No. 10 BYU had to grind for every inch in Fort Worth, but the Cougars left with exactly what they came for: a 17-10 win over TCU and a 4-0 start overall, plus a 2-0 mark in Big 12 play.
This one never turned into a clean offensive showcase. BYU’s passing game was bottled up most of the night, and Bear Bachmeier finished 11-of-24 for 62 yards through the air. But when the game tightened in the fourth quarter, the Cougars found a different way to finish.
With 8:04 left, TCU sent Nate McCashland out for a 46-yard field goal, and it never had a chance. The kick had no power and looked short right off his foot. McCashland, TCU’s top kicker, has been out since the Week 0 game against North Carolina, and that miss opened the door for BYU.
The Cougars took over at 8:01 and Bachmeier took command. He helped drive a 10-play possession that ended with a 21-yard touchdown run, the kind of hard-nosed finish that carried BYU through a rough night throwing the ball. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective, and Bachmeier’s ability to deliver in the moment was the difference.
BYU may also be watching a much bigger concern. Running back LJ Martin exited in the first quarter, spent time in the medical tent, and never returned. He was listed with a lower-body injury, and if he has to miss more time, it would change the look of BYU’s season in a major way.
The Cougars also ran into a familiar issue coming out of a bye week. Since joining the Big 12, BYU is 4-2 in those games, but the offense has consistently lagged behind, and the team averages 22 points per game in contests following a bye. Saturday night’s 17-point output dropped that number even further.
On the other side of the ball, Nusi Taumoepeau turned in his best showing of the year. The sophomore EDGE rusher, who was limited after an injury in fall camp, logged five tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. He had played sparingly against Utah Tech and Colorado State and posted a solid outing against Arizona, but this was his most complete game so far.
In the end, BYU got the kind of win that can travel: messy, physical and sealed by defense, toughness and a quarterback willing to carry the load when the offense had nothing easy.
In Other News...
BYU-Notre Dame Just Became An Even Bigger Provo Event
BYUs October 17 showdown with Notre Dame already had the feel of a major moment, and the stage only got bigger with the latest details. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time at LaVell Edwards Stadium and will air on ABC, giving Provo a prime-time backdrop for a matchup between two undefeated teams both sitting inside the AP Top 10.
Its the first time the Irish and Cougars will meet in Provo with both programs ranked that high, which gives the night an added layer of weight beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. The meeting also fits into a two-game series, with BYU heading to Notre Dame in 2027, but for now the focus is on a rare ranked-on-ranked collision that should make October in Provo feel even bigger. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Looks Even More Dangerous Heading Into A Major UCF Test
BYUs upcoming trip to UCF is getting more attention after the Cougars kept showing up in the kind of games that make a September schedule feel heavier by the week. TCU pushed BYU all the way in a close loss, a result that adds to the sense that the Cougars are already battle-tested before they head to Orlando, especially with the numbers pointing to a team that can move the ball and avoid the kinds of mistakes that swing tight games.
Around the league, the teams on UCFs 2026 slate have offered their own snapshots of what the Knights may be walking into. Pittsburgh beat Virginia Tech even after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to a torn ACL, while Baylor rolled past Arizona State in a more convincing showing, but BYUs combination of recent results, rankings and discipline in the key areas is what now gives this matchup its most interesting edge. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's TCU Win Came With A Concern Fans Can't Ignore
BYUs 17-10 win over TCU kept the Cougars unbeaten and reinforced the early momentum around a team that has opened 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. It was the kind of conference road result that can matter in October just as much as September, especially for a program trying to prove it can stack wins in its first stretch of league play.
Kalani Sitake had plenty to like in the aftermath, but the health of the roster lingered as the bigger concern. Several players came out of the game nicked up, including LJ Martin, Isaiah Glasker and Cannon DeVries, and BYU now turns its attention to a home game against Iowa State with the reality that the next step forward may depend as much on availability as on performance. [Read more 🡒]