The Big 12 Conference named the BYU defensive line as the conference's Defensive Line of the Week on Oct. 12, 2026, following the team's 24-10 victory over Iowa State last Friday. The award recognizes the unit's performance in limiting the Cyclones to 200 total yards of offense, a mark representing the team's lowest offensive output since 2018.
Defensive Dominance Over Iowa State
The defensive line's performance was highlighted by a significant reduction in Iowa State's offensive production. Entering the game, the Cyclones were averaging 197.4 rushing yards per game, but the BYU unit held them to just 94 rushing yards. During the win, the BYU defensive line recorded a total of 18 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
Bachmeier Earns Offensive Honors
In addition to the defensive line honor, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Bachmeier, a sophomore, recorded 329 passing yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 109 yards. His performance marked the first time a BYU quarterback has recorded 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game since Taysom Hill achieved the feat in 2013.
Upcoming Top-10 Matchup
The BYU win over Iowa State comes ahead of a high-profile matchup scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18. The No. 8 ranked Cougars are set to host No. 2 Notre Dame at Lavell Edwards Stadium. This game will mark the first time in program history that two Top-10 teams have faced each other in Provo.
Conferencewide Award Recognition
The Big 12's weekly awards also recognized several other players across the conference. While BYU and Utah received line honors, Arizona State, Houston, and Oklahoma State received multiple honors. Notable recipients included Houston's Liam Dougherty for special teams and Arizona State's Cardae Mack as the conference's Freshman of the Week.
