Another slow start turned BYU vs TCU into an agonizing battle of attrition

I did not have fun watching BYU win their first Lone Star-set game against TCU since 2007.

Yes, it feels incredibly relieving to see the 17-10 final score favor the Cougars following the bye week. It feels twice as comforting to know that BYU can win in Fort Worth, a setting that has hosted a Horned Frog blowout every time the Cougars have come into town over the past 18 years.

But it was one of the most hideous offensive displays I've ever seen, and well below the expectations of a top-10 team in BYU. The Fort Worth curse is over -- celebrate according to your tradition -- but

I wanted to scream at my iPhone as I witnessed each of BYU's two opening drives result in 3-and-out, but seeing as I was attending sacrament meeting across the world in Japan, better judgement prevailed and I held my tongue.

I was wrong to assume that Aaron Roderick had learned from the slow start against Arizona, where star running back LJ Martin was criminally underutilized in the first half. Frustration turned to horror when I saw Martin duck his head to enter the medical tent.

After a largely healthy junior year, the hope was that Martin could conclude his BYU career with a clean bill of health. But a ball of tape around his ankle sealed the deal: Martin wouldn't continue in Fort Worth. Not much later, Isaiah Glasker was also declared out for the rest of the game as he watched from the sideline without his pads on.

Then the rain came down.

A 0-0 deadlock was stamped across the scoreboard through the first quarter. We all knew what was on the way, and destiny provided a defensive struggle and an active evening for the special teams.

Bachmeier passed for just 62 yards though the air. He led all rushers with 66 yards. BYU was out-gained by TCU in total yardage, 216 to 259.

The first five possessions ended in a punt, averaging just 5.2 plays per drive. This game featured 12 total punts, a number unthinkable to anyone who does not reside in the state of Iowa. Neither team scored more than once in any quarter.

BYU's offensive line is supposed to the rock for this offense, but their five false starts set the offense back in early tone-setting drives. Bachmeier's arm didn't help matters much either; his accuracy faltered and he completed just 45.8% of his passing attempts.

But when the team needed production most, Bachmeier took matters into his own hands, willing the offense forward on the ground in crunch time. He picked up 50 yards in the Cougars' final scoring drive, capping BYU's final drive with a gusty 21-yard parade to the goal line, dragging tacklers and extending the ball into the end zone with just two minutes on the clock.

It was an ugly game, and it was a frustrating game, but you can tell the quality of a team based on whether they win slobberknockers like this. In close games, Kalani Sitake's teams win. Today was no exception.

To the offense's credit, they took care of the football. That's nothing new for a team that has been perfect on the turnover teeter-totter in three of their four games this season, but it's a crucial detail in games where offensive production is a commodity.

For those critical of Roderick's playcalling, understanding the team's situation and controlling the football above all else proved to be a valuable contribution. Never desperate, never hurried, the team didn't need to prove they could beat TCU -- the onus was on the Horned Frogs to take risks.

And they took that risk. For all of the Cougars' offensive shortcomings, they controlled the one stat that ultimately mattered most: the turnover margin. That's thanks to the heroic efforts of Poppinga's defense. A unit that allowed just 10 points despite their extended stay between the sidelines. They forced one turnover -- a Faletau Satuala interception on fourth down that he returned inside the 15-yard line -- opening the doors for BYU to take the lead and christen the scoreboard.

No, it wasn't pretty. No, it wasn't fun. No, the final margin of victory likely won't do the Cougars any favors in the eyes of the CFP selection committee. But a 7-point win does cover the spread, if you'd like a silver lining, and 4-0 is a much more appealing record than 3-1 for a team that could need a practically perfect regular season.

BYU got their win in a tar pit game in Texas. We'll hold our breath on updates about LJ Martin and Isaiah Glasker, but just take this moment to breath. Let's hope this is the last time the Cougars struggle to this degree in 2026.

They'll look ahead to a home matchup with Iowa State next Friday.

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