- BYU football remains unbeaten entering October seeking a Big 12 championship.
- Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier shows promise with 10 touchdowns and no turnovers.
- Upcoming tough schedule includes games against Utah Iowa State Texas Tech TCU Cincinnati.
PROVO — One month into the college football season one local Big 12 team remains unbeaten, and another is slightly below but still fine.
For the second consecutive year, BYU enters October with a clean slate and anticipates, again, contending for a regular-season championship and a spot in the conference title game in two months. The Utes began Big 12 play with an ugly loss at home to Texas Tech but remain optimistic going forward.
The Cougars, again, are 4-0, which includes an impressive come-from-behind win at Colorado to begin conference play, but this season has a different feeling. For two reasons, starting with the defense and extending to quarterback, this team is better than the 2024 edition.
C'mon, they're better with a rookie running the offense? The assertion might be a stretch after only four games, but a glimpse into the future indicates it's certainly possible if not true.
The projection is no disrespect to last season's starter, Jake Retzlaff, who played a significant role in BYU finishing at 11-2 and ranked No. 13.
Retzlaff, who transferred rather than face a school suspension of seven games, led dramatic last-second rallies to beat Utah and Oklahoma State, but, in time, Bear Bachmeier will prove better.
Yes, it's still early, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest BYU can win the conference championship with Bachmeier at quarterback. Far from producing gaudy statistics, Bachmeier is progressing far ahead of schedule and figures to improve as the season goes on.
The coaches already have enough confidence in the freshman to allow him to change plays at the line of scrimmage as he sees fit. Against Colorado, he checked into the right play every time except once when the play clock was approaching zero.
Bachmeier has also exhibited a toughness and composure that extends beyond his experience. Completing nearly 68% of his passes, he has yet to commit a turnover and has accounted for 10 touchdowns (six passing and four running).
"He's a stud," head coach Kalani Sitake said after Bachmeier passed for 179 yards and rushed for 98 yards in the 24-21 win over Colorado.
The easier portion of the schedule has allowed Bachmeier to progress at his own pace, but the slate of games turns much tougher in mid-October. After facing West Virginia and Arizona the next two weeks, the following five are against teams — Utah, No. 14 Iowa State, No. 11 Texas Tech, TCU and Cincinnati — that are a combined 19-3.
BYU likely will require more out of Bachmeier's passing ability during the conference's toughest stretch and continue to rely on the stellar defense. Led by standout linebackers Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker, the stingy defense has allowed only four touchdowns through four games.
Utah remains more of a mystery, having split two conference games before going into a bye week. Excluding a blowout against FCS Cal Poly, the other three wins were also against inferior competition that failed to provide the Utes with an adequate measuring stick.
Texas Tech embarrassed the Utes, who then did the same to West Virginia last week. How good is Utah — the truth resides somewhere between the last two games, meaning the team has much to prove over the final seven games.
Crazy as it seems, given the theory that Rice-Eccles Stadium is a tough place to play for visitors, the Utes have lost all five home games since joining the Big 12. Expected to regularly compete for championships, Utah is an underwhelming 3-8 in conference games since reluctantly moving over from the Pac-12 last year.
After the bye week, the Utes get a shot at redemption with the next two games, starting with No. 25 Arizona State, the reigning Big 12 champion, and against No. 23 BYU in Provo. To remain in contention, they will likely need to split the two games or even win both.
