Bear Bachmeier’s day against Utah started with enough promise to keep BYU in the fight, then unraveled fast enough to swing the Holy War.
The Cougars dropped a 28-20 decision to No. 2 Utah on Saturday afternoon, and Bachmeier’s four-interception performance ended up looming over everything. BYU had already battled back from an early two-score hole to grab the lead in a wild second quarter, but the sophomore quarterback kept handing possessions back to one of college football’s toughest defenses.
For a stretch, Bachmeier looked in control. He connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass in the first half and kept the offense moving with a steady stream of short throws.
But the warning signs showed up late in the second quarter, when BYU had the ball deep in Utah territory with a little more than a minute left. Bachmeier tried to hit Kyler Kasper, only to find Bobo Chenault instead.
The mistakes only piled up after halftime.
Bachmeier threw three interceptions in the second half, and all three came inside Utah territory. Early in the third quarter, he was picked off one play after converting a crucial third down. Then came the drive that should have changed the game for BYU: a 13-play, 65-yard march that got the Cougars to the doorstep of the goal line, only for Trey Reynolds to jump in front of what looked like a wide-open Kasper early in the fourth.
Bachmeier’s final miscue fit the rest of the afternoon. He held the ball too long, then launched a throw toward the end zone that missed the mark.
He entered the game with just four interceptions through eight appearances. He left having doubled that total in one rivalry loss, and BYU paid the price.
In Other News...
BYUs Big 12 Path Just Got A Lot Tougher After Utah Loss
The loss in Salt Lake City did more than sting in the moment. It tightened the road ahead for BYU in the Big 12 race, with Utahs 28-20 win leaving the Cougars at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, a mark that now puts a premium on every remaining league game. For a team that had been trying to stay in the thick of the title picture, the margin for error is suddenly a lot thinner.
Utah, meanwhile, kept rolling and is now sitting at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play, which is why the Utes have suddenly become such a heavy favorite in the league chase. ESPNs projections reflect that shift, giving Utah a 93% chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and a 90% chance to make the College Football Playoff, a reminder of how quickly one rivalry result can reshape the path for both teams. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Heads To Utah With Playoff Pressure And One Huge Concern
Saturdays trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium has turned into one of the biggest games on BYUs schedule, with the Cougars heading into a Big 12 showdown that carries real weight in both the conference race and the College Football Playoff picture. Utah arrives unbeaten and sitting atop the league, while BYU comes in with one loss and a No. 9 ranking in the CFP standings, leaving little margin for error as the season tightens.
The Cougars do have some encouraging news on offense, with LJ Martin expected to play despite dealing with an injury. The bigger concern may be on the other side of the ball, where BYU is managing defensive absences at a time when every possession matters against a Utah team that has been hard to knock off balance. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Let A Rivalry Statement Slip Away In The Worst Way
For much of the night, BYU had the kind of rivalry win that can linger for years within reach. The Cougars carried a halftime lead into the break, and the game had the feel of one of those tense, physical meetings with Utah where every possession starts to matter a little more than the last.
Instead, the second half turned sharply in Utahs favor as the Utes rallied for a 28-20 win and left BYU to sort through a game that slipped away in painful fashion. Devon Dampier helped drive the comeback with both a passing and rushing touchdown, while Trey Reynolds sealed it with a goal-line interception, and Bachmeiers four interceptions loomed over every missed chance the Cougars had to put the game away. [Read more 🡒]