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Former BYU All-American tight end Jonny Harline plays the national anthem on his guitar before the start of a game against TCU at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU's Evan Johnson sacks TCU quarterback Josh Hoover in a Big 12 football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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A true testament for great players and great teams is to bounce back after a tough defeat. Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeir and BYU passed this test with flying colors as the Cougars crushed TCU 44-13 Saturday night in Big 12 football.

Bachmeier, who had his worst performance the week previous against Texas Tech, put together arguably his best performance of the season.

Bachmeier was 23 of 33 for 296 yards and one touchdown. He also had 59 yards rushing on 10 attempts with a touchdown. But most importantly, Bachmeier didn’t have any turnovers and was a steady hand leading the Cougars to their ninth victory on the season against just one loss.

Defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa was certainly impressed with the Cougar signal caller.

“He’s poised,” Tanuvasa stated. “And I think we’ve seen that, I think we have recognized that this entire year and that gives a lot of confidence to our defense in our offense because it allows us not to worry about doing something extra. It allows us to focus on our role because I know my committed QB is poised and will go out and do his role.”

Bachmeier spread it out between eight different players with Carsen Ryan making four catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Parker Kingston actually led the Cougars in receiving yards with 80 yards on five catches while Chase Roberts hauled in five receptions for 50 yards with one of those catches a critical fourth down conversion that eventually led to a Cougar score.

Defense and special teams had some stellar moments as well.

Tyler Wall had his first pick six since his high school days. Faletau Satuala also had an interception. BYU registered four sacks including a well executed corner blitz where Evan Johnson nearly de-cleated TCU quarterback Josh Hoover.

Meanwhile, Will Ferrin kicked three field goals, including one that was 52 yards while converting another five straight extra points. He has now made 110 straight PATs.

The reality is that BYU totally controls its destiny. Win out and BYU will likely get another shot at Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game in Arlington, Texas.

Melting faces: Former BYU All-American Jonny Harline broke out his electric guitar for a rendition of the national anthem that would have made Jimi Hendrix proud. This was no basic guitar effort but some complicated riffs that showed Harline is indeed a talent. The former tight end is definitely part of Cougar lore best known for the catch on catch on his knees on the final play of the game that delivered BYU a 33-31 comeback win against archrival Utah in 2006.

Hairline also entertained the fans before the game with some heavy metal classics. It didn’t take long for fans to notice that this isn’t just a hobby for Harline, but rather a passion.

Observe and report: Representatives from the Pop Tarts and Cheez-It Bowls — both played in Orlando — were in attendance. Obviously, BYU wants to be in neither of those contests but rather in the College Football Playoffs. The Pop Tarts Bowl features a Big 12 vs. ACC match-up and TCU with a 6-4 record, like BYU, is bowl eligible.

BYU Athletics Hall of Fame honors: Four-time World Series winner Jack Morris headlined a very strong class of inductees for the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame. The MLB Hall of Famer played in an era where pitchers tried to finish the games they started and the former Detroit Tiger, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jay, and Cleveland Indians hurler often had harsh words for any manager that came from the dugout to take him out of the game. Morris, who played for BYU in the late 1960s, finished his MLB career with 254 wins against 186 losses. He also had one no-hitter and struck out 2,478 hitters.

In fact, Morris’ ability to finish games led to one of the most unusual statistics in baseball history. Morris, who played his entire career in the American League after the advent of the designated hitter (DH), only had one official at bat in his career.

Former BYU offensive lineman Trevor Matich was also inducted. Matich now works as an analyst and commentator for ESPN and had a nice NFL career as a center and long snapper. He’s the only quarterback in college football history to play center with four All-American quarterbacks as he made snaps to Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young and then finally Robbie Bosco when BYU won the national championship in 1984.

It was also a welcome sight to see Roger Reid out of the hospital after he nearly died after being run over by a golf cart. The former men’s basketball coach led BYU to a 152-77 record during his tenure including five NCAA appearances and three conference titles.

Other inductees included volleyball player Alexis Gray, all-time BYU leading scorer in men’s basketball Tyler Haws, track and field star Nachelle Stewart Mackie and longtime BYU sports photographer Mark Philbrick.

Extra Points: Carsen Ryan’s 43-yard TD reception was a season-long. It was his second-longest reception of his collegiate career. Had a 45-yarder at UCLA in 2023. … Bachmeier tied the record for most rushing TDs by a BYU quarterback in a single season with ten. He looks to break the record held jointly by Steve Young (1982), Taysom Hill (2013) and Zach Wilson (2020). …  Parker Kingston has over 1,000 career receiving yards in his career at BYU. … LJ Martin recorded his 20th touchdown of his career and sixth this season. … Wide receiver Chase Roberts now has had a catch in 36 consecutive games. … Snow College transfer Reggie Frischknecht had his first catch as a Cougar for a seven-yard gain. … Will Ferrin’s 52-yard field goal that opened the scoring was his third 50-yard plus field goal in 2025. … Captains for the coin toss were running back LJ Martin, safety Tanner Wall, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho, and wide receiver Chase Roberts. … To honor veterans and those serving in the Armed Forces, members of the BYU Army ROTC carried out the American flag (SFC Harles McDevitt) and State of Utah flag (Major Jake Johnson) while freshman offensive lineman Andrew Williams carried out the Big 12 flag. … Alumni flags were carried out by Michael Alisa (running back 2008, 2011-2014), Walter Kahaialili (offensive lineman 2006-2011) and Charlie Peterson (quarterback 1995, 1998-2001). … Longtime season ticker holders and benefactors Allen and Kaye Peterson lit the Y before the start of the game. … Attendance was announced at 64,447 (a sellout) and fans were encouraged to wear blue.