BYU earned a 24-10 victory over Iowa State on Friday, October 9, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. The win offered both optimism and concerns for the Cougars ahead of their upcoming matchup against Notre Dame.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier recorded career highs during the game, throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns on 30 attempts, while adding 109 rushing yards. The Cougars' defense, coached by defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga, limited the Cyclones to 49 total yards during the first half. Junior cornerback Therrian Alexander noted that the secondary is finding its rhythm and credited the front seven for providing an impactful pass rush.
Despite the win, head coach Kalani Sitake highlighted several areas for improvement. The Cougars struggled with efficiency on offense, failing to convert on all three fourth-down attempts. Additionally, the team faced issues with special teams execution, including two fumbles on punt returns by senior receiver Tiger Bachmeier. The rushing attack also faced challenges in the absence of LJ Martin, who is expected to return in approximately one month.
The Cougars out-gained the Cyclones by 506 yards, with a final score of 24-10. The victory serves as a final preparation for a high-profile game against Notre Dame scheduled for this coming Saturday, which will feature a visit from ESPN's College Gameday.
BYU will host Notre Dame this coming Saturday in a game scheduled for a primetime slot on the ABC network.
