Bear Bachmeier Trending Toward Full Strength Ahead of Pop-Tarts Bowl Showdown
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier isn’t quite ready to declare himself fully healthy-but he’s getting close. And with the Pop-Tarts Bowl looming, that’s exactly what the Cougars want to hear.
“Feeling good. Feeling prepared,” Bachmeier said this week. “I’ve been out there, slowly increasing the reps and feeling good.”
When asked if he’s at 100%, Bachmeier didn’t hesitate to keep it real: “Getting there.”
That’s a promising update for BYU fans, especially after watching him gut through the Big 12 title game against Texas Tech. Bachmeier was clearly limited in that one, with what appeared to be an ankle injury hampering his mobility and rhythm. Despite the visible discomfort, there was never a serious conversation about turning to a backup.
“He was a little banged up,” offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said. “But with the adrenaline and everything, he kept saying, ‘No, I’m good to go.’”
That kind of toughness is part of what’s earned Bachmeier the trust of this coaching staff. And while he didn’t practice during the first week of bowl prep-walking around in a protective boot instead-Roderick made it clear the injury isn’t expected to linger past this month.
“He’s good. It’s not anything anybody’s worried about,” Roderick added.
Bowl Game Mindset: No Playoff, No Problem
Let’s be honest-this isn’t the postseason BYU was hoping for. The Cougars had their eyes on the College Football Playoff, and when that didn’t materialize, there was a brief buzz about a potential bowl matchup with Notre Dame. That, too, didn’t pan out.
But if there’s any lingering disappointment, it’s not showing up on the practice field.
“The vibe I’ve gotten is everybody is excited to play,” Roderick said. “These guys like football.
We’ll show up and play anywhere. Put the ball down there in the parking lot and we’ll play.”
That mentality is going to be tested-not just in terms of preparation, but in player availability. In today’s college football landscape, bowl opt-outs have become standard, especially for NFL-bound talent. But so far, BYU isn’t seeing much of that.
“I haven’t heard of any yet,” Roderick said. “As far as I know, everyone is excited to play in this game. We had everyone out here at practice, dressed.”
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill backed that up, saying the “big majority” of his players are expected to suit up in Orlando.
“That’s the way of the world right now,” Hill said, referring to the opt-out trend. “But I don’t see it really happening that much at BYU. We have great kids that want to play one more game together.”
Jay Hill on Kalani Sitake’s Extension-and His Own Future
While the focus is squarely on Georgia Tech, there’s been some buzz behind the scenes about coaching futures-particularly after head coach Kalani Sitake inked a long-term extension.
For Hill, that was nothing but good news.
“Elated,” he said. “Kalani is the best guy in the world to work for.
He’s super fair. He loves us.
He’s passionate about BYU. Kalani being here is a huge deal.”
Still, Sitake’s job security does mean there’s no immediate path for Hill to ascend within the program. And with his growing reputation as one of college football’s sharpest defensive minds, it’s fair to wonder when (not if) he’ll get a shot to lead a program of his own.
“Sure. That always is intriguing,” Hill admitted when asked about head coaching aspirations.
“But you just never know. You’ve got to be where your feet are.
That’s a hard question. Yes, but no.
I love where I’m at and it would have to be something where everyone says, ‘I get that.’ It would have to be a great situation for family and everybody.”
For now, Hill is locked in on the task at hand: getting his defense ready to face Georgia Tech, and helping this BYU team close out the season with a statement. And with Bachmeier trending toward full strength, the Cougars have every reason to believe they can do just that.