BYU’s win over Iowa State gave UCF fans a pretty clean look at what the Cougars can become when Bear Bachmeier is rolling.
In Friday’s 24-10 win, Bachmeier did damage both through the air and on the ground. He finished 22 of 30 for 329 yards and two touchdowns, then added 109 yards on nine carries. That rushing total accounted for 61.9% of BYU’s team rushing output, a sign that the offense can tilt hard in his direction when needed.
Iowa State’s defense had some fight in it, especially on fourth down, where the Cyclones stopped BYU three times. But that resistance never turned into enough offense on the other side.
Aiden Flora led Iowa State on the ground with 86 yards on 17 carries, while Jalen Raynor went 16 of 29 for only 98 yards through the air. The Cyclones never matched BYU’s pace, with the Cougars putting points on the board one quarter at a time and staying in control.
BYU’s run game was a different story without LJ Martin, who is out four to six weeks with a lower body injury, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Cougars had to piece things together with three other backs, and that group managed just 54 yards on 17 carries. Even so, the passing game was more than enough to carry the night.
That’s the version of BYU UCF will need to be ready for when the Cougars come to Orlando on Oct. 24.
First, though, No. 8 BYU has a major test at home against No.
2 Notre Dame. Iowa State is also still on the Knights’ schedule, with the Cyclones set to visit the Bounce House on Nov.
Elsewhere in the AP Top 25, No. 25 Pittsburgh saw its winning streak end in a 21-17 loss to North Carolina.
The Panthers were again tough against the run, holding the Tar Heels to a net gain of 20 rushing yards, but North Carolina found its breakthrough through the air. Billy Edwards Jr. connected with Shamar Easter on a 75-yard go-ahead touchdown, and that was Easter’s only catch of the game.
Pittsburgh had taken a 10-0 lead by the second quarter, but two interceptions from Holden Geriner, who was filling in for the injured Mason Heintschel, kept the Panthers from building on it. The loss knocked Pittsburgh out of the AP Top 25. When the Panthers played UCF in Week 2, they also held the Knights to a net gain of just 20 rushing yards and won 12-7.
No. 22 Houston, meanwhile, bounced back from its comeback win over UCF with a 35-16 road victory at Kansas State.
Conner Weigman and tight end Patrick Overmyer were the engine there. Overmyer led Houston with eight catches for 83 yards, and half of his receptions went for touchdowns.
In other words, all but one of Houston’s touchdowns came on passes from Weigman to Overmyer.
The Cougars also controlled the ground game, finishing with 233 rushing yards to Kansas State’s 117. Re’Shaun Sanford II and Makhi Hughes did most of the heavy lifting, combining for 168 yards on 34 carries, and Hughes added the only rushing touchdown of the day. Kansas State, using a near-even split of run and pass, got 182 yards from Avery Johnson, who completed 16 of 30 throws.
Houston moved up two spots to No. 20 in the AP Top 25 after the win.
In Other News...
BYU Just Made A Clear Statement Before Notre Dame
BYU is leaning into tradition for one of the biggest stages on its schedule. The Cougars announced they will wear their classic royal home jerseys with white pants and a white helmet, finished with a royal blue facemask, for the matchup against Notre Dame, a look that calls back to the programs identity from the 1980s and 1990s.
It is also a deliberate choice in a season where BYU has rotated through several uniform combinations, but wanted something more recognizable for this one. The classic set was last worn in November 2025 against TCU, and the selection feels aimed at matching the moment as much as the opponent, with the Cougars choosing a familiar brand for a high-profile game. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Added A Tradition Twist To Notre Dame Week
BYU is leaning into a familiar look for one of its biggest nonconference stages of the season, unveiling a white helmet with the royal blue stretch Y logo, a royal blue uniform and white pants with royal blue stripes for Saturdays game against Notre Dame. The timing adds a little extra texture to a matchup that already carries plenty of tradition, especially with the Cougars taking a throwback route that has not been used against the Irish since 1993.
The combination was last worn in a game against TCU the previous year, giving this weekends choice a bit of an old-school feel without straying far from BYUs identity. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MDT, with ABC carrying the game, and the uniforms add one more layer to a meeting that figures to draw plenty of attention well before the opening snap. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Has A Short-Yardage Problem It Must Solve Before Notre Dame
BYUs red-zone issues against Iowa State offered a clear reminder that short-yardage football is still very much a work in progress, especially without star running back LJ Martin in the mix. The Cougars finished with two touchdowns in five red-zone trips, and the absence of a reliable between-the-tackles option forced the offense to lean harder on the passing game once the field tightened.
Three failed red-zone drives told the story of an attack that could move the ball but had trouble finishing when the margin shrank. Backup backs had a difficult time creating yards inside, and even the throws BYU needed in those moments were not easy to complete, leaving the Cougars with a problem they need to sort through quickly before Notre Dame arrives. [Read more 🡒]