BYU’s Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier Leads Cougars to Big 12 Title Game After Statement Win Over UCF
It’s been nearly two decades since BYU last hoisted a conference championship trophy, but if Saturday’s performance is any indication, the Cougars are charging full speed toward changing that narrative - and they’re doing it behind a true freshman quarterback who’s playing well beyond his years.
With former BYU great Max Hall in the building - the last quarterback to lead the program to a conference title - Bear Bachmeier delivered a poised, playmaking performance that helped BYU close out its regular season with a commanding 41-21 win over UCF. That victory locked the Cougars into a rematch with Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game next weekend in Arlington, Texas.
“The next best thing to a 12-0 year is 11-1, which we are,” said head coach Kalani Sitake. “Our only loss was to a top-five ranked Texas Tech, so we are looking forward to the rematch.”
BYU’s 11-1 Finish Checks All the Right Boxes
This win didn’t just improve BYU’s record to 11-1 (8-1 in Big 12 play), tying Texas Tech atop the conference standings - it also showcased the kind of resilience and explosiveness championship teams are built on.
UCF came out swinging, scoring touchdowns on its first two drives to take a quick 14-0 lead. The Knights were playing with their postseason hopes on the line, and for a moment, it looked like BYU might be in for a long afternoon.
But then came the spark. And it started with a little bit of luck, a lot of hustle, and a brotherly connection.
Bear to Tiger: A Momentum-Changing Moment
Facing third-and-6 from their own 39-yard line, with the offense sputtering and UCF’s defense dialed in, Bachmeier dropped back under pressure. He took a hit as he released the ball, and what looked like a busted play turned into a game-changer.
The pass - off-target and unintended - ended up in the hands of his older brother, Tiger Bachmeier, who made a slick spin move to pick up exactly six yards and keep the drive alive.
“It was a heck of a play by Tiger because I wasn’t throwing it to him,” Bear said afterward. “I got hit and it was a lucky deal and Tiger ended up catching it. It was a good momentum swing, and we executed from there.”
That drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by LJ Martin, and from that point on, BYU outscored UCF 41-7.
Parker Kingston’s All-Purpose Masterclass
As the game wore on, BYU found more ways to break the Knights’ will - and Parker Kingston was at the center of it all.
With BYU up 24-14 in the third quarter, UCF was forced to punt after a sack by Jack Kelly. The 39-yard kick didn’t travel far, but it traveled right into the hands of Kingston, who had something special in mind.
“It was a middle return, and I knew if I got a little help up front we would be able to take one back,” Kingston said. “We had talked about it all week.”
Kingston, who had been battling food poisoning over the Thanksgiving break, found the seam he needed, weaved through traffic, and took it to the house for a backbreaking touchdown that stretched the lead to 31-14.
But he wasn’t done.
Sitake Rolls the Dice - and Hits Big
Kalani Sitake has never been shy about taking risks, and with BYU clinging to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, he made another gutsy call.
Facing fourth-and-3 at the UCF 46-yard line, the Cougars kept the offense on the field. With the defense expecting a run from either Bachmeier or Martin, BYU instead dialed up a play-action pass.
Bachmeier faked the handoff, waited for Kingston to clear the formation, and then hit him in stride. Kingston did the rest, racing 46 yards for his second touchdown of the day.
“LJ was gashing them,” Kingston said. “With our motions, (the Knights) weren’t able to follow and they’d get lost and we were able to open up the middle of the field.”
Between receiving, returning, and rushing, Kingston racked up a career-high 181 all-purpose yards. He became the first player in the Big 12 in nearly a decade to post 100+ receiving yards, a receiving touchdown, and a punt return touchdown in the same game.
From Max to Bear: A New Chapter in BYU QB History
Max Hall, who went 32-7 as BYU’s starting quarterback from 2007 to 2009, was in the building to witness the next big thing under center for the Cougars.
Bear Bachmeier, the first true freshman to start a season opener for BYU, has now led the program to an 11-1 record in his debut season. It’s the kind of start that makes you wonder just how high the ceiling is.
The last time BYU won a conference title was in 2007 - with Hall at quarterback. The only time BYU has won at AT&T Stadium in Arlington?
That came in 2009, when Hall led the Cougars to a stunning 14-13 upset over No. 3 Oklahoma.
Now, Bachmeier has a chance to follow in those footsteps - and maybe even blaze a trail of his own.
A win over Texas Tech this Saturday wouldn’t just earn BYU its first Big 12 title. It would also put a freshman quarterback in the record books and set the stage for a potential College Football Playoff run.
The Cougars are knocking. And Bear Bachmeier just might be the one to kick the door down.