BYU’s offense had the tall task of adapting their offense to playing without star running back LJ Martin. Coming into this game, the Cougars had averaged 235.5 rushing yards per game and 179.7 passing yards per game, averaging a total of 415.2 yards of total offense (last week’s struggle in the Texas rain included). Leaning on the passing game, Bear Bachmeier and Legend Glasker, BYU successfully flipped that script. BYU had a season high of 329 yards through the air and a solid 177 yards on the ground, for 506 total yards.
Just as importantly to their game plan and style of play, Kalani Sitake’s team kept the turnovers low. They had a single turnover against Iowa State, and it was on special teams. The offense has been turnover-free in four of their five games so far. As a team, they have had three turnovers, averaging 0.6 per game. Bear Bachmeier has been particularly sharp with only one turnover so far this season.
I liked the aggressiveness BYU showed, even if it didn’t pay off as it should have. The Cougars went for it on fourth down three times, two of them in easy field goal range. They were 0-3 on those attempts. More frustrating than going for it in those situations was how they went for it. First off, they didn’t run their Rocky Mountain Tim Tebow quarterback once in those short-yardage, all-or-nothing situations. Second, they threw on two of them, both into the end zone, and both had the ball hit receivers in the hands but fall incomplete. In seeing the glass half full, hopefully they get those flaws ironed out now and not in big games like Notre Dame or the Holy War.
Another area of concern for BYU is unsurprisingly in the running game, particularly from their running backs. The Cougars' running backs had 17 carries for 54 yards and one touchdown against Iowa State’s run defense, which has struggled. Still, the Cougars will enter the game against Notre Dame averaging 223.8 rushing yards, 209.8 passing yards, 433.4 total yards, and 35 points per game. There’s a lot more to be happy and optimistic about than to worry about.
BYU is 27-0 at home when scoring points in all four quarters under Kalani Sitake, and has won 19 straight when accomplishing this feat. The Cougars hunt at night, as they are 41-4 in their last 45 night games and are 14-1 at home since the start of the 2024 season. Home field at night will be a big advantage for the Cougs when Notre Dame visits next week.
Offensive Play of the Game
Bear Bachmeier's beautiful pass to Legend Glasker late in the third quarter was the play of the game. Glasker was double-covered on third and long, and he still burned the defenders. Bachmeier almost hit him in stride, and the BYU freshman phenom was off to the races for a 75-yard touchdown. With LJ Martin out, Glasker and Bachmeier were leaned on even more than usual. Glasker had five catches for 99 yards, including this touchdown, and had a carry for 15 yards running the ball.
Legend Glasker burns double coverage, and Bear Bachmeier hits him almost in stride for a 75-yard touchdown strike! Beautiful play! https://t.co/wccIYB8U1L
— Phillip Riggs (@phillipriggs85) October 10, 2026
Offensive Player of the Game
Bear Bachmeier is once again the hero of the game. With LJ Martin out, Bachmeier did it all for BYU. Bachmeier was 22 of 30 for 329 yards with two passing touchdowns and had nine carries for 109 yards on the ground. This was his fourth career game with at least 300 yards passing. This season, he is 77 of 116 for 1,033 yards with eight passing touchdowns and has 36 carries for 239 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Just as importantly in five games he has only a single turnover.
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