Bear Bachmeier’s name was already buzzing after BYU’s upset of No. 2 Notre Dame, but an old off-field oddity has now followed him right back into the spotlight.
The sophomore quarterback turned in a huge performance in the Cougars’ 28-24 win on Saturday, a result that pushed BYU to 6-0. Bachmeier was involved in every kind of production you could ask for, finding the end zone through the air, on the ground and as a receiver in a breakout all-around showing.
Then a Polymarket Football post on October 20 dragged an earlier TV moment back into the conversation. It referenced a claim made during FOX’s September 12 broadcast of BYU’s game against Arizona, when Robert Griffin III said Bachmeier had told him his family sometimes ate dinner naked.
“Sometimes they just take the clothes off, and they walk around naked,” RGIII said. Check out the video below: Get notified of the most viral Brigham Young University stories via Google!
That story has never been confirmed. Complex reported that it wasn’t clear whether Griffin was being serious, joking, or amplifying something Bachmeier may have said to the broadcast crew.
The quote has taken on a life of its own, though, and with Bachmeier now on a bigger stage after the Notre Dame win, it’s the kind of line opponents can keep tossing his way for a long time.
Bachmeier also had plenty to say after the game about why that matchup meant something to him. He said Notre Dame had disrespected him and his family during his recruitment, making it clear he carried that into Saturday’s win.
“I wasn’t going to lose to those guys,” he declared, per FOX Sports. “[Coach Kalani Sitake] won’t like this because I’m talking about myself, but out of high school Notre Dame disrespected me and my family pretty badly,” he revealed.
That recruiting issue was a separate matter entirely from the dinner story, but together they’ve turned Bachmeier into one of the sport’s most talked-about figures after a statement night for BYU.
In Other News...
BYUs UCF Test Suddenly Looks Very Different At Quarterback
UCFs quarterback picture for the BYU game has shifted enough to change how the matchup should be viewed heading into the week. Alonza Barnett III, who has been working back from a hamstring injury, is reportedly not expected to start, and coach Scott Frost has made it clear the staff is taking a careful approach with his recovery. Steve Cooper said Barnett has returned to practice on a limited basis, but his status remains up in the air.
For BYU, that adds a new layer to a road test that already had plenty of intrigue. Preparing for one quarterback is one thing, but the Cougars now have to account for a situation that could look different by kickoff, depending on how UCF handles Barnetts availability. Frosts emphasis on avoiding a setback suggests the Knights are thinking long term, even if that leaves some uncertainty for a game that suddenly feels a little less settled. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Crowd Watched One Student Turn Pregame Nerves Into A Fortune
Long before the first snaps of the night, one BYU student turned a routine pregame promotion into the kind of scene people at LaVell Edwards Stadium wont forget soon. Carter Smith, 21, stepped into Pat McAfees Kicking Is Easy contest and came through on his second field goal attempt, a pressure-packed swing that suddenly made him the center of attention for everyone in the building.
The result was life-changing, with Smith walking away $3 million richer and instantly drawing widespread recognition. Even with that kind of windfall, his plans remain grounded in the classroom and beyond it, as he intends to keep working toward his education and a future career in dentistry. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Is Still Right In The Big 12 Title Fight
The Big 12 will open the 2026-27 season with plenty of national respect, and BYU is part of that conversation even if the Cougars are sitting at the back end of it. The AP preseason poll put six league teams inside the Top 25, with Arizona pacing the conference at No. 5 and Houston right behind as the Big 12s other top-10 entry, a sign that the league again has the kind of depth that can shape the race from the start.
BYU came in at No. 25, a reminder that the Cougars are still carrying enough credibility to be in the preseason picture even with several league heavyweights ahead of them. Kansas, Iowa State and Texas Tech also checked in, while TCU landed among the teams receiving votes, giving the Big 12 another familiar look: a crowded field, a clear contender at the top and a lot of teams with a case to be heard once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]