BYU Takes Early Pop-Tarts Bowl Lead Over Georgia Tech

ORLANDO, Florida – The right arm of true freshman Bear Bachmeier has been as lively as ever in the opening quarter of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech.

Bachmeier completed nine of his first ten passes, including a touchdown strike to Chase Roberts that gave his team a 7-0 first-quarter lead in Orlando.

No. 12 BYU (11-2, 8-1 Big 12) wraps up the 2025 season against the Yellow Jackets (9-3, 6-2 ACC) at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, December 27.

RELATED: No. 12 BYU Cougars Vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech Pop-Tarts Bowl Live Updates And Analysis

TOASTED EM.

📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/XpS8rP0MRn

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 27, 2025

Roberts already has four catches for 32 yards and his sixth TD of the year.

Georgia Tech answered with its own touchdown drive to tie the game at seven heading into the second quarter.

Bear Bachmeier starts fast in Pop-Tarts Bowl

Perhaps limited by a left ankle injury suffered in the Big 12 Championship, Bachmeier and the Cougars have gone to the air early and often.

The usually bruising runner completed 7-of-8 passes on BYU’s first drive. It was a drive that ended with a turnover on downs when Enoch Nawahine was stuffed at the goal line.

Bear Bachmeier's passing stats in BYU's first two offensive drives in the Pop-Tarts Bowl:

9-10
97 yards
1 TD
204.5 QBR pic.twitter.com/rDXI5iaM6X

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 27, 2025

BYU’s offense went back to work after the defense forced a three-and-out for the Yellow Jackets.

Bachmeier completed two more passes, including the scoring strike to his senior wideout. He finished the quarter with 132 passing yards.

2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl Gameday Reading

No. 12 BYU Cougars vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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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.

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