The Cougars head into the hardest part of their schedule after a 5-0 start.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws a pass, as West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Reid Carrico (35) defends in action between the BYU Cougars the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on, in Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
Provo • Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said if there was one thing missing from BYU’s offense in a 4-0 start, it was explosive plays.
“We do miss some of the explosiveness of Darius [Lassiter], Keelan [Marion] and JoJo [Phillips],” Roderick said on BYUtv this week. “But the balance of all the position groups is making us hard to defend.”
The Cougars answered their coach’s call.
BYU’s offense jumped on West Virginia with a potent passing attack, including a 54-yard touchdown to Parker Kingston, to cruise to a 38-24 win at home.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Cam Vaughn (4) tackles BYU Cougars safety Tanner Wall (28), after an interception in football action between the BYU Cougars the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on, in Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 249 yards in the first half alone, finishing with 351 yards, and routinely pushed the ball downfield.
He connected with Chase Roberts on the first play of the game for 47 yards and later hit Roberts for an 85-yard gain.
Roderick said he would take the “training wheels” off Bachmeier. Before BYU’s toughest stretch of the season, it looked like he did.
Bachmeier threaded a 35-yard strike into Kingston in double coverage in the two-minute drill. It set up a Bachmeier rushing touchdown before the half that gave BYU a 28-10 lead that officially put the game away.
Roberts accounted for 161 yards. Kingston ended with 111 and two touchdowns.
Around Bachmeier, BYU largely went about its business as usual.
LJ Martin had two rushing touchdowns. Carsen Ryan and Cody Hagen chipped in five receptions.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill never let the game close. His unit opened with an interception from Tre Alexander, returning it inside the 5. Tanner Wall had an interception of his own in the third quarter that ended a threatening drive.
BYU struggled slightly with West Virginia’s quarterback rushing attack. Khalil Wilkins had 89 rushing yards on 23 carries. Wilkins finished with 81 passing yards.
West Virginia’s first two touchdowns came from BYU miscues.
Bachmeier’s pitch was deflected, recovered inside the 5 and West Virginia’s Diore Hubbard capitalized on a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Later, Cougar running back Jovesa Damuni fumbled inside the 20 and West Virginia answered with another rushing touchdown.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Michael Coats Jr. (3) get past West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Darrian Lewis (24) as picks up a huge gain for the Cougars in action between the BYU Cougars the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, on, in Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
The turnover broke Bachmeier’s turnover-less streak. The quarterback threw an interception and lost a pitch.
Now, BYU turns to Arizona as the schedule becomes more difficult. The Cougars see most of the top teams in the Big 12 over the next month: Arizona, Utah, Iowa State, Texas Tech and TCU.
They may have to do it with their two best defensive players, Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker, battling an injury. Kelly got hurt in the first half and did not return to the game. Glasker missed most of the second half.
But at least for now, the Cougars are 5-0, one win away from bowl eligibility and ranked inside the top 25.