Highly Impactful 2025 Football Season Among BYU's Best Ever

The Cougars outscored their three non-conference opponents 130-16 (Portland State, Stanford, East Carolina) to start 3-0.

BYU was nearly perfect against the FCS Vikings in the season opener. True freshman Bear Bachmeier became the first true freshman to start the season opener for BYU and had five total touchdowns to lead BYU to a 69-0 shutout at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

A week later, The Cougars hosted Stanford, now of the ACC and beat the Cardinal 27-3, continuing to set the tone for 2025 with a dominant defensive effort and an offense in control of the game.

BYU faced its first road test of the year with a cross-country trip to face East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina.

A tight game was flipped in BYU’s favor at the end of the first half when Evan Johnson picked off the Pirates in the end zone to prevent score. After pinning ECU at its own 1-yard line on a punt, Johnson intercepted it again and walked across the goal line to score on the short pick-six. BYU went on to win 34-13 against a team that went on to win nine games and compete for the American Conference title.

BYU opened conference play with three wins–at Colorado, vs. West Virginia and overtime against Arizona on the road where both road victories included 14-point comebacks.

Out for some 2024 Alamo Bowl revenge, the Buffaloes started hot against BYU in Boulder, racing out to a 14-0 lead with touchdowns on their first two possessions.

The Cougars cut it to 14-10 at half before both teams traded scores in the second half and Colorado led 21-17 heading into the final frame.

Wideout Cody Hagen took a sweep 32 yards down the sideline to give BYU the go-ahead score at 24-21 with 14 minutes remaining and the Cougar defense locked things down the rest of the way, ending with an Isaiah Glasker interception to seal the win and start Big 12 play with a win.

BYU never trailed against West Virginia, winning 38-24 in a Friday night matchup when Bachmeier threw for a season-best 351 yards.

The following week was BYU’s biggest test to date during the season, falling behind to Arizona 24-14 in the fourth quarter in a wild game that included a one hour and 14-minute weather delay.

The Cougars cut the lead to 24-17 with a Will Ferrin field goal with 4:07 to play. After a three-and-out, Bachmeier and LJ Martin got BYU down the field into the red zone. A Bachmeier fumble, recovered by offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc gave the Cougars life and with 23 seconds remaining, Bachmeier scored from two yards out to tie the game.

Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime. Bachmeier scored again on a seven-yard keeper to make it 33-27 after a failed two-point attempt. Once again, BYU’s defense answered the call, stopping the Wildcats on fourth down to win the game and stay unbeaten.

At a resilient 6-0, a home-matchup between ranked rivals No. 15 BYU and No. 23 Utah garnered national attention with Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff coming to town.

The Cougars led 10-7 at halftime but Utah went ahead 14-10 on a 49-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

BYU answered right away with an 81-yard drive to retake the lead at 17-14 on the next possession.

Safety Tanner Wall intercepted Utah on their next possession to set up the Cougars with a chance to put the game away.

BYU’s true freshman Bachmeier enshrined himself in rivalry lore later in the drive when he dashed, dodged and dragged multiple Ute defenders into the end zone for a 22-yard fourth-quarter touchdown with 4:22 left to put BYU up 24-14.

The Utes scored inside of two minutes but no miracle comeback would be allowed and BYU won its third in a row over Utah for the first time since a stretch of four from 1989-92.   

Still undefeated, BYU overcame another 14-point road deficit at Iowa State. The Cyclones had just about everything working in the first half, leading 24-10 before BYU got a score just before half to cut it to 24-17 at the break.

The Cougars then outscored Iowa State 24-3 in the second half and won 41-27 to complete yet another comeback. Parker Kingston had a career-best 133 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the win. 

At 8-0, BYU suffered its first setback to Texas Tech in Lubbock in a 29-7 loss to the No. 9 Red Raiders.

BYU still controlled its destiny for a Big 12 title and bounced back the following week 44-13 against TCU with its most dominant win of the year.

Bachmeier threw for 296 yards, ran for 59 more and added two more touchdowns. Wall capped the dominant night off with a 68-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars then went on the road into another hostile environment and beat a Cincinnati team on senior day looking to stay alive in the Big 12 title hunt. Despite the Bearcats motivation, BYU handled business thanks to a career-best 222 rushing yards from Martin to win 26-14 on the road.

After a berth in the title game was ensured thanks to other teams results on Friday night, BYU enjoyed a senior-day victory over UCF to end the regular season at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

It started out a bit rocky, falling behind 14-0 to start the game but the Cougars scored 31 straight points and went on to win 41-21 against the Knights to set up another matchup with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship.

The rematch played out much like the first game, outside of a hot start for the Cougars when BYU scored first to take a 7-0 lead. Unfortunately that was the end of most of the highlights with Tech winning it 34-7 to claim the title.

In a ranked matchup, BYU took on No. 22 Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. After a week of fun, the Cougars led early at 10-7 before falling behind 14-10 and then a turnover on a fumbled kickoff gave the Yellow Jackets the ball at the Cougar six-yard line.

A quick pass for a touchdown put the Cougars in a 21-10 hole at halftime.

The score remained 21-10 heading into the fourth quarter where BYU had become familiar with overcoming deficits all year.

An 11-play, 80-yard drive for a touchdown and a two-point conversion by Bachmeier made it 21-18 with 11:13 to go. The Cougars got it back with 5:44 and converted on a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to take a 25-21 lead inside of two minutes.

Drama didn’t end there however, Georgia Tech made it to the BYU 18-yard line with 14 seconds left before a fourth-down interception by Evan Johnson in the end zone secured BYU’s 12 win season and sweet Pop-Tarts Bowl comeback victory.

Tight end Carsen Ryan had his best game of his career in his last, finsihing with eight receptions for 120 yards. Bachmeier was named the MVP, finishing with 325 passing yards and leading the team to another comeback. 

DE Tausili Akana
Big 12 Honorable Mention Defensive Newcomer of the Year

QB Bear Bachmeier
Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year
Sports Info Solutions Honorable Mention All-Big 12
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Nov 17)
Big 12 Freshman of the Week (seven times)
Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 (Oct 27, Nov 17)
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist
Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist
Davey O’Brien Award QB Class of 2025
Manning Award Quarterback of the Week (Oct 29)
Manning Award Watch List

DE Hunter Clegg
Big 12 Honorable Mention Defensive Freshman of the Year

K Will Ferrin
Second-Team All-Big 12
Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov 17)
Senior Bowl

OL Andrew Gentry
Big 12 Honorable Mention Offensive Newcomer of the Year

LB Isaiah Glasker
Third-Team All-Big 12

LS Garrison Grimes 
AFCA Second-Team All-America
Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist
Honorable Mention All-Big 12

OL Isaiah Jatta
Third-Team All-Big 12

CB Evan Johnson 
Sports Info Solutions First-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Network Second-Team All-Big 12
Honorable Mention All-Big 12
Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week (Sept 23

LB Jack Kelly
First-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Network Third-Team All-Big 12
Senior Bowl

WR/PR Parker Kingston
Second-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Network First-Team All-Big 12 (WR)
Pro Football Network Second-Team All-Big 12 (PR)
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Dec 1)
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll (Oct 7, Oct 14)

RB LJ Martin
Pro Football Network Second-Team All-America
Pro Football Network First-Team All-Big 12
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
Big 12 First-Team All-Conference
Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Team
Sports Info Solutions First-Team All-Big 12
Semifinalist Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week HM (four times)
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct 13, Nov 24)

OL Bruce Mitchell
First-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Network First-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Team
Rimington Trophy Watchlist

WR Chase Roberts
Third-Team All-Big 12

TE Carsen Ryan
Honorable Mention All-Big 12

S Faletau Satuala
FWAA Second-Team All-America
Sports Info Solutions First-Team All-Big 12
Third-Team All-Big 12
Lott Trophy Player of the Week (Oct 29)
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct 27)

DE Bodie Schoonover
Honorable Mention All-Big 12

DT Keanu Tanuvasa
Honorable Mention All-Big 12

DT John Taumoepeau
Honorable Mention All-Big 12

P Sam Vander Haar
Ray Guy Award – Ray’s 8 honoree (Sept 9, Sept 22)

S Tanner Wall
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
First-Team Academic All-America
First-Team All-Big 12
Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Team
Sports Info Solutions Second-Team All-Big 12
Wuerffel Trophy finalist
Pop Warner College Football Award finalist
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist
NFF William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist
Burlsworth Trophy candidate
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 20)
Athlon Sports Preseason Fourth Team All-Big 12

COACHES/STAFF
Director of Player Personnel Justin Anderson
Finalist FootballScoop Football Personnel Award

Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Aaron Roderick
Finalist FootballScoop Quarterback Coach of the Year
Semifinalist Broyles Award

Head Coach Kalani Sitake
Buddy Teevens Award
Big 12 Coach of the Year
George Munger Cooach of the Year semifinalist
Dodd Trophy Watch List
Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List

TEAM
Defensive Line
Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week (Nov 17, Nov 24)

OFFENSE

• 9 — Time of possession (32:43)
• 12 — Rushing first downs (149)
• 12 — Sacks allowed per game (1.14)
• 13 — Total rushing touchdowns (33)
• 18 — Rushing plays of 10+ yards (78)
• 19 — Total first downs (306)
• 19 — Plays of 10+ yards (206)
• 22 — Total offensive plays (934)
• 23 — Total points scored (440)
• 23 — Fewest Interceptions thrown (7)
• 27 — Red zone conversion percentage (89.83)
• 29 — Rushing Attempts (530)
• 29 — Total rushing yards (2,493)
• 29 — Total offensive yards (5,593)
• 31 — Total touchdowns scored (53)
• 31 — Tackles for loss allowed per game (4.5)
• 32 — Plays of 40+ yards (16)
• 32 — Scoring Offense (31.4)

DEFENSE

• 6 — Red zone scoring conversion defense (70.4%)
• 6 — Red zone touchdown conversion defense (40.74%)
• 9 — Total interceptions (17)
• 10 — Defensive touchdowns (3)
• 10 — Fewest opponent long-scrimmage plays 40+ yards (7)
• 14 — Total turnovers gained (14)
• 19 — Scoring defense (19.1)
• 19 — 3^rd down conversion percentage defense (33.3%)
• 25 — Pass efficiency defense (116.97)
• 26 — Fewest opponent rushes 10+ yards (47)
• 30 — Rushing defense (122.7)
• 31 — Opponent first downs (17.9)
• No 31 — Yards per passing attempt allowed (6.5)
• 35 — Total defense (332.4)
• 35 — Yards per play allowed (5.10)

SPECIAL TEAMS

• 9 — Field goals made (23)
• 14 — Punt return TDs (1)
• 16 — Total punt return yards (303)
• 17 — Punt return yards per game (21.6)
• 17 — Opponent kick return average (16.69)
• 22 — Fewest punts per game (2.9)
• 24 — Kick return average (23.25)
• 26 — Total opponent kick return yards (267)
• 28 — Punt return average (11.65)
• 31 — PATs made (49)