No. 15 Cougars Ride Second-Half Shutout to 28-17 Win Over Arizona

PROVO, Utah – No. 15 BYU defeated the Arizona Wildcats 28-17 on Saturday afternoon at LaVell Edwards Stadium, marking the Cougars’ first Big 12 victory of the 2026 season and moving to 2-0 overall.

“It was a great game but a tough one," said Kalani Sitake, BYU head coach. "Arizona is one of the best teams in the country. I think they're definitely a team that should be ranked. It was tough, and especially the first half. We had to make some adjustments, and then change some things, but the truth is, it was because Arizona was putting this on our heels, and so I'm glad that we were able to pivot, make some adjustments in all three phases.”

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier led BYU’s offense, passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns on 16 completions. Today’s game marked the Murrieta Valley, Calif., product’s third career game with three passing touchdowns. The sophomore found eight different targets, including a 61-yard deep ball to freshman Legend Glasker in the fourth quarter. Bachmeier also rushed six times, earning 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Kyler Kasper led the receiving room with two touchdowns, the first of his career, and totaled 51 receiving yards on four catches, averaging 12.8 yards each. Alongside Kasper, Reggie Frischknecht also scored his first touchdown as a Cougar off a 12-yard pass from Bachmeier. The touchdowns marked the first of their BYU careers. LJ Martin totaled 98 rushing yards, leading BYU’s run game on 20 carries. The senior running back surpassed the 500-career-carry threshold today, becoming the ninth Cougar to do so.

The defense was highlighted by defensive end Tausili Akana, who sacked Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita 2.5 times, with 1.5 coming on a key drive late in the fourth quarter. Alongside Akana, defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa earned a half sack on the same drive that buried the Wildcat offense and had three total tackles.

Cannon DeVries led the defense in tackles, securing nine on the day. The BYU defense also forced a turnover in the first quarter, with Cal transfer Cade Uluave picking off Fifita and returning it inside the 10-yard line.

After allowing 240 Arizona yards in the first half, the BYU defense allowed just 87 yards in the second half, including -2 rushing yards.

BYU’s win over Arizona marks the Cougars’ sixth straight win against the Wildcats, which dates back to head coach Kalani Sitake’s first-ever game at BYU in 2016.

First Quarter

After winning the coin toss for the second week in a row, the Cougars deferred to receive in the second half and would start on defense after Brody Laga’s kick sailed out of the back of the end zone.

BYU’s defense found itself in its own territory quickly after completions from Arizona’s Fifita moved the Wildcats past the 50 in just three plays. Arizona continued to work closer to the goal line, converting on third down in the red zone. On second-and-eight, Fifita avoided pressure from Siale Esera and found the end zone off an 11-yard scramble. A successful extra point then sent the Cougar kickoff team onto the field facing a 7-0 deficit with 9:10 left in the first quarter.

On the first play of BYU’s first possession, a holding penalty erased a short gain from Martin and pinned the Cougars deep in their own territory. Despite two receptions from tight end Walker Lyons, BYU could not convert on third down and was forced to punt after a three-and-out.

The Cougars’ defense responded strongly, forcing a quick turnover in Arizona territory. Facing heavy pressure from Glasker, Fifita rushed a pass which zipped into the hands of linebacker Uluave, and he returned the interception to the nine. After a Wildcat option up the middle from Martin, Bachmeier scored on second-and-goal from six yards out on a designed quarterback run. Dunn’s extra point evened the score at 7.

The Wildcats worked their way down the field following the BYU score, crossing into the Cougars’ side of the field after five plays of offense. Going into the snap three-of-four on third-down conversions, BYU’s defense was able to hold Arizona to just a field goal after a red-zone stop. 

Now down 10-7, Bachmeier’s offense reached the line to gain on a Preston Rex first-down run for the first time on the final play of the quarter, owning just 2:37 of possession in the opening period of play.

Second Quarter

Bachmeier opened the second frame with a nine-yard carry, and then Martin helped the Cougars to the first down marker on a gain of one. Two-straight incomplete passes ensued, forcing Bachmeier to face third-and-10 from the Cougars’ 46. The sophomore found Kasper for a 29-yard reception, which got the offense to the Wildcats’ 25. Bachmeier continued through the air, hitting receiver Frischknecht on a slant and score for 25 yards, giving BYU its first lead of the game at 14-10 after an eight-play drive.

On first-and-10 for the Wildcats from their own 36, BYU defensive end Akana sacked Fifita for a 6-yard loss, which set up second-and-16. The Wildcats responded with a 14-yard rush, but the Cougar defense held strong on third down and forced the Arizona punting unit onto the field. BYU’s offense failed to produce on its subsequent possession, giving the ball back to Arizona with 7:18 left in the half.

Starting again in its own territory, Arizona picked up two quick first downs off rushes from running back Kedrick Reescano. Fifita took over on the following plays, converting a 12-yard pass and rushing for 20 yards to the BYU 16. Two plays later, the Wildcats scored when Fifita found tight end Shane King in the end zone. The successful extra point moved the Cougars back into a deficit, 17-14.

Taking the field with 2:03 left in the second, Martin earned his longest rush of the half with a 20-yard pickup and issued in the two-minute timeout. Out of the break, the Cougars moved past the 50 with receptions from Jojo Phillips and Kasper. The offensive momentum was stifled shortly after, and BYU punted it away, downing the ball at the Arizona 8 with 38 seconds left in the half. The Wildcats would run out the remaining time on the clock, sending the Cougars into halftime down three.

Third Quarter

Out of the half, Martin got the BYU offense started with a five-yard rush. Bachmeier found running back Rex in the flat on the next play and earned a first down. BYU kept the ball on the ground with Martin, which moved the chains again. Two snaps later, Bachmeier added back-to-back long plays, first rushing for 15 yards on third-and-seven and then passing to Martin for 23 yards down the sideline. From the six-yard line, Kasper capped off the drive with a catch in the end zone, earning BYU a 21-17 advantage after the nine-play, 75-yard drive.

With the ball returned to the BYU 35, the Cougars’ defense took the field. Penalties plagued both teams to start the drive, moving the ball back-and-forth over the 50. On third down, Glasker pressured Fifita and forced fourth down.

Starting from their own six-yard line, the Cougars’ drive was riddled with a false start and delay of game, and after an Arizona illegal substitution, a holding penalty closed the possession and forced Fuller Shurtz to punt the ball away to the Arizona 45 with 3:44 left in the quarter.

Penalties continued on Arizona’s drive, with the visitors being called for a face mask penalty on the opening play. After a short rush, receiver Brandon Phelps caught a short pass and ran for 30 yards, breaking BYU tackles on his way to the Arizona 36. Another Wildcats penalty and fruitless plays resulted in a third down, and cornerbacks DeVries and Jayven Williams stopped Arizona’s receiver a half-yard short of the first. The Wildcats elected to punt, and BYU’s offense took the field with one second left in the third quarter, remaining in front, 21-17.

Fourth Quarter

Martin started the Cougar possession with two plays on the ground, and Bachmeier delivered to Lyons to move the chains on third down. BYU gained just one yard the rest of its time on offense, and heavy pressure from the Arizona defensive line sent the BYU punt team back out onto the field.

Arizona began its offensive stint with a jet sweep, which DeVries and Satuala swiftly put an end to. The Cougars endured a pass interference on the following play, moving the Wildcats up to the Arizona 41. A false start and two short gains resulted in a third-and-11, which Arizona converted off a 34-yard reception. The visiting offense quickly found itself facing third down again, this time with nine yards needed to reach the line of gain. Fifita hit King on a five-yard pass, but Glasker downed him immediately. The Wildcats elected to go for it, and on fourth down, Prassas and DeVries met Arizona’s Rodney Gallagher III right at the line to gain. After review, the ball was ruled short, and BYU took over on downs.

Following a nine-yard rush from Martin on first down, Bachmeier connected on a deep ball to receiver Glasker, who got separation and secured the one-on-one catch for 61 yards. Two plays later, Bachmeier threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kasper, who captured his second touchdown of the game. With the successful extra point, BYU extended its lead to 28-17 after the four-play, 82-yard drive, which lasted just over two minutes.

Akana shut down Fifita on two consecutive plays with the help of Tanuvasa, sacking him for a total of 14 yards. On third-and-24, DeVries broke up a pass that knocked the ball loose when it reached a Wildcat receiver. After the punt, Bachmeier and the offense took over with five minutes left to play at midfield.

Through two plays, Martin earned a Cougar first down and forced an Arizona timeout at 4:02. Bachmeier extended the drive with a 12-yard quarterback keeper, and then the Wildcats burned their second timeout at 3:56. Following a short gain from Martin, Arizona then took its final timeout at 3:51.

Bachmeier again kept the possession alive, converting on third-and-four as the clock continued to burn. Taking the field again after the two-minute timeout, Martin secured a first down, and the Cougars knelt out the remaining time, closing the game in a 28-17 win.

Up Next

BYU hits the road for the first time this season as they travel to Fort Collins, Colo. next week for a non-conference meeting against the Colorado State Rams. Kickoff is set for Sep.19 at 5:30 p.m. MDT. Watch the live broadcast on CBS or listen to Greg Wrubell for live play-by-play on BYU Radio.