BYU’s 28-20 loss to Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium came with a clear split in the grades: the defensive front earned the highest marks, while most of the offensive groups were stuck in the lower range after a night that started badly and never fully recovered.
At quarterback, Bear Bachmeier took the toughest hit. He flashed the kind of talent that has already made him a standout early in his BYU career, including a perfect 75-yard touchdown strike to Legend Glasker, but the four interceptions overshadowed everything else.
The turnovers were costly, and the performance was even rougher than the stat line suggests, with Bachmeier also getting away with at least four more throws that could have been picked. He looked uncharacteristically careless and at times confused by the coverages he was seeing.
His running ability was only so-so, and the four giveaways were the biggest reason the Cougars left with a loss.
The running backs didn’t provide much relief. Sione Moa was better than he was a week earlier, but 37 yards on 10 carries wasn’t enough to make Utah respect the run game.
LJ Martin was back in the lineup, yet his return didn’t move the needle much, as he finished with 19 yards on seven carries. The group did hold up in pass protection and was a little better than it had been the previous week, but the production on the ground was still too limited to change the shape of the offense.
BYU got more from its receivers and tight ends than from most other offensive spots. Glasker’s 75-yard score was the game’s biggest offensive play, though he had just 43 yards on six catches outside that burst.
Walker Lyons was a bright spot with seven receptions for 97 yards, even if only two of those catches came in the second half when BYU was pressing late. Kyler Kasper also had a highlight with a twisting 27-yard grab early in the third quarter, but he was otherwise too quiet to make a major impact.
Up front, the offensive line had its own share of blame. The run game never found much room, with the lanes staying tight for most of the night.
That lack of push helped keep BYU from establishing any real ground threat, and the pass protection also broke down at key moments. Two of Bachmeier’s interceptions came when he was forced to throw off his back foot because of pressure, which put the spotlight back on the line.
The group was serviceable, but not nearly good enough to ease the burden on the offense.
The best BYU unit was the defensive line. Bodie Schoonover stood out with a couple of sacks and a forced fumble, and the front generally held up well against Utah’s run game.
It did, however, allow Devon Dampier to escape the pocket too often for damaging gains. Keanu Tanuvasa also made his presence felt with three tackles for loss and helped keep Utah running back Wayshawn Parker to 36 yards on 14 carries.
The linebackers were solid overall, though a few missed tackles hurt. Cade Uluava led the team with seven tackles and added a sack, while Isaiah Glasker’s missed sack on a 3rd-and-7 proved costly when Utah turned that sequence into a touchdown a few plays later.
The secondary had a rough start. Early coverage busts helped Utah build a 14-0 lead, and the Utes could have done even more damage if not for several dropped passes.
Tommy Prassas forced a key fumble and may have turned in his best game as a Cougar safety, and the group settled in as the night went on. Jayven Williams also drew another questionable pass interference call, his second straight week getting flagged in a way that stood out.
On the sideline, the coaching grade reflected the same uneven feel. BYU looked unprepared from the opening whistle, and that has to land at least partly on the staff.
The team did adjust after the early punch, and defensively the first two Utah possessions were the main stretch where Kelly Poppinga’s play-calling drew concern. Offensively, Aaron Roderick seemed to lean too aggressive when a more conservative approach might have fit better, and then too conservative when the moment called for more.
But the biggest issue was the way BYU came out of the gate, not ready enough for the moment.
In Other News...
Bear Bachmeiers Collapse Turned BYUs Best Chance Against Utah
Bear Bachmeier gave BYU just enough early spark to make the rivalry feel manageable, and for a while the Cougars had the kind of offensive rhythm that can change a game in a hurry. His 75-yard touchdown pass helped set the tone in a first half that suggested BYU might have found the right answers against Utah, even as the matchup tightened into the kind of physical, possession-by-possession fight these games usually become.
Then the second half turned into a different story, and the turnovers piled up at the worst possible time. Bachmeier finished with four interceptions, and each one chipped away at BYUs chances to build on its early momentum or recover once Utahs defense started dictating the pace. In a 28-20 loss, the Cougars were left to wonder how different the night might have looked if their quarterbacks best stretch had lasted a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Big 12 Path Just Got A Lot Tougher After Utah Loss
The loss in Salt Lake City did more than sting in the moment. It tightened the road ahead for BYU in the Big 12 race, with Utahs 28-20 win leaving the Cougars at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, a mark that now puts a premium on every remaining league game. For a team that had been trying to stay in the thick of the title picture, the margin for error is suddenly a lot thinner.
Utah, meanwhile, kept rolling and is now sitting at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play, which is why the Utes have suddenly become such a heavy favorite in the league chase. ESPNs projections reflect that shift, giving Utah a 93% chance to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and a 90% chance to make the College Football Playoff, a reminder of how quickly one rivalry result can reshape the path for both teams. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Heads To Utah With Playoff Pressure And One Huge Concern
Saturdays trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium has turned into one of the biggest games on BYUs schedule, with the Cougars heading into a Big 12 showdown that carries real weight in both the conference race and the College Football Playoff picture. Utah arrives unbeaten and sitting atop the league, while BYU comes in with one loss and a No. 9 ranking in the CFP standings, leaving little margin for error as the season tightens.
The Cougars do have some encouraging news on offense, with LJ Martin expected to play despite dealing with an injury. The bigger concern may be on the other side of the ball, where BYU is managing defensive absences at a time when every possession matters against a Utah team that has been hard to knock off balance. [Read more 🡒]