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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier breaks a tackle during his final touchdown run versus TCU. October 3, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier leaps over a TCU defender during a 17-10 win. October 3, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc celebrates a first down conversion with his teammates during a 17-10 win over TCU. October 3, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU edge Hunter Clegg leads his team in a pregame cheer versus TCU. October 3, 2026

Courtesy BYU Photo

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It a venue where old-school-style football is presented prominently, it was fitting that the game was eventually taken over by and won by old fashioned football and by a player whose style and jersey number embodies the play of yesteryear.

Donning his now familiar No. 47, it was BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier streching the ball across the goal line with just over two minutes remaining to put the finishing touch on his team’s gritty 17-10 win over TCU on Saturday. It wasn’t the game-winning touchdown, but considering the course of the game to that point, it was abundantly necessary in giving the Cougars a 17-7 cushion when almost nothing was going right for BYU’s offense.

“We just had to overcome a lot of adversity, but I was really proud of the way the guys did it,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake . “They hung together, made some adjustments, and … I like ending the game how we did, which was a long drive getting in the end zone, Bear just took over.”

Bachmeier did as much during wet and rainy conditions, which played a big role in helping stymie BYU’s passing attack, along with having to make do services of top running back LJ Martin who left the contest in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. All of it conspired to put a heavy burden on Bachmeier, but true to form, he delivered when it mattered most, mashing his way through the Horned Frog defense for a 21-yard touchdown run that Cougar fans won’t soon forget.

“He’s a winner, man, and you can see it,” said BYU center Bruce Mitchell. ” … There’s nothing stopping him from getting in the end zone … He’s just such a tough kid. I mean, demeanor-wise, he’s just a winner, and you feel that in the huddle, and (we) certainly felt that on the last drive.”

The drive began on BYU’s own 22 yard line with just over eight minutes remaining, and featured a bevy of running plays from both Bachmeier and backup running back Journee Tonga over the course of nine plays. On Bachmeier’s final touchdown run he again, as he so often has during his still young career, took on several would-be tacklers before diving into the endzone on shear force of will among other superior strengths.

“If you look at his lower body, I mean, he looks like a big running back,” said BYU running back Preston Rex. “So those safeties, they try to fly down and try to go right at his hip, and they just bounce off.”

As mentioned, the circumstances leading up to Bachmeier’s last minute heroics weren’t exactly ideal and certainly weren’t pretty. Drive after drive showcased uncommon penalties committed on top of an inability to open up the offense to much of any degree. Overall the Cougars managed just 216 yards of total offense with Bachmeier going just 11-24 through the air for a paltry 64 yards.

“Bear’s not happy about his performance,” Sitake said. “If you guys talk to him, I think it was just hard to get (going), and … the elements caused some issues. I don’t want to make excuses for him, but everyone had to play in it … And then we had issues with some penalties and false starts. That doesn’t happen to us often, but they were doing some movement up front and causing us some issues, and the refs weren’t giving us any help there.”

Fortunately, for BYU, TCU didn’t provide much on their end offensively, gaining just 259 yards and just the single touchdown that was scored late in the first half. Of course BYU’s defense had a lot to do with the Horned Frog’s offensive woes, and perhaps particularly a consistent pass rush which culminated into four timely sacks while aiding with more than several incompletions.

“I think (BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga) was just letting the boys go, you know, letting them just get after it,” Sitake said. ” … I also liked that we were able to have some really tight man coverage and take some chances … because it paid off.”

One particular disruption occurred early in the second quarter during a critical 4th-and-4 situation for TCU on BYU’s 35 yard line. The Cougar pass rush helped aide an errant throw from Horned Frog quarterback Jaden Craig which was picked off by BYU safety Faletau Satuala who returned it clear to TCU’s 16 yard line. Seven plays later saw Bachmeier top off the golden opportunity with an 8-yard touchdown run for the game’s first touchdown.

“He kind of just missed his spot and ended up throwing it to me,” Satuala said. “Then everyone was just blocking, and gave us some great blocks on that play. So, I’m just grateful for all the teammates who were just running down trying to trying to block.”

The interception proved to be the game’s lone turnover, which proved pivotal in the Cougar’s securing the win.

Although Saturday’s outcome wasn’t pretty by any means, the thousands of visiting BYU fans, most of whom stayed well after to receive autographs and receive high fives from the Cougar players — all of whom circled the stadium after, won’t soon be taking the win for granted. Nor should they when considering the fact that BYU last defeated TCU back in 2006 at historic Amon G. Stadium, where former great such as Davey O’Brien galloped his way in securing the Heisman Trophy back in 1938.

“The fans were awesome tonight here at TCU, and glad that we saw a bunch of our fans here,” Sitake concluded. “I love it because the last time our fans were here, it wasn’t fun. So, I’m glad that we were we got that win for them. But what a what a great environment.”