Brief

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier shines with 329 yards and three TDs against Iowa State

The freshman transferred from Stanford and helped BYU stay unbeaten with a career‑high performance.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 03:50:22 GMT

BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier delivered one of his best all‑around games on Saturday, throwing for 329 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards in a 24‑10 victory over Iowa State, the Associated Press reported.

The performance made Bachmeier only the fourth Big 12 quarterback to finish a game with at least 325 passing yards and 100 rushing yards without being sacked. It also marked his fourth 300‑yard passing game in 19 career starts for the Cougars.

For the season, Bachmeier has accumulated 1,033 passing yards, eight touchdowns and a single interception, helping BYU maintain a perfect 5‑0 record. Coach Kalani Sitake praised his work ethic, saying, "I can tell you Bear has a great work ethic. I haven’t met anyone (else) that grows that quickly and matures that quickly, even within the scheme."

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, credited with developing BYU’s recent quarterback talent, highlighted Bachmeier’s rapid grasp of the playbook. "He gives me so much confidence and allows me to go out and play free and play my game," Bachmeier said. Roderick added, "We were doing things last year that I normally would have done with a third‑year starter. Now this year we’re doing stuff with him that I’ve never done with any quarterback before."

Bachmeier follows a line of successful BYU signal‑callers, including Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall and Jake Retzlaff, who helped elevate the program into a perennial Top 25 contender. His success echoes the legacy of former head coach LaVell Edwards, who built BYU’s reputation as a quarterback factory.

Earlier this season, Bachmeier transferred from Stanford ahead of his freshman year, attracted by BYU’s history of developing quarterbacks. The win over Iowa State sets the stage for BYU’s upcoming clash with No. 2 Notre Dame.

Key facts

Bear Bachmeier threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State (winnipegfreepress.com)
He also rushed for 109 yards and was not sacked (winnipegfreepress.com)
The performance was his fourth 300‑yard passing game in 19 starts for BYU (winnipegfreepress.com)
BYU improved to 5‑0 on the season (winnipegfreepress.com)
Coach Kalani Sitake praised Bachmeier’s work ethic (winnipegfreepress.com)