BYU Eyes Redemption in Pop-Tarts Bowl, as Injuries Heal and NFL Decisions Loom
As BYU gears up for its season finale in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against No. 22 Georgia Tech, there’s no shortage of storylines swirling around the 12th-ranked Cougars. From key injuries to looming NFL draft decisions, this final chapter of the 2025 campaign is shaping up to be more than just a bowl game-it’s a chance to make a statement.
Let’s start with the health watch, because that’s been front and center since BYU’s 34-7 loss to No. 4 Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game.
The biggest question? The status of freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who left the second half of that game with an ankle injury.
Bachmeier, who earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors from both league coaches and Associated Press voters, was clearly limited after the injury. There were several moments where he grimaced trying to plant and throw off his back foot. That kind of discomfort doesn’t just affect mechanics-it changes play calling, decision-making, and overall rhythm.
He didn’t go through full practices in the immediate aftermath of the championship game, but this week brought some optimism. Bachmeier was back in BYU’s indoor facility on Wednesday, easing back into reps. When asked how close he is to full strength, he kept it vague-“slowly increasing,” he said-but both head coach Kalani Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick believe he’ll be ready to go in Orlando.
"I'm feeling good," Bachmeier added. "Feeling prepared. The team's looking good, too."
That’s exactly what Cougar fans want to hear heading into a matchup with a 9-3 Georgia Tech squad that’s been one of the ACC’s most consistent teams this season.
On the defensive side, linebacker Isaiah Glasker is also working his way back from an ankle issue of his own-one that’s lingered since late September. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior has been a key piece of BYU’s front seven, and he’s used the extra time off to heal up.
“This off week or so has been good,” Glasker said after practice. “It really allowed my body to recover.”
But Glasker’s not just thinking about the Yellow Jackets. He’s also weighing whether this bowl game will be his last in a BYU uniform. The former Bingham High standout, who began his career as a wide receiver before transitioning to safety and then linebacker, walked with the seniors during the regular-season finale against UCF-just in case.
“It’s really up in the air right now,” he admitted. “I’m just trying to focus on the bowl game, and then I’ll figure it out from there.”
Glasker isn’t alone in that boat. Running back LJ Martin, a junior, could also be facing a decision about whether to return or test the NFL waters. Sitake said he hasn’t heard of any players planning to opt out of the bowl game, but acknowledged that things can change.
“There’s still time between now and the game,” Sitake said. “But they’re practicing, and I think the biggest issue is if we can get guys healthy and 100% by the time we get to the game. Right now, I think we’re on a good trajectory for that.”
Meanwhile, the Cougars have already seen a few players enter the transfer portal. Offensive lineman Jake Griffin and redshirt freshman wide receivers Lamason Waller and Marcus McKenzie have all announced their intentions to move on. Sitake kept it in perspective.
“If people are opting out or entering the portal, most of the time it’s for playing time,” he said. “That’s kind of been the reason, not just here but other places, too.”
As for the bowl itself, the Pop-Tarts Bowl has become one of the more intriguing non-Playoff matchups on the calendar. Originally launched as the Blockbuster Bowl in 1990, the $6 million game now features a Big 12 vs.
ACC showdown. Notre Dame was initially slated to replace the ACC team, but after being left out of the Playoff, the 11th-ranked Irish opted out of bowl season altogether.
That opened the door for Georgia Tech-and gave BYU a shot at redemption.
The Cougars were on the outside looking in when the 12-team College Football Playoff field was announced, despite being ranked No. 12 by the selection committee. That made them unofficially the second team out, with No.
20 Tulane and No. 24 James Madison jumping into the bracket as two of the five highest-ranked conference champions.
For Glasker and his teammates, that snub still stings.
“We thought we should have been in the playoff,” he said. “I feel like that’s enough of a driving factor for us, and I feel like we’re going to be ready for the bowl game.
“If we can get a win here, we can show the committee what the Big 12 is really about.”
That’s the mindset BYU is carrying into Orlando: one more chance to prove they belonged in the national conversation. And with a (hopefully) healthy Bachmeier under center, a fired-up defense, and a group of veterans possibly suiting up for the final time, there’s plenty of motivation to finish strong.