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BYU linebacker Maika Kaufusi (33) carries the U.S. flag onto the field before a college football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is upended by Arizona's Gavin Hunter in a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Marcia Harris, Special to the Herald

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Members of the 1976 football team were given the honor to ceremoniously light the “Y” before the start of the BYU football game against Arizona on Saturday. That Cougar team — led by Gifford Nielsen at quarterback — went 9-3, won the Western Athletic Conference for the first time and played Oklahoma State in the Tangerine Bowl.

Besides Nielsen, some of the other notable players on the team include back-up but future starting quarterback Marc Wilson and wide receiver Jay Miller (who caught a then-NCAA record of 22 balls in a game in 1973) along with future Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick.

Some three dozen players were able to make the trip to Provo to take part in lighting the Y as these former players are now in their late 60s or early 70s.

The make-up of that 1976 team was much different than what Cougar fans would witness today. Clay Blackwell was the only black player on that 1976 team, though he didn’t actually get on the field that season because of a medical redshirt.

“I was the only black guy on the team, but it was never an issue. It was so cool coming down here (to play),” Blackwell said.

Blackwell wasn’t the first black player to play at BYU as Ron Knight was on the 1970 team coached by Tommy Hudspeth. But Blackwell was the first black player to play for BYU that played high school football in the Beehive State.

Blackwell prepped at Bonneville High School in Ogden and was an honorable mention All-American in high school, setting all-time school records for rushing and scoring. He noted that he was recruited by Nebraska, Utah State and Wyoming but came to Provo. Blackwell was also a remarkable track and field athlete at Bonneville, winning the 100 and 220-yard dashes and he was voted as the top male athlete in Utah in 1974.

Blackwell was thrilled to be back among his former teammates, some of whom he hadn’t seen in 50 years.

“It was hard to identify some of them,” Blackwell said. “It’s been a long time.”

Like many former Cougar players of yesteryear that return Provo and come to LaVell Edwards Stadium, Blackwell was awed by the pre-game atmosphere.

“It’s pretty spectacular and it’s pretty exciting,” he said.

Bear shows off his arm (and legs)

The Cougar faithful were treated to a spectacular 61-yard pass completion from Bear Bachmeier to Legend Glasker. Since Bachmeier and Glasker are a sophomore and freshman, respectively, this is a connection that could excite the BYU football fan base for three seasons.

Bachmeier let go of the ball at his own 20-yard line and Glasker caught it at the Wildcat 20-yard line. Since it wasn’t a straight line shot, the ball had to travel at least 65 yards in the air. It didn’t hit Glasker perfectly in stride, allowing the Wildcat defender to tackle the Cougar receiver temporarily saving a touchdown. Bachmeier would then exhibit his arm strength on a crisp slant pass to Kyler Kasper for a 12-yard score that put BYU in control 28-17.

Bachmeier also showed off his running prowess with six rushing attempts for 37 yards and a 6.2 average with one touchdown to go along with three touchdowns through the air.

Establishing LJ Martin

The Cougar running back was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 but had a quiet game against Utah Tech last week, mostly because the blowout victory allowed a lot of players to carry the pigskin.

Martin didn’t necessarily have a huge presence in the Arizona game until the second half. Martin carried the rock 20 times for 98 times and moved the chains to keep Noah Fifita and the rest of the Wildcat defense off the field. Martin also caught two balls for 27 yards, showing off for NFL scouts his versatility.

Sack Attack

BYU had three sacks against Arizona which is difficult against the very mobile Noah Fifita. Tausili Akana registered two solo sacks and then teamed up with Keanu Tanuvasa for another.

Plenty of Yellow

There were a total of 14 penalties called in the game, seven on each team. BYU’s total yards in penalties was 59 yards while Arizona’s was 55.

Cougar Firsts

Linebacker Cade Uluave, a transfer from Cal, secured his first interception in a Cougar uniform and fourth overall in his career to set up a touchdown in the first quarter. Meanwhile, wide receiver Reggie Frischknecht had the first touchdown of his BYU career on a 25-yard reception in the second quarter. Kyler Kasper, a transfer from Oregon, hauled in his first two touchdown passes of his Cougar career in the second half to put the home team in front for good.

Extra points

The Kaufusi clan took care of the alumni flags as former BYU defensive lineman and defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi, along with his sons Bronson and Corbin, who also played defensive line for BYU and in the NFL, did the honors. … The Kaufusis also carried two of the team flags as linebacker Maika carried out the USA flag and defensive end Orion Maile-Kaufusi took care of the State of Utah flag. Back-up quarterback Treyson Bourget carried out the team flag. … Captains for the coin toss were tight end Roger Saleapaga II, offensive lineman Andrew Gentry, defensive lineman Bodie Schoonover and safety Faletau Satuala. … BYU — and head coach Kalani Sitake — has owned Arizona as the Cougars have won six straight against the Wildcats. The last Arizona victory over BYU was in 2008 in the Las Vegas Bowl. BYU leads the overall series 15-12-1. … At halftime, the 2026 BYU Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were recognized. Two of the inductees played football for the Cougars with former Outland trophy winner Jason Buck and current NFL linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy could not be in attendance as he prepared for the first game of the season with the Minnesota Vikings. Other inductees included volleyball player Amy Boswell Usevitch, former soccer player and Olympic bobsledder Shauna Rohbock and former Cougar and Major League baseball star Wally Joyner. … BYU won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball to start the second half. … The weather for the first two games in LES was both similar and different. The game time temperature for the contest against Utah Tech was actually hotter than Saturday’s game against Arizona. But the difference there was the temperature went from 89 degrees to the high 70s as the sun went down. In Saturday’s game, it had to feel much warmer to players and observers alike as the temperature at game time rose from 84 to 89 by game’s end. … Attendance for the game was announced as 64,409.