Takeaways From BYU’s Wild Double Overtime Victory At Arizona
Oct 12, 2025, 4:40 AM | Updated: 4:45 am
TUCSON, Ariz. – BYU football found a way to pull off a memorable win over Arizona in double overtime, 33-27.
The Cougars improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play.
Here are some takeaways from the comeback win.
Kalani Sitake’s program finds ways to win games
Since the start of the 2024 season, BYU football is 17-2. That’s an 89% winning percentage.
It wasn’t always easy, especially when down 24-14 with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. But BYU has a team that doesn’t give up.
Players and coaches point to the culture of the program that Sitake has built that brings out the best in the teams when adversity hits. That showed up on Saturday night.
6-0 pic.twitter.com/JPEe9rRTPc
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 12, 2025
BYU doesn’t play the most glamorous brand of football. It’s probably one of the reasons why the Cougars haven’t received the respect they probably deserve nationally over the last 19 games, but they can find ways to pull out games, regardless of the circumstances. That is a gift that can serve teams well in the pursuit of winning championships.
Bear Bachmeier is a tough competitor
Bear Bachmeier reminded folks that he is still a true freshman at times in the win over Arizona. But when the game was on the line, Bachmeier pulled through.
The Murrietta, California native scored two rushing touchdowns, one at the end of regulation, then in the second overtime, which became the game-winner.
Bear Bachmeier gets it done. pic.twitter.com/GoGOo8mWx7
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 12, 2025
Bachmeier ran the ball 22 times for 89 yards and the two scores. When he looked at the stat sheet in the postgame press conference, he was stunned to see he ran the ball 22 times.
One of those runs, a 3rd & 2 from the Arizona eight-yard line, with the game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter, Bachmeier put the ball on the turf. Luckily for BYU and Bachmeier, offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc landed on the loose ball to keep BYU’s hopes of a comeback alive.
In fact, the recovery gave BYU a first down. Still, Bachmeier will have to continue improving on his ball security if he continues to take on a big workload running the ball alongside LJ Martin.
Through the air, it was a struggle late into the third quarter. Bachmeier was 4-of-12 passing with 5:59 remaining. He then completed three of his next four passes before throwing an interception after trying to make a play following a high snap from center Bruce Mitchell.
Bachmeier will have to clean up the turnovers going forward, but there’s no questioning his toughness and clutch ability to make plays happen when the game is on the line.
Weather delay stalled BYU’s momentum
At the end of the first quarter, BYU had a 14-7 lead and possession, before lightning struck within eight miles of Arizona Stadium.
That lightning strike led to a weather delay, sending both teams to the locker room until the lightning stopped.
BYU came out of the weather delay flat. They got a little too aggressive going for a fake punt on 4th & 9 in their own territory. That set up Arizona for a scoring possession that led to a field goal.
Arizona went on to score the next 17 points after the weather delay occurred. BYU didn’t score until four minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
LJ Martin continues to show he’s one of the best running backs in the country
BYU junior running back LJ Martin rushed for a career-high 162 yards on 25 carries in Saturday’s double-overtime victory. It’s the second time this season that Martin has set a career-high at BYU.
The El Paso, Texas native had a strong showing from his family in attendance in Tucson, and he didn’t disappoint, putting together five runs of more than 10 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
With Sione Moa remaining out due to injury, BYU doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 2 running back behind Martin; he’s going to take on a bellcow workload, and he appears up for the task.
BYU’s defense is banged up
Jack Kelly tried to give it a go on Saturday night against the Wildcats, but ultimately, BYU did the right thing by holding him out for future battles in the Big 12.
Still, his absence loomed large.
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Then it was magnified when Raider Damuni exited the game before the weather delay after taking a helmet hit to the rib cage from teammate Siale Esera. He didn’t return to the game.
In the second half, Esera was shaken up and looked at by trainers before returning to action.
Then in the first overtime, Tanner Wall was down for a moment before quickly returning as well.
We didn’t see starting NICKEL Tommy Prassas play tonight, and Jonathan Kabeya still didn’t make his debut for the season, even though he went through pregame warmups.
BYU’s depth continues to be tested. As the schedule continues to increase in difficulty, they have to find a way to get some players healthy.
Big kick for Will Ferrin
Senior Will Ferrin is an all-timer in BYU football history from the kicker position. However, in recent weeks, he’s had some struggles, missing kicks in back-to-back games. Then those struggles appeared to carry over into Saturday’s game at Arizona as Ferrin missed a 42-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter.
Ferrin booted a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter with 4:08 remaining to make it a one-possession deficit. But it was his 45-yard make in overtime, to send the game into a double overtime period, that was the clutch kick Ferrin needed to get back on track.
That kick going through the uprights feels like it silenced any notion that Ferrin was possibly going through a slump. It was a big make from one of the great kickers the program has ever produced.
Arizona’s defense gave BYU a lot of headaches
Cougar fans of a certain age remember the days of Rocky Long and New Mexico putting together 3-3-5 defensive schemes that were a headache to go up against. Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, who comes from the Rocky Long coaching tree, had some schemes that left BYU’s offense stalled in the mud during stretches of this game.
The Wildcats were a strong defensive unit. They have made significant strides from where they were a season ago.
Clean up the defensive offsides
Last week, BYU had two defensive offsides penalties, one of which was on outside edge Logan Lutui. Then tonight, Lutui had two defensive offsides penalties.
One of the offsides penalties was on fourth down, where John Taumoepeau got a stop. Instead, the offsides moved the chains and gave Arizona a first down.
The Wildcats ultimately didn’t score on that drive, but BYU has to clean up the miscues on where to line up. To have that happen in back-to-back weeks was surprising.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
