Bear Bachmeier Leads BYU to Historic 12-Win Season in Gritty Pop-Tarts Bowl Victory Over Georgia Tech
BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier ended his first college season in unforgettable fashion - with a Pop-Tart in one hand and a place in program history in the other. The 19-year-old led the Cougars to a 25-21 win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, sealing BYU’s first 12-win season in nearly a quarter-century.
And here’s the kicker: he did it as a true freshman.
That puts Bachmeier in rare company. Only four other quarterbacks in BYU history - Jim McMahon, Robbie Bosco, Steve Sarkisian, and Brandon Doman - have led the Cougars to 12-win seasons.
But all of them were seniors. Bachmeier?
He’s just a year removed from high school.
“I knew coming in that it was a great team, and I knew we could do something special, but I never expected this,” Bachmeier said after the game. “I’m just so grateful to be here. I love this university and I love these guys.”
It took every ounce of grit from Bachmeier and his teammates to rally from behind and knock off No. 22 Georgia Tech. Here’s how BYU pulled off its sixth comeback win of the season - and why this one might be the most impressive yet.
1. The Block That Changed the Game
Midway through the third quarter, Georgia Tech held a 21-10 lead and looked poised to extend it. The Yellow Jackets had driven to BYU’s 18-yard line, setting up a 35-yard field goal attempt for Aidan Birr - the most accurate kicker in the ACC this season.
But BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa had other plans.
As Birr’s kick took flight, Tanuvasa got a hand up and swatted it away, sending the ball fluttering off target and flipping the momentum in BYU’s favor.
“I’m blessed that the coaches have a strategic plan,” said Tanuvasa. “They put us in place, and I’m blessed to play next to JT (John Taumoepeau).
He’s a dawg. He has great leverage.
Great knock-back. He’s relentless.
We just wanted it more than anything else.”
That block wasn’t just a highlight - it was a turning point. The Cougars’ sideline erupted, and belief surged through the stadium. Suddenly, a comeback didn’t just feel possible - it felt inevitable.
2. Bachmeier’s Gutsy Two-Point Conversion
With momentum on their side, the Cougars marched 80 yards in 11 plays, capped off by Enoch Nawahine’s first touchdown of the season. That brought BYU within five, 21-16, with just over 11 minutes to play.
Then came the two-point conversion - and the play that defined Bachmeier’s night.
Still nursing a sprained ankle he re-aggravated on the opening drive, the freshman quarterback rolled out of the pocket, lowered his shoulder, and bulldozed through a defender to cross the goal line.
“It’s just grit. You see it all over the field,” said tight end Carsen Ryan, who had a career night with eight catches for 120 yards.
“Bear has a sprained ankle and he’s running over dudes to get that two-point conversion. Without that, we probably lose the game.”
It was the kind of play that echoes in locker rooms and highlight reels - a young quarterback, banged up and limping, putting his body on the line to keep his team alive.
“It was a rough one,” Bachmeier admitted. “I just kept telling myself - 55 minutes, 54 minutes, 50 minutes and we are going to be happy at the end.
Pain is temporary, so just push through. There is nothing that was going to take me out of that game.”
Despite the injury, Bachmeier stayed in the pocket and delivered, throwing for 325 yards and a touchdown to earn game MVP honors.
3. Evan Johnson’s Redemption Interception
With 14 seconds left and Georgia Tech facing fourth-and-10 from BYU’s 18-yard line, the Yellow Jackets were one play away from stealing the game.
Haynes King, in his final college game, dropped back and fired toward the end zone. BYU’s defense hadn’t sacked him all night, but they brought pressure when it mattered most.
Cornerback Evan Johnson, who had earlier given up a 68-yard bomb on fourth-and-15 to keep Tech’s hopes alive, read King’s eyes and made the play of the night - stepping in front of the receiver for his fifth interception of the season.
“When I saw that ball go up, I had to go get it,” Johnson said. “It took some toughness.
Those plays hurt. As a corner, that’s going to happen, so it’s just your mindset on how you are going to bounce back.
God gave me a challenge and I overcame it.”
It was the ultimate redemption moment - and it sealed the win.
Honorable Mentions: Unsung Heroes Step Up
This game wasn’t won on star power alone. With key contributors like LJ Martin and Sione Moa sidelined, BYU leaned on its depth - and it delivered.
- Enoch Nawahine and Jovesa Damuni combined for 80 rushing yards and both scored their first touchdowns of the season. In a game where every inch mattered, they provided the only two touchdowns of BYU’s second-half comeback.
- Isaiah Glasker’s fumble recovery early in the third quarter stopped a Georgia Tech scoring drive cold. After a wild scramble that sent the ball skidding back to the 31-yard line, Glasker pounced on it - a huge swing in field position and momentum.
- Tanner Wall’s solo tackle with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter might not show up in many highlight reels, but it was clutch. Georgia Tech faced third-and-seven deep in their own territory, and Haynes King looked like he had daylight.
Wall’s diving stop came up one yard short of the sticks, forcing a punt. BYU scored the game-winning touchdown on the ensuing drive.
The Bigger Picture
This wasn’t just a bowl win. This was a statement.
BYU finishes the season with 12 wins - something the program hasn’t done in 24 years - and they did it with a freshman quarterback playing through pain, a patchwork backfield, and a defense that made the plays when it mattered most.
Bachmeier’s performance, both in stats and sheer toughness, puts him on the national radar. But what makes this team special is how many players stepped up around him. From the trenches to the secondary, this was a total team effort.
If this is what BYU looks like in Year 1 of the Bachmeier era, the rest of the Big 12 - and college football - better be paying attention in 2026.