The Friday night lights in Provo burned bright for BYU fans as the No. 23 Cougars delivered a commanding 38-24 victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers, keeping their perfect season alive and sending a clear message to the rest of the Big 12.
Bear Bachmeier’s Breakout Performance
The star of the night was
freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who put on a show with a career-high 351 passing yards and a touchdown, plus another score on the ground. Bachmeier wasted no time, launching a 47-yard strike to Chase Roberts on the game’s first play and later connecting with Parker Kingston for a 54-yard touchdown.
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Chase Roberts: 161 receiving yards (career high)
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Parker Kingston: 111 receiving yards, 1 TD (career high)
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BYU Total Offense: 517 yards
Bachmeier’s performance was the best by a BYU quarterback in a win since joining the Big 12, and his ability to stretch the field forced West Virginia to respect the Cougars’ passing game. As Kingston put it,
“It was good to get it out on film, letting teams know they can’t stack the box against us and that we have weapons on the outside, too.”West Virginia’s Struggles Continue
West Virginia, now 2-4 (0-3 Big 12), started freshman Khalil Wilkins at quarterback for the first time. Wilkins showed flashes as a runner, racking up 89 rushing yards, but struggled through the air, completing just 7-of-15 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions. One of those picks was returned 49 yards by BYU’s Therrian Alexander III, setting up an early Cougar touchdown.
Despite a brief rally after a fumble recovery led to a Diore Hubbard touchdown, the Mountaineers couldn’t keep pace with BYU’s high-powered offense. Head coach Rich Rodriguez summed up the defensive woes:
“Man, we made him look like the Heisman winner in the first half.”Key Injuries Cloud BYU’s Win
The victory came at a cost for BYU. Two starting linebackers,
Jack Kelly and
Isaiah Glasker, left the game with injuries. Kelly, the team’s leading tackler, suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter and was seen in a sling on the sideline. Glasker, the No. 2 tackler, exited with a right leg injury and did not return. Their status for next week remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the Cougars’ defensive outlook.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
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BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12): The Cougars look to keep their momentum going as they travel to face Arizona on October 11.
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West Virginia (2-4, 0-3 Big 12): The Mountaineers will try to regroup before heading to UCF on October 18.
Takeaways and Implications
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BYU’s offense is firing on all cylinders, with a dynamic passing attack that will force future opponents to adjust.
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West Virginia faces tough questions at quarterback and on defense as their Big 12 skid continues.
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Injuries could test BYU’s depth in the coming weeks, especially on defense.
With the Cougars poised to climb in the AP poll and the Mountaineers searching for answers, the Big 12 race just got a lot more interesting.
Sources
1. NEW: BYU BLOWS OUT West Virginia, Jack Kelly OUT With Injury ...
2. Using Advanced Stats for College Football Bets
3. BYU 38-24 West Virginia (Oct 3, 2025) Game Recap - ESPN
4. The GoldSheet Newsletter - WagerTalk
5. Mountaineers Drop Friday Night Game at BYU 38-24 - West Virginia ...
6. Best Days of the Week to Bet Sports Based on Historical ROI
7. BYU Football | Postgame Press Conference | West Virginia - YouTube
8. Kentucky Derby 2025 Betting Odds and Predictions
9. BYU still has work to do after 38-24 conquest of West Virginia
10. [PDF] Hegseth praises AFRICOM mission - Stars and Stripes
11. West Virginia vs BYU Football Game Summary - October 3rd, 2025
12. The Best Free Super Bowl Contests for 2025 - Sports Betting Dime
13. Back to the grindstone: BYU's 38-24 win over West Virginia left much ...
14. [PDF] New toys funded for Sensory Storytime at Homer library
