Dominant First Half Helps No. 10 BYU to 28-7 Win Over Baylor

PROVO, Utah – No. 10 BYU defeated the Baylor Bears 28-7 Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Bear Bachmeier totaled 104 passing yards, going 14-of-24, and he added 54 yards on the ground. The sophomore quarterback led the Cougars with three first-half rushing touchdowns and a second-half touchdown pass. Bachmeier is the first Big 12 quarterback with at least three first-half rushing touchdowns since Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes on Oct. 8, 2016, where the now Kansas City Chiefs quarterback had three against Kansas State. Additionally, Bachmeier now sits No. 2 on BYU career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback to Taysom Hill’s 32, as the sophomore has 21.

The Cougars racked up 189 rushing yards, led by Bachmeier and LJ Martin, who combined for 103. The running back room powered the offense, as five different players had six or more carries.

Jojo Phillips and Walker Lyons led the receiving room, as Phillips capped the Cougars’ score at 28 with a late fourth-quarter touchdown, and Lyons had 49 yards on three receptions.

Baylor entered the game averaging 41.5 points in their last two matchups, and the Cougar defense only allowed seven points, which are the fewest points BYU has allowed since the first game of the season when it beat Utah Tech 63-7. Raider Damuni, Faletau Satuala and Viliami Po’uha tallied five tackles apiece, and Bodie Schoonover notched four tackles and two sacks to lead the defense. Safety Tommy Prassas came up with an interception in the third quarter, his first since the 2024 season.

BYU held possession for 37:01 compared to Baylor’s 22:59. The Cougars’ second-quarter touchdown drive spanned 18 plays, 96 yards and 9:03. It marked BYU’s first 18-play scoring drive since visiting UCF in 2024, first 96-yard scoring drive since playing at Arizona State in 2024 and first scoring drive lasting more than nine minutes since Portland State in 2025.

First Quarter

BYU won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. After Brody Laga’s kickoff, Kelly Poppinga’s defense forced a three-and-out, led by Schoonover. An offensive pass interference penalty pushed Baylor back to its own 11-yard line before Schoonover sacked DJ Lagway for a five-yard loss. Following an incomplete pass and a false start right in front of the BYU student section, the Bears faced third-and-28. Ryelan Morris gained three yards before Schoonover brought him down, forcing a punt. Cannon DeVries returned the 55-yard punt three yards, giving BYU possession at its own 42-yard line.

On second-and-10, Martin rushed 11 yards to move the chains on his first rush in LaVell Edwards Stadium since September, and then Bachmeier and Sione Moa combined on three consecutive snaps to earn 13 yards and advance to the Baylor 34. Bachmeier then went deep along the sideline to Lyons, who gained 24 yards for BYU, putting the Cougars in the red zone. On third-and-goal from the eight, Bachmeier found a gap and darted into the end zone to get BYU on the board. With Matthias Dunn’s extra point, the Cougars went up 7-0 with just over nine minutes left in the opening frame.

Starting from Baylor’s 25, Lagway stayed on the ground for nine yards, and then Morris added three yards to get the first down. Two short gains would bring up third-and-three, where Lagway’s pass was broken up by Therrian Alexander III to force another Baylor punt. Palmer Williams’ punt went 42 yards, and DeVries made the fair catch at the Cougar 14.

BYU then powered a 12-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that spanned 6:54. After a two-yard loss, Bachmeier connected with Kyler Kasper for a 12-yard gain to move the chains. Bachmeier and the backfield continued to move the ball, highlighted by an 11-yard run from Martin. On third-and-seven at the Baylor 49, Bachmeier targeted Jaron Pula, drawing a defensive pass interference penalty that moved BYU to the Bears’ 34-yard line. DeVaughn Eka added five yards on the ground before Martin broke free for a 15-yard gain to put the Cougars in the red zone. After a combined nine yards from Moa and Bachmeier, the Cougars faced third-and-one at the 5. Bachmeier punched it in for another rushing touchdown, and Dunn’s extra point gave BYU a 14-0 lead.

Laga’s kickoff went 63 yards and was returned to the Baylor 20. Morris rushed for two yards before first quarter time would expire.

BYU racked up 129 yards of offense in the first quarter and held Baylor to 19 yards.

Second Quarter

The Baylor running back room then led its offense for the remainder of the drive. After two short completions, running back Caden Knighten marched into Cougar territory, setting up a third-and-one from the 46. Lagway converted on the ground, but the BYU defense would not allow the Bears any further, as the Cougars forced two-straight incompletions, the latter nearly intercepted by Alexander, and then on third-and-10, Lagway’s pass to the flat was caught by wide receiver Jadon Porter, but he was immediately met at the line of scrimmage by Alexander and Nusi Taumoepeau. Williams’ punt soared 33 yards, to the BYU 9, but a holding penalty was called on the Cougars that pinned them back to their own four.

Martin and Moa helped BYU escape the field position predicament, as they combined to move the chains through three plays and advance the ball to BYU’s 18. Bachmeier then added nine yards on the ground, and then converted the short third down one play later. The Murrieta Valley, Calif. product then threw a short pass to Preston Rex, who then added 10 yards as he shifted through defenders. Following three short gains, on first down, Rex rushed for nine to push BYU to the Baylor 39. After Martin added a four-yard carry, Bachmeier passed backwards to Kasper near the sideline, and then the junior aired it to Lyons down the filed to move the chains ahead of the two-minute warning. From the 16-yard line, Martin rushed left for a gain of five. BYU was unable to convert on third down, resulting in a field goal attempt. Prior to Dunn’s attempt, a Baylor offside penalty was called, which sent Bachmeier and his offense back out on the field for fourth-and-one. Bachmeier earned six yards on the conversion attempt, setting the Cougars up for a first-and-goal from the one. Bachmeier stayed with the keeper and carried it into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the half, and with Dunn’s extra point, widened the gap to 21-0. The 18-play, 96-yard touchdown drive spanned 9:03, which is the Cougars’ longest scoring drive of the season.

After a touchback, Baylor running back Dawson Pendergrass was met by Keanu Tanuvasa three yards behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a second-and-13. Lagway was hurried by Satuala, forcing his pass attempt to fall incomplete. Schoonover capped the defensive stand as he stuffed the quarterback on his rush attempt, forcing fourth-and-13 and a punt. DeVries fair caught the punt at the 35 yard line with 1:12 to go.

Two incomplete passes and a failed screen pass resulted in BYU’s first punt of the game. Prior to Fuller Shurtz’s punt, the Cougars took a delay of game penalty, and then Shurtz booted it inside the Baylor 25 with a 48-yard punt.

Morris closed the first half with a two-yard carry before heading into the locker room, with the Cougars holding a three-touchdown lead.

BYU dominated the half in time of possession, holding the ball on offense for 21:07 compared to Baylor’s 8:53.

Third Quarter

Riley Sullivan’s kickoff was returned 81 yards by DeVries, but a holding penalty enforced on the Cougars kept them at their own 12 to start the drive. Short passes to Rex and Lyons moved the chains, and on the following snap, Bachmeier hit Legend Glasker with a short pass and then the freshman carried it all the way to the Baylor 16, but again, a holding penalty was called and brought BYU back to its own 15. Rex found seven yards, but on second-and-10, the Cougars were stopped, setting up a long third down. On the snap, Bachmeier tried to go deep to Kasper, but two penalties were called on the Bears – an offside and a pass interference. The offside call was declined, and the Cougars earned an automatic first down and moved to their own 38. Rex and Eka combined for 10 yards through two plays, and after an incomplete pass and a Bachmeier two-yard carry, the offense was in another third-down scenario. Another holding penalty was enforced despite a six-yard carry from Moa, and on third-and-18, the Cougars were unable to convert, resulting in a punt. Shurtz’s punt was fair caught at the Baylor 15 with 8:38 to go in the third quarter.

Morris opened the drive with six yards, and then Viliami Po’uha stuffed Knighten at the line of scrimmage, but a defensive illegal substitution penalty was enforced, granting the Bears an automatic first down. Knighten then rushed for 15, but a holding penalty was called on his team, pushing the Bears back to their own 16 for first-and-20. After a one-yard play, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called on the Bears, pushing them further back to their nine. Prior to the snap, again in front of the BYU student section, a false-start penalty was enforced on Baylor, setting it up at its four for third-and-28. Lagway and Porter connected for 10 yards, but the Cougar defense held strong, forcing the fifth punt of the night for the Bears. DeVries returned the punt 14 yards to the Cougar 44.

There were eight total penalties called in the first nine minutes of the third quarter.

Two plays that totaled negative two yards set BYU up for third-and-12 on its next drive, where Bachmeier was sacked for a loss of five. Shurtz’s punt went 44 yards and was fair caught at the Baylor 19 with 4:29 on the clock.

Lagway pitched it to wide receiver Gavin Freeman, who gained five yards before Satuala and Kevin Doe got to him. Pendergrass then gained two, and on third-and-three, Lagway completed to Freeman for five yards. A face mask penalty was called on BYU on the play, which advanced Baylor to its own 46. Lagway’s pass was then picked off by Prassas at the Cougar 40, and he carried it back two yards to set up Bachmeier’s offense at the 42. It was Prassas’ second takeaway of his career and his first of the season. It was the seventh interception for BYU this season from seven different players.

Moa moved the ball 13 yards, into Bear territory. The run game continued, as Rex, Eka and Bachmeier combined to bring up a fourth-and-inches at the Baylor 37. Bachmeier converted on the keeper. Kasper then caught a five-yard pass before third quarter time would expire, with the Cougars still holding their lead, 21-0.

Fourth Quarter

Eka opened the final quarter with a three-yard rush, bringing up third-and-one. Glasker tried to convert on the jet sweep, but was unable to advance, forcing a field goal attempt. Dunn’s 45-yard attempt went wide left, giving the Bears the ball back at their 35 with 13:28 to go.

Lagway started the drive with a 17-yard connection to tight end Hawkins Polley. After forcing two-straight incompletions, on third-and-10, Lagway found an opening and rushed for 18 yards to keep the drive alive. Lagway then hit Porter, who caught the pass with one hand and the Cougar 7. On second-and-goal from the seven, Lagway gained four on the ground, and then he found Polley in the end zone to get on the board. Rhett Armstrong’s extra point was good, cutting the BYU lead to 21-7. Baylor had 87 total yards of offense entering the fourth quarter. The Bears racked up 73 yards on that touchdown drive alone.

Tiger Bachmeier returned the kickoff 26 yards, setting the offense up at its 27. The Baylor defense would not allow the Cougars to get momentum, as it held them to negative one yard on the drive to force another punt. Shurtz’s punt went 50 yards and was fair caught at the Bear 24.

Cade Uluave hurried Lagway on first down, resulting in an incompletion. Schoonover then downed Lagway for a loss of five with a sack, setting up third-and-15. On the snap, Lagway was scrambling to find a receiver, but Po’uha backed him all the way back to his own six before the defensive tackle sacked him. Williams’ punt went 64 yards, and DeVries returned it 44 yards to the Baylor 26 with 7:37 remaining.

Bear Bachmeier tried to hit Lyons streaking into the end zone, but the pass went just beyond the tight end’s fingertips, and after a Rex gain of three, the Cougars were in a third-and-seven situation. After his initial passing options were covered, Bear Bachmeier had all sorts of time in the pocket thanks to his offensive line and found Phillips on a six-yard pass to the 17, and Phillips darted down the sideline into the end zone. With Dunn’s extra point, the Cougars went up three touchdowns again, 28-7.

After a touchback, Lagway hit running back Michael Turner for a gain of one, and Hunter Clegg forced a fumble on the tackle, but it was recovered by Porter. A three-yard pass set up third-and-six, but Pendergrass rushed up the middle for a gain of 10. Lagway then added 16 on a keeper, moving the ball to the BYU 45. On first down, Lagway earned three yards but an offensive holding penalty was enforced, which pushed the Bears back to their own side of the field. Lagway and wide receiver DeBraun Hampton connected on back-to-back plays, totaling 23 yards. The junior quarterback was then hurried on two-straight plays, resulting in incompletions. On third-and-10, DeVries stopped Knighten after he gained two, which brought up fourth down. Lagway’s pass fell incomplete, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the Cougar offense the ball back at its 30 with 2:25 to go.

Eka earned seven yards, but a two-yard negative play on the next snap set up third-and-five for BYU. Rex was unable to move the chains, bringing up a punt on fourth-and-three. Shurtz’s punt went 53 yards and was fair caught inside the Baylor 10-yard line.

The Cougar defense quickly forced third down, but Baylor converted with an eight-yard pass. After a short gain on second down, the Bears again converted on third, picking up eight yards. Lagway’s final play of the game was an 11-yard rush as time expired in BYU’s 28-7 win.

Up Next

The Cougars will travel to Lawrence, Kan. to take on the Jayhawks on Saturday, Nov. 21 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Kickoff time and broadcast details are to be announced, but Greg Wrubell will provide play-by-play on BYUradio.