Bear Bachmeier Nears BYU True Freshman QB Rushing Record
Sep 8, 2025, 2:13 PM | Updated: Sep 9, 2025, 10:13 am
BYU true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier is one touchdown shy of tying Taysom Hill's program record for a true freshman QB. (Courtesy BYU Photo/Jon McBride)
(Courtesy BYU Photo/Jon McBride)
PROVO, Utah – The Bear Bachmeier era is in full swing as the true freshman leads his BYU Cougars to a 2-0 start, with his rushing prowess taking center stage.
Bachmeier opened the season with two rushing scores in one half against Portland State. The following week, it was a QB keeper up the middle that got BYU on the scoreboard versus Stanford.
RELATED: Bear Bachmeier Trucks Stanford Defender For TD
Bachmeier heads into the bye week one touchdown shy of equaling Taysom Hill’s true freshman QB program record of four rushing scores.
The younger brother of BYU wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier has been relied on as a runner since taking his first snap. Bachmeier has 58 yards on 17 carries, and his three touchdowns are tied with six other players for the most in the nation by a quarterback. He is the only freshman in the group.
Only LJ Martin has more carries with 26.
Bear's an ANIMAL.
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/lhc9uz5XM1
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 7, 2025
When not running, Bachmeier has been a more than capable passer.
He has completed 63.2 percent (24-of-38) for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Bachmeier set career-highs in completions (17), attempts (27), and yards (175) against Stanford.
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‘Centaur’ Bear Bachmeier carrying Cougars by land and air
It took a few minutes for Bear Bachmeier to get comfortable in his collegiate debut. Once he did, the floodgates opened for BYU’s offense in a first-half masterpiece.
Bachmeier showed good arm talent while completing 7-of-11 passes for 97 yards and three touchdowns. He also flashed the running ability that makes him so difficult to defend, even for a player with limited college experience.
RELATED: Big 12 Recognizes Bear Bachmeier For Masterful Collegiate Debut
BYU True Freshman Bear Bachmeier in his 1st Career Start:
🔵 5 Total Touchdowns
🔵 5 Incomplete Passes@BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/H5qkJTNFES— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 31, 2025
The outing earned his first of potentially many weekly awards after he was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
The Murrieta, California, native became the first true freshman to be responsible for five touchdowns in a game in program history.
Bachmeier equaled Zach Wilson as the only Cougar true freshmen to toss three TD passes. He also joined a group of Wilson, Taysom Hill, and Tanner Mangum as the only true freshmen to throw multiple TDs in their first career start.
BYU Cougars 2025 Schedule (2-0, 0-0)
- Portland State Vikings @ BYU Cougars | 69-0
- Stanford Cardinal @ BYU Cougars | W 27-3
- BYE
- Saturday, September 20 – BYU Cougars @ East Carolina Pirates | Kickoff 5:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, September 27 – BYU Cougars @ Colorado Buffaloes | Kickoff 8:15 p.m. MT
- Friday, October 3 – West Virginia Mountaineers @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, October 11 – BYU Cougars @ Arizona Wildcats | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, October 18 – Utah Utes @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, October 25 – BYU Cougars @ Iowa State Cyclones | Kickoff TBA
- BYE
- Saturday, November 8 – BYU Cougars @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 15 – TCU Horned Frogs @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 22 – BYU Cougars @ Cincinnati Bearcats | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 29 – UCF Knights @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
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Following a bye, BYU travels to the East Coast to take on the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday, September 20. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. MT.
Find BYU’s entire 2025 football schedule here.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
