only 0.5 yards per play. "They never made it feel like something was wrong," Bachmeier said regarding the defensive effort, noting that the unit has been playing exceptionally well. "Testament to the defense. They’ve been playing their tails off here," he added.
Efficiency and Fourth-Down Struggles
In the third quarter, Bachmeier extended the BYU lead to 21-3 with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Legend Glasker with 1:09 remaining in the period. Despite the commanding offensive output, BYU struggled with efficiency in critical situations, failing to convert on three fourth-down attempts. Two of those unsuccessful conversions occurred inside the Iowa State 5-yard line, with Bachmeier throwing incomplete passes in the end zone on both occasions. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake noted, "I like to be aggressive, but I like to see those turn into points."
Iowa State Offensive Struggles
Iowa State struggled to maintain offensive momentum throughout the game, totaling only 200 yards of offense, which marked their lowest single-game total since 2018. The Cyclones were held to just 49 yards before halftime, their fewest since 2017, and suffered three consecutive three-and-out drives during the second quarter. Jaylen Raynor, the Iowa State quarterback, finished the game with 98 passing yards and one touchdown. Aiden Flora contributed 86 yards on the ground, though he was limited to only 11 rushing yards before the halftime break.
Late Game Developments
The Cyclones found a late offensive spark in the fourth quarter after a fumble by Tiger Bachmeier on a punt return allowed Torrence Sanders to recover the ball at the BYU 49-yard line. Iowa State capitalized on this turnover when Raynor threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Christian Greenlaw. Despite this effort, the Cyclones finished the game with a 3-3 record. "I’m kind of at a loss of words because I felt like we were going to come into this and be competitive in so many ways, and we really weren’t in so many ways," said Cyclones coach Jimmy Rogers. "3-3 is where we’re at. Doesn’t mean that that’s where we need to be."
Looking Ahead
Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor commented on the team's slow start, stating, "We just didn’t really have a sense of urgency. We came out slow."
