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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is seeing a lot of quality reps during his first spring practice session in Provo. March 2, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier takes questions from the media following the Cougar's second open spring practice session. March 2, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier took questions from the media following the team’s second spring practice media session, much like he did throughout the 2025 football season. The now grizzled veteran was typically short in his replies, but appeared noticeably more relaxed than he did during most sessions last year when carrying the enormous burden of a true freshman starting quarterback.

And why shouldn’t he be, all factors considered?

Had things playing out normally, last Monday’s media availability should have presented a relatively unknown commodity in the form of a redshirt freshman battling for the starting quarterback slot vacated by Jake Retzlaff. But of course nothing was normal during the 2025 season, with what Bachmeier overcame and then produced standing as pretty darn extraordinary.

Yes, this is Bachmeier’s first spring practice session at BYU following his transfer from Stanford last May. He transferred with little to no inkling that he’d be endowed with even an opportunity to start at quarterback as Retzlaff, at the time, was in good standing with the football program being a couple of months away from the civil sexual assault accusations that ultimately preempted his career at BYU.

All of it seems so long ago, and now it’s Bachmeier leading the team as it prepares for the 2026 season. And considering all he showed last year, it’s a great spot for not only Bachmeier, but for the entire BYU football team to be in.

“He knows the offense so well now,” said BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “We can just really play ball now. From day one he has the whole (playbook) down and we’re doing some pretty advanced stuff with the first group now when he’s in there. But the biggest thing, for Bear, is the offseason conditioning. This is his first college offseason…He’s a true sophomore, but he’s a veteran now for sure.”

So the best could very well be yet to come, and it’s reasonable to believe Bachmeier will prove even more adept and advanced than the true freshman that led BYU to a 12-2 season and a Pop-tarts Bowl win.

As Roderick mentioned, he’ll now have a full offseason to develop physically while receiving plenty of repetitions with an exciting group of receivers looking to replace standouts such as Chase Roberts, Parker Kingston and tight end Carsen Ryan.

“I’m knocking off rust, but also building chemistry with the new guys,” Bachmeier said. “So it’s been good.”

Straight and to the point, as always, without any desire or need to expound further. It’s just been, in his words, ‘Good.’

As for the receivers vying to replace the team’s three leading pass-catchers from a season ago, it’s well underway. The group includes veterans like Jojo Phillips and Cody Hagen, along with some up-and-comers like Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper, true freshmen Jaron Pula and Terrance Saryon, along with tight end transfer Walker Lyons, among several others.

“I have confidence in all those guys,” Bachmeier said before mentioning one receiver in particular. “I think it’s lined up for Jojo to have a great year, so he’s looking really good.”

As for his personal development, Bachmeier expressed an apparent grin when thinking of how this spring practice session will work in contrast to the firehose he was drinking out of last August, in terms of learning what he could in order in a very compressed amount of time.

“Last year was definitely a confined time to really divulge into the playbook and take all that all in,” he said. “Having all that under my belt, it will be very beneficial.”

Again, short and to the point, but understandably optimistic for what his full offseason in Provo may yield.

Backing up Bear

With Bachmeier firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback for the coming 2026 season, the question of who will be backing up the sophomore is certainly one of the central stories this spring.

In one corner there’s Treyson Bourguet who is entering his senior season who is in his third season in Provo. Bourguet battled Bachmeier for the starting nod last fall before ultimately being beaten out by the then true freshman.

Bourguet’s main competition could come from Enoch Watson, a true freshman quarterback from Queen Creek, Arizona who was coached up by former BYU great Max Hall during his high school career.

“He’s a super athlete and he has a really live arm,” Roderick said of the 6-foot-3, 215 pound freshman. “He only played one year in a really passing offense … We feel his best days are ahead of him. He’s developing and he’s a very talented guy.”