No. 15 BYU stays perfect with 24-21 rivalry win over No. 23 Utah

PROVO, Utah — In a rivalry matchup that came down to the final minutes, No. 19 BYU football made key plays on both sides of the ball to secure a 24–21 win over No. 23 Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Cougars (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) scored the first 10 points of the game before Utah took a 14-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Cougars answered with 14 points in the final period, including a 22-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bear Bachmeier on third-and-11, and the defense came up with two fourth-quarter stops to close out the victory.

With the win, BYU improved to 7-0 for the third time under head coach Kalani Sitake era and in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Cougars have now opened 7-0 in 1979, 1984, 2001, 2020, 2024 and 2025. The victory also marks BYU’s third straight win over Utah, the program’s longest streak in the rivalry since a four-game stretch from 1989-92.

Running back LJ Martin rushed for 122 yards, his fifth 100-yard performance of the season. Wide receiver Chase Roberts extended his reception streak to 33 consecutive games and added a 26-yard catch. Bachmeier totaled multiple key plays, including the go-ahead fourth-quarter score.

Bachmeier threw for 166 yards and one touchdown. Both Parker Kingston and Carsen Ryan had four receptions.

Faletau Satuala led the defense with 12 tackles, including eight solo. Tanner Wall had 10 tackles, tallying seven solo. 

Defensively, several Cougars recorded career milestones. Linebacker Max Alford and defensive end Hunter Clegg were credited with their first career sacks, Clegg's on an intentional grounding penalty.

Wall recorded his second interception of the season and the fifth of his career, halting a Utah drive in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Jack Kelly added his fifth sack of the year, bringing his collegiate total to 26.5.

BYU’s defense held Utah to 21 points and sealed the game with a fourth-down stop in the final minutes, preserving the Cougars’ perfect record and extending one of the best starts in program history.

First Quarter

Utah won the toss and deferred, giving BYU the opening possession at its own 25-yard line. After an early first down, the Cougars were unable to convert and punted. Sam Vander Haar’s 46-yard punt, combined with a holding penalty on the return, placed Utah at its own six-yard line.

The Utes drove into the red zone, converting multiple first downs to reach the BYU 12. On fourth-and-one, the run was stuffed for a loss by Mory Bamba, resulting in a turnover on downs. 

BYU opened its next drive at the 13-yard line and crossed midfield on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Bachmeier to Preston Rex. After a sack on second down, Bachmeier scrambled for 13 yards to set up fourth-and-one at the Utah 32, but the run up the middle was stopped short of the line to gain.

A sack by Clegg forced an intentional grounding on the Utes’ next possession, leading to a three-and-out and a Utah punt to the BYU 17-yard line with 1:37 left in the first quarter.

Taking over deep in their own territory, the Cougars picked up 14 yards on second down as Bachmeier kept the ball and hurdled a defender to move the chains. Martin followed with another first down, breaking free for 13 yards to bring the ball near midfield as the first quarter came to an end.

Second Quarter

Martin continued the drive with a six-yard run to the Utah 43. Bachmeier then found Roberts over the middle for 26 yards, moving the ball to the Utah 17. On the next play, Bachmeier went back to Roberts in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown. The six-play, 81-yard drive took three minutes, and Will Ferrin added the extra point to give the Cougars a 7–0 lead.

Utah moved the ball across midfield with a mix of quarterback runs and short passes, reaching the BYU 31-yard line. The Cougar defense answered when Keanu Tanuvasa and Satuala combined for a tackle for loss, setting up third-and-17. After a scramble made it fourth-and-seven, the Utes kept the offense on the field, but the pass fell incomplete, giving BYU possession at its own 18-yard line with 9:11 remaining in the second quarter.

The Cougars opened the drive with back-to-back runs from Martin to set up third-and-three, but a sack on Bachmeier stalled the possession and brought out the punt team.

After converting an early first down, the Utes gained momentum with a 17-yard completion on second-and-13 and later added a 24-yard pass to cross into BYU territory. Quarterback Devon Dampier then kept the ball and ran 26 yards up the middle to the Cougar 13-yard line. A false start pushed Utah back, but two plays later, Dampier connected with Ryan Davis for an 11-yard touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 7–7 with 3:24 remaining in the first half.

A three-and-out brought out Vander Haar and the punt unit, but the Ute returner fumbled and safety Talan Alfrey recovered the ball at the Utah 40-yard line to set up a short field. After a 13-yard completion to Kingston, Bachmeier moved the chains on fourth down with a two-yard keeper to the Utah 11. Martin added consecutive runs to reach the 7-yard line where Ferrin converted a 26-yard field goal, giving the Cougars a 10–7 to close out the half.

Third Quarter

A tackle on first down and pressure on the quarterback by Isaiah Glasker helped force a three-and-out and a 32-yard punt, giving BYU the ball at its own 41-yard line, but the Cougars were unable to capitalize and went three-and-out themselves.

On the ensuing drive, Alford recorded a five-yard sack and an incompletion that set up third-and-15, but Utah converted with a 32-yard pass and advanced to the BYU 15 after recovering a fumble. The Cougar defense held strong, forcing fourth-and-three, with Tanuvasa and John Taumoepeau stopping the quarterback short of the line to gain, resulting in a turnover on downs at the BYU six-yard line.

With 8:47 left in the third, Martin broke free for 14 yards and Bachmeier found Kingston for eight before converting on third down to reach midfield. A defensive holding penalty moved the ball to the Utah 40, but BYU was unable to convert and brought out the punt unit.

Utah opened at its own 10-yard line and converted a first down with a 12-yard pass on second-and-10. A defensive pass interference on third down extended the drive, and two runs moved the ball to the 40-yard line before a delay of game backed the Utes up to the 35 as the third quarter came to a close.

Fourth Quarter

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Daniel Bray burst through the defense for a 49-yard touchdown run, and the extra point gave Utah a 14–10 lead.

BYU then took over at its own 19-yard line, where Bachmeier opened the drive with a nine-yard keeper. Martin followed with a four-yard run for a first down, and Bachmeier connected with Kingston for 17 yards to the BYU 49. On the next play, he found Ryan for 26 yards to the Utah 25-yard line. A targeting call then moved the ball to the 12, and Kingston took a jet sweep into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. The five-play, 81-yard drive lasted 2:46 and gave the Cougars a 17–14 lead with 11:19 remaining.

The Utes gained a first down to the BYU 39, but after a loss on a quarterback keeper, Wall intercepted a deep pass on second-and-13, giving BYU the ball at its own 36-yard line.

Martin opened the drive with runs of 15 and four yards to reach the Utah 45, and Bachmeier connected with Ryan twice to move the chains to the 33. A false start backed BYU up, but Martin answered with a 17-yard run to the 21 and added three more. After a four-yard loss on second down, Bachmeier kept the ball on third-and-11 and ran 22 yards up the middle for a touchdown, with Ferrin's extra point extending the Cougar advantage to 24–14 with 4:22 remaining.

BYU forced third-and-five and pressured the quarterback into an incompletion, but Utah converted on fourth down to their own 35. Three straight incompletions followed, and a false start pushed the Utes back to fourth-and-15. Kelly then broke through for a sack, sealing the turnover on downs at the 28-yard line.

A short series netted only five yards and brought up fourth-and-five at the Utah 24-yard line. BYU kept the offense on the field, but the pass on fourth down was broken up, resulting in a turnover on downs of its own with 2:45 remaining.

Utah took advantage of the turnover and moved quickly into Cougar territory with a 31-yard pass to the 46, followed by a 16-yard completion to the 30. A defensive pass interference advanced the ball to the 15, and two short passes set up third-and-one at the 6. Another pass interference penalty moved the Utes to the 2-yard line, where Dampier found Larry Simons for the touchdown. The extra point cut the BYU lead to 24–21.

After an illegal touching call on Utah's onside kick attempt, BYU ran out the clock with two kneel-downs and a delay of game penalty, securing the 24–21 victory.

Up Next

BYU travels to Ames to face Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 25, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. MDT at Jack Trice Stadium. Watch the broadcast live on FOX or listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio.