Bear Bachmeier threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score to lead No. 15 BYU to a 28-17 victory over Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 12, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The win secured the Cougars' first Big 12 conference victory of the 2026 season and extended their dominance over the Wildcats to six consecutive wins dating back to 2016.
Bachmeier's Historic Performance
Bachmeier, a sophomore from Murrieta, California, accounted for all four of BYU's touchdowns in the contest. His performance earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, as he became only the fourth player in conference history to begin a season with two straight games featuring at least three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 217 yards and added 37 yards on six carries, including a 6-yard touchdown run.
Defensive Stand Secures Win
The victory was highlighted by a dominant second-half defensive performance. After allowing 240 yards in the first half, the BYU defense held Arizona to just 87 total yards in the second half, including -2 rushing yards. Defensive end Tausili Akana was a standout, recording four tackles and 2.5 sacks. Akana's final sack of the game came late in the fourth quarter, pinning Arizona inside their own 20-yard line and contributing to a sequence that effectively sealed the win.
Arizona's Offensive Struggles
Arizona's offense struggled to maintain momentum following a strong opening drive. Quarterback Noah Fifita scored on an 11-yard scramble to cap a 12-play drive, giving the Wildcats an early 7-0 lead. Arizona later took a 17-14 lead into halftime after Fifita connected with tight end Shane King for a 16-yard touchdown. However, the Wildcats were unable to score in the second half, a development Arizona coach Brent Brennan attributed to a lack of execution and finishing in the fourth quarter.
Crucial Fourth Down Stop
A critical turning point occurred midway through the fourth quarter when Arizona attempted to go for it on 4th-and-4 from the BYU 21-yard line. Trailing 21-17, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita completed a short pass to Rodney Gallagher III, who was tackled a yard short of the first-down marker. The officiating crew initially signaled a first down before overturning the call upon review. The successful stop allowed BYU to score four plays later to extend their lead to double digits.
Key Offensive Contributors
The BYU offense saw significant contributions from several players beyond Bachmeier. Kyler Kasper recorded his first two collegiate touchdowns on the day, including a 12-yard score in the fourth quarter. Reggie Frischknecht also notched his first career touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Bachmeier during the second quarter. On the ground, LJ Martin led the Cougars with 98 yards on 20 carries, surpassing the 500-career-carry milestone and becoming only the ninth Cougar to do so.
Wildcats Reflect on Loss
The loss marks a difficult start to conference play for the Wildcats, who have now dropped back-to-back conference-opening road games. Arizona's wide receiver Giovanni Richardson exited the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Despite the defeat, coach Brennan noted the team's physical play and effective running game during the first half.
Looking Ahead
Following the win, BYU travels to Fort Collins to face Colorado State on Saturday, Sept. 19. Arizona returns to nonconference play to host Northern Illinois at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
