BYU Names Bear Bachmeier as Starting Quarterback
Provo, Utah — In a historic move, true freshman Bear Bachmeier has been named BYU’s starting quarterback for the upcoming season, becoming the first true freshman to start a season opener since Zach Wilson in 2018. Bachmeier beat out McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet for the role and will debut in the opener against Portland State on August 30. The 6’2″, 220-pound dual-threat QB will be backed by a strong running game featuring junior L.J. Martin and a talented receiving corps led by senior Chase Roberts and his brother, Tiger Bachmeier.
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Low Expectations Might Be an Advantage for BYU
Entering the 2025 season, the Cougars are facing modest expectations—betting markets set their win total at just 6.5 games. But this underdog status could play to BYU’s advantage. Head coach Kalani Sitake and the team plan to harness skepticism as motivation—capitalizing on past seasons where less pressure translated to better performance.
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Related Updates
Open Quarterback Competition
Following Jake Retzlaff’s departure, BYU will hold an open competition for the QB1 role this season, as confirmed by Coach Kalani Sitake at Big 12 Media Days.
Football Season Simulation Results
A fan simulation of the 2025 season predicts a 7–5 regular-season finish, with wins against teams like Stanford, Utah, and UCF, and a potential Independence Bowl victory to close the year.
