Bear Bachmeier Left Heartbroken After Four Interceptions Sink BYU in 28-20 Rivalry Loss to Utah
“Bear’s being really hard on himself, and I think it’s OK,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said after a Saturday afternoon that pushed his team’s postseason ambitions to the brink.
Devon Dampier orchestrated a masterclass to lead No. 3 Utah past No. 9 BYU 28-20 in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Rice-Eccles Stadium history. While Bachmeier delivered flashes of brilliance with 272 passing yards and a touchdown alongside a team-high 59 rushing yards, his four interceptions ultimately derailed the Cougars.
The defeat drops BYU to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, effectively dampening the program’s paths to a conference title and the College Football Playoff without outside help. For a roster that saw stars like LJ Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker return specifically to “run it back” for their final season of college football, the margin for error has evaporated.
A Fast Start for the Utes and a Second-Quarter Surge
Utah (9-0) jumped out to a trademark fast start, building a 14-3 lead across just seven plays on their opening two possessions. The Utes have outscored opponents 103-9 in the first quarter this season, marking a national-best 94-point differential. Dampier finished the afternoon with 177 passing yards and two touchdowns, adding 87 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
Attendance at Rice-Eccles for BYU-Utah: 52,901 Seventh-largest crowd in stadium history.
BYU answered decisively in the second quarter. Bachmeier engineered a 17-0 run, completing 8 of 11 passes during the frame to out-gain the hosts 149 yards to 42. That burst included a 74-yard touchdown strike from Bachmeier to Legend Glasker, giving the Cougars a 20-14 halftime advantage.
The momentum vanished after the break. Utah’s defense clamped down, forcing Bachmeier into critical mistakes. The defining sequence arrived when senior safety Nate Ritchie intercepted Bachmeier to seal the Utes’ first victory in the rivalry series since 2019, maintaining a 4-2 turnover advantage for Utah on the afternoon.
Teammates Describe Solemn Quarterback in Locker Room
Bachmeier did not speak with media members following the game, but teammates described a solemn quarterback inside the locker room.
“I think he’s hurt. You know, his heart’s broken. He lays his heart on the line for this team,” said Keanu Tanuvasa, the former Utah defensive tackle who had five tackles and three tackles for loss in his first game at Rice-Eccles Stadium wearing a blue jersey. “He loves Cougar Nation, and he feels like he let them down. It’s not his fault — but he’s definitely hurt.”
Sitake shouldered the blame for the slow start and the team’s inability to capitalize on Martin’s return from a month-long absence. The defeat places BYU two games behind the Utes in conference play, sitting in a four-team logjam at 4-2 alongside Texas Tech and Baylor.
The Cougars return to Provo next week to host Baylor, carrying a message of unity from the coaching staff and leadership group as they attempt to salvage the remainder of their schedule.
