No. 10 BYU pulled off a gritty 17-10 victory over TCU on Saturday, but it was Bear Bachmeier’s late-game heroics that truly sealed the deal, barreling over two safeties and ending a brutal 20-year losing streak in Fort Worth. This wasn’t some pretty, highlight-reel game, nope. It was a mucky, ugly, defensive wrestling match, but Bachmeier showed up when it mattered most, putting the team on his back and getting the job done in a place BYU hadn’t won in two decades.
Bachmeier’s Bone-Crushing Game-Sealer
Let’s just talk about that fourth quarter for a sec. It was a grind, a nail-biter, with BYU clinging to a slim 10-7 lead. Then, with just over eight minutes left, the Cougars decided it was time to just pound the ball, and Bachmeier became an absolute wrecking ball. He led a massive 10-play, 71-yard drive that ate up the clock and TCU’s tired defense. The dude simply took a club to them. His lower-body strength was just too much for TCU’s tacklers, who’d been running all over the field covering sweeps and screens all night.
Then came the money play: Bachmeier rambled for a 21-yard touchdown. He met TCU safeties Jamel Johnson and Devyn Hildrogo at the Frogs’ 5-yard line, and in a move we’ve seen throughout his career, he just *barreled* over them, carried them to the goal line, and dove in for the clutch score. This wasn’t pretty football, but it was powerful, face-slobbering physical football. He bounced off tacklers, ran through arms and shoulder pads. He took on one of the Big 12’s top-three defenses, a real menace against the run, and gritted out exactly what was needed. That’s a quarterback who wants it.
A Night of “Coping” Amidst Injuries and Mistakes
Honestly, it felt like BYU just had to cope all night long. The win definitely didn’t earn them any style points with pollsters or the CFP committee, but they got it done. They were battling some serious adversity too. Two all-conference guys, running back LJ Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker, both left the game with injuries. Add in nickel back and return specialist Cannon DeVries, who also went down. Plus, true freshman Bott Mulitalo got his first start at left tackle because Andrew Gentry was out with foot surgery. Talk about a tough hand to play!
And let’s not pretend BYU was flawless. It was frustrating to watch the mistakes rack up: four illegal motion calls on the offensive line, two of those coming from All-America candidate center Bruce Mitchell. We even saw a rolled hike past Bachmeier inside the 10 when they were ready to score before halftime. The offensive coordinator went super conservative with play calls, attacking the sidelines, running to the boundaries, avoiding the middle, and playing field-position football. It’s easy to get frustrated watching that, but hey, it worked. Meanwhile, TCU’s coaching staff was reportedly playing for their jobs, and the players even had their own meeting to fix focus issues, aiming for a season-making upset. They fought hard, holding BYU to a slim 10-7 lead late, but it wasn’t enough.
Defense Answered the Call, Big Time
The main reason that conservative game plan worked? The defense. Time and time again, they came through. Safety Faletau Satuala’s interception and massive 55-yard return set up BYU’s first touchdown, a short jaunt by Bachmeier. And the pass rush? Oh man, it was buzzing. They racked up four sacks, one each from Jake Clifton, Tausili Akana, Braxton Lindsey, and Nusi Taumoepeau. That’s the most sacks the defense has had all season. They kept TCU in check and gave the offense just enough breathing room to eventually let Bachmeier do what he does best.
This was a win carved out of sheer will, not flash. BYU now moves forward knowing they can win the ugly ones, even when everything seems to be working against them. You gotta love that grit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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