No. 10 BYU Holds On for 17-10 Win Over TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 10 BYU defeated TCU on the road 17-10 Saturday night, marking the Cougars’ third straight season with a 4-0 start. 

With adverse weather affecting both offenses, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s offense featured 38 rushes and 24 passing attempts.

BYU accumulated 216 total yards of offense, quarterback Bear Bachmeier leading on the ground with 66 yards and two touchdowns, including a 21-yard score in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Bachmeier also had 66 passing yards on 11 completions. 

The Cougars totaled 141 rushing yards for 4.1 yards per carry, even with reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin exiting the game in the first quarter after just two carries.

The BYU defense was led by a ferocious pass rush. The Cougars totaled four sacks in the game, their most since totaling five against Navy in 2020. Tausili Akana, Nusi Taumoepeau, Braxton Lindsay and Jake Clifton racked up the BYU sacks. Safety Faletau Satuala snatched an interception, which he returned for 59 yards. The junior’s pick led to BYU’s first score of the game. Tommy Prassas led the team in tackles with seven.

BYU is now 9-2 in one-score games in the past three seasons.

First Quarter

BYU received the kickoff to open the game and started with a screen pass to Glasker, who picked up four. Two fruitless plays followed, and the Cougars punted away after a three-and-out. 

Finding themselves quickly facing third down on their first offensive series, the Horned Frogs converted with a 10-yard pass and moved the chains. BYU’s defense responded on the fresh set of downs, with Akana blowing up a TCU jet sweep and  Taumoepeau sacking quarterback Jaden Craig on third down, the back-to-back negative plays forcing a punt.

Self-inflicted wounds plagued the start of the Cougars’ second offensive drive, committing two false starts to open the possession. After a jet sweep to Glasker, Bachmeier’s pass was batted down by TCU’s Zachary Chapman on third. Fuller Shurtz’s 52-yard punt followed, putting the Horned Frogs at the 23 with 8:07 left in the quarter.

BYU’s defense continued to hold TCU’s offense at bay on the next drive, with only a handful of yards gained before Akana sacked Craig for another BYU third-down sack. Bachmeier and the offense took the field again for the third time with just over five minutes left to work in the first quarter.

The Cougars gained their first first down of the game as Bachmeier pitched to L.J. Martin on the option, and the senior running back rushed for 11 yards. BYU moved the chains again, with Preston Rex fighting for a crucial yard on third down. A TCU facemask and BYU false start moved the offense to BYU’s 49 before the Cougars punted the ball away a few plays later. The quarter ended a play later after a TCU outside run, without a point scored by either team in the first frame.

Both teams combined for 259 punting yards in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

The Horned Frogs crossed into BYU territory after three plays and a 25-yard rush from running back Jeremy Payne. A false start on third down pushed TCU back, with five yards to gain. Forced to scramble, Craig moved outside the pocket and was tripped up by defensive end Kendal Wall. Going for it on fourth down, Craig overthrew his receiver, and the pass was intercepted by Satuala, who was tackled at the TCU 16-yard line after a 59-yard return.

A reception from tight end Roger Saleapaga II and rush from Bachmeier put the Cougars in striking distance with a first-and-goal. BYU’s offensive line struggles continued with a fourth false start, moving the ball back to the 9-yard line before a low snap sailed past Bachmeier, who scooped up the ball and was able to throw it away. Facing third-and-goal, Bachmeier scrambled and took flight into the end zone for a 9-yard score. Matthias Dunn’s successful extra point followed, and BYU took a 7-0 lead with 7:52 left in the half.

Riding momentum from the offensive score, BYU’s defense forced a quick three-and-out.

Kyler Kasper grabbed his first reception of the game on BYU’s next drive, gaining nine yards on second down. A quick dish to tight end Walker Lyons then secured a fresh set of downs. Another penalty on the Cougars’ offensive line moved them back 10 yards. Now facing third and 20, BYU elected to run and punted away after the five-yard rush.

TCU moved into BYU territory on its next drive as Craig found tight end Kari Ashley for a 30-yard catch and run through traffic, issuing in the two-minute timeout. Following the break, Craig delivered to Payne on a running back screen, who worked his way to the BYU 24. Another 10-yard gain followed on the next play, and the Horned Frogs stopped the clock with 33 seconds remaining. With pressure from Satuala, Craig lobbed a pass into the back of the end zone to Ashley, who brought in the catch. TCU tied it 7-7 after an eight-play, 76-yard drive. 

Faking a knee, Glasker rushed outside for 16 yards. Pushing to score, BYU took a timeout with nine seconds left in the half but came up empty on an incomplete Hail Mary attempt. The teams entered halftime tied 7-7, with TCU leading in total yards, 151 to BYU’s 101.

Third Quarter

With rain pouring down, BYU began the second half on defense. Keeping things on the ground, the Horned Frogs’ Payne picked up 15 yards on the opening play. The defense quickly adjusted and forced a third and 10, where freshman linebacker Lindsey sacked Craig and sent out the punt team.

Now on its first drive of the half, the BYU offense began with a run from Rex, filling in for the sidelined Martin. Bachmeier then moved the chains with a 2-yard keeper. Facing another third down, Bachmeier picked up a low snap and bounced outside for eight yards and a first down. Weather began to affect the Cougars’ offense again as a pitch slipped out of running back Journee Tonga’s hands, causing a 3-yard loss. On third and 13, Bachmeier was tackled on a quarterback draw, sending out Dunn and the field goal unit. From 49 yards out, Dunn put the ball straight through the uprights, moving BYU ahead 10-7 with 7:32 left in the third quarter. 

Back on defense, BYU forced another TCU three-and-out with defensive end Bodie Schoonover on the third-down stop. After a near block, the Horned Frogs’ punt was downed at the 1, and the offense took over against the goal line.

Working deep in its own territory, BYU kept the ball on the ground for the first two plays of the drive. On third and four, Bachmeier found Kasper for 13 yards and a first down. Another false start and unproductive plays sent Shurtz out, and the defense made its way onto the field after a 48-yard punt.

TCU crossed midfield into Cougar territory and rushed for another yard before the end of the third, with BYU leading 10-7 going into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter

After a shoestring tackle from Schoonover on second down, TCU’s offense faced third and long. Running right, Payne attempted to gain the edge but was forced down by a slew of Cougar defenders and forced another punt.

Starting at its own 12, BYU began with a short rush from Bachmeier. The small gain was negated a play later, however, as Bachmeier took a sack four yards behind the line. Another Bachmeier run followed, but he failed to reach the line to gain, and the Cougars punted the ball away to midfield.

The Horned Frogs opened their possession with two first downs on the ground, moving to the BYU 29. As TCU kept it on the ground, BYU forced a third down, and linebacker Cade Uluave dragged down the wide receiver for his second tackle in a row. The Horned Frogs attempted a 46-yard field goal, which came up short, keeping the score in favor of the Cougars 10-7 as the BYU offense began its next drive with 8:01 left.

The Cougars moved the chains after two plays, keeping the ball on the ground. On second down, Bachmeier spun off multiple defenders and fought for a first down into opposing territory. Bachmeier again took control of the offense on the ground on a subsequent third down, rushing for 10 yards. Tonga received the call on the next play and slipped through defenders for 14 yards as the clock crept toward three minutes. Bachmeier capped off a slow but steady drive on another quarterback draw, churning through defenders for a 21-yard score. With the Dunn PAT, BYU extended its advantage 17-7 with 2:06 left, burning nearly six minutes on the drive, exclusively on rushes.

TCU’s offense opened its drive with a 27-yard reception as the clock continued to wind down. On the next play, linebacker Jake Clifton fought through a cut block and sacked Craig. With 36 seconds left, TCU sent out the field goal unit with BYU up 10. From 44 yards out, the ball passed through the goalposts, shrinking the Cougar lead 17-10 with 32 seconds left. 

On an onside kick attempt, Saleapaga recovered the ball, and Bachmeier knelt out the remaining time left on the clock, sealing the victory 17-10.

Up Next

No. 10 BYU returns home to LaVell Edwards Stadium for a Friday night matchup against Iowa State on Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. MDT, with the live broadcast available on ESPN. Fans can also listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio.