No. 11 BYU Stays Undefeated With Comeback Win Over Iowa State

Oct 25, 2025, 5:16 PM | Updated: 5:18 pm

PROVO, Utah – No. 11 BYU looked like a wounded animal in the first half, but a tenacious defense and Bear Bachmeier led them out of the jungle with a 41-27 win over Iowa State.

The Cougars remain undefeated, improving to 8-0 and 5-0 in Big 12 play after flipping the script on a disastrous first half in the final 30 minutes.

BYU outscored the Cyclones 24-3 in the second half after falling behind 24-17 at the half.

Final: (11) BYU 41, Iowa State 27

BYU improves to 8-0. pic.twitter.com/b8yxhhC3jk

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

The Cougars withstood the loss of Big 12 leading-rusher LJ Martin and still managed to surge offensively behind true freshman Bear Bachmeier’s passing prowess.

The five-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week surpassed the 300-yard passing plateau with two touchdowns and zero turnovers. He added 49 punishing yards on the ground.

Parker Kingston caught seven passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, while Chase Roberts came up with big play after big play to move the chains when BYU needed it most. Roberts ended the day with 128 yards on eight grabs.

BYU football players who are “OUT” for Saturday’s game against Iowa State

The Cougar injury report remains largely the same as last week, with safety Raider Damuni missing his second consecutive contest after injuring his shoulder early in a win over Arizona.

SAF Raider Damuni
WR Jojo Phillips
SAF Tommy Prassas
RB Sione Moa
CB Marcus McKenzie

RB LJ Martin and LB Siale Esera have been ruled out after first-half injuries.

Pregame

Gameday in Ames: No. 11 BYU vs. Iowa State pic.twitter.com/8nEM6Gvtew

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

College Gameday picks for BYU at Iowa State.

Clean sweep.

Des: BYU
Saban: BYU
McAfee: BYU
Nate Bargatze: BYU
Herbstreit: BYU pic.twitter.com/I1WirouPSl

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU football players arrived at Jack Trice Stadium wearing shirts that say, “Faith. Fear” on the front.

On the back, “Be the Light.” pic.twitter.com/TCjPY0fxUQ

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

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The final player availability report as BYU football prepares to face Iowa State. https://t.co/uGrwduNdRQ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 25, 2025

Blue lid, white facemask, white jersey, blue pants for BYU football today in Ames. pic.twitter.com/Gns7Ujnkqp

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

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BYU wins the toss. As you would expect, the Cougars deferred.

Iowa State will get the ball first.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

LISTEN LIVE: @BYUfootball is on the road to battle @CycloneFB on @kslnewsradio and:https://t.co/koHz9vHI2h pic.twitter.com/6UNA03fY6R

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 25, 2025

First Quarter

Cyclone QB Rocco Becht took a shot on the first play from scrimmage, lofting a pass to Brett Eskildsen that went 75 yards for a touchdown.

No one on BYU's defense was defending Iowa State receiver Brett Eskildsen. Faletau Satuala came over late.

First play of the game, Iowa State scores on a 75-yard touchdown pass.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Two Bear Bachmeier completions to Chase Roberts moved BYU inside the Cylcone five, setting up 1st and goal.

45-yard gain, 29 YAC by Chase Roberts to put BYU inside the Iowa State five-yard line.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

LJ Martin. Touchdown!

Great response from BYU's offense.

Five-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a four-yard touchdown run by LJ.

BYU 7, Iowa State 7 – 12:13 | 1st

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

. @aLJayMartin with the equalizer 💪

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/Vd2JgE3OZ7

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 25, 2025

BYU linebacker Siale Esera just entered the medical tent.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Iowa State responded with a strong drive before settling for a 36-yard field goal to go ahead 10-7 with 8:05 left in the first quarter.

BYU’s next drive was derailed by two false starts and a sack that put the offense deep in its own end. A Sam Vander Haar punt set Iowa State up at the own 40-yard line.

Disaster of a drive for BYU. Sack and two false start penalties that caused them to be backed up against their own endzone.

Iowa State fans are making their presence felt.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Iowa State’s two- and three-tight end sets kept BYU’s defense on its heels, allowing the Cyclones to move the football at will.

A short Carson Hansen rushing touchdown gave ISU a 17-7 advantage.

Iowa State's offense is overwhelming BYU's defense physically in this game.

Cougs are in a big hole, down 10 in the first quarter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU running back LJ Martin entered the medical tent after his final carry of the first quarter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Second Quarter

BYU LB Siale Esera has exited the medical tent. He was in there for a while. Esera is currently on the sideline.

The FOX broadcast team reported that Esera was "holding his arm" when he entered the tent in the first quarter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU RB LJ Martin exits Iowa State game with injuryhttps://t.co/wYjSyKE9FO

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 25, 2025

Cougar running back LJ Martin was ruled out for the remainder of the day after taking a hit late in the first period.

BYU DE Logan Lutui with an interception. Great pressure from Max Alford on Rocco Becht to force the poor throw.

BYU's sideline looked energized for the first time today after that interception.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

He threw this right to the defender 😬😅 pic.twitter.com/lqxvi7y5Uw

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2025

Minnesota Vikings DE, former BYU star Tyler Batty, and his wife, Alaina, are here at the game. pic.twitter.com/tcss5opHok

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Bachmeier and the offense used a long connection with Parker Kingston to set up a 50-yard Will Ferrin field goal.

The steady kicker drilled the attempt, cutting the deficit to 17-10 with 8:59 left in the half.

Will Ferrin. 50-yard field goal. What a kick.

Somehow, BYU is only down seven.

Iowa State 17, BYU 10 – 8:59 | 2nd pic.twitter.com/zcPh0wL806

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Siale Esera had his helmet on down on the sideline for a moment, but now he's back in the medical tent.

Max Alford continues to hold down the MLB spot in relief of Esera.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

The INT was a blip on the radar for Iowa State.

Their following offensive series, they go 12 plays, 80 yards, capped off by a physical three-yard Carson Hansen touchdown run.

Iowa State 24, BYU 10 – 1:52 | 2nd

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

The true freshman QB showed his growing maturity by leading a touchdown drive to end the half.

Backmeier completed four of seven passes, not including a spike on the drive. He cut the Iowa State lead in half when Parker Kingston flashed up in the back of the end zone.

Bear to Parker Kingston, touchdown!

10 plays, 60 yards, 1:20 TOP.

BYU isn't going away, and they get the ball to start the second half.

Iowa State 24, BYU 17 – 0:25 | 2nd

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Bear ➡️ Kingston 🔥@BYUFootball makes it a one-score game just before the half pic.twitter.com/nyeNuNtNk8

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2025

The Cougars’ touchdown stems the momentum of an otherwise disastrous first half. BYU gets the football first in the second half.

BYU defensive tackle Anisi Purcell with a sack to close out the first half.

Cougs have some momentum going into the break, despite the injuries.

HALFTIME: Iowa State 24, BYU 17

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Iowa State 24, BYU 17 – Halftime Stats pic.twitter.com/CsAzicvPVt

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Third Quarter

BYU linebacker Siale Esera joined LJ Martin in street clothes to start the second half.

Great start to the second half for BYU. Iowa State kicks the ball out of bounds.

BYU starts on its own 35.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Nice block by Preston Rex on third down to set up Bear Bachmeier to find Chase Roberts for a big gain of 27 yards.

BYU is in Iowa State territory.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU gets points, but it missed an opportunity for a touchdown.

The drive stalled inside the Iowa State 10-yard line.

Will Ferrin boots a 27-yard field goal to trim ISU's lead down to four.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Viliami Po'uha with the sack! Big play for the sophomore defensive end.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU defense forces an Iowa State three-and-out, chants of "B-Y-U, B-Y-U" can be heard from Cougar fans here at Jack Trice Stadium.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU's Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston both have more than 100 yards receiving today.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU’s next drive was extended when Bachmeier converted a fourth down to keep the football near midfield.

Later in the drive, Bachmeier found Roberts with a dart on fourth down. A personal foul on Iowa State set BYU up with 1st and goal.

Bear Bachmeier is so poised.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Chase Roberts. What a catch! His helmet was nearly ripped off, and he still made the grab on fourth down.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Touchdown, Bear Bachmeier! pic.twitter.com/HER8vWdeCf

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BEAR ON THE LOOSE IN AMES 🚨#Big12FB | 📺 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/0PfIKNMORB

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 25, 2025

Never count out BYU.

BYU's offense is operating at a high level without LJ Martin.

Impressive display from Bear Bachmeier and this offensive unit.

BYU leads 27-24.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Carson Hansen pops off a 65-yard run. Therrian Alexander didn't give up on the play and made a touchdown-saving tackle.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

The effort by Therrian Alexander III should be remembered on that defensive series to come up with the TD-saving tackle.

Iowa State moved backward from that moment, forcing them to settle for a field goal.

BYU 27, Iowa State 27

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Iowa State was fortunate to get three points after the long snap was fielded on the turf. The holder corralled the football and got it down, laces out, with enough time for a 43-yard field goal.

Unreal. Iowa State's Beni Ngoyi's foot hits the BYU punt while it's rolling. BYU's Mory Bamba recovers. Cougars take over at the Iowa State 33 yard line.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

FOX's Jason Benetti: "Everything is coming up Cougars this season."

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Fourth Quarter

Bachmeier faced a blitz on the second snap of the quarter and uncorked a touchdown pass to Kingston that gave BYU a 34-27 lead.

It was Kingston’s fourth TD of the season and the sixth of his Cougar career. Bachmeier now has 11 TD passes.

Clutch!

Bear Bachmeier connects with Parker Kingston on a 27-yard touchdown pass on third down.

BYU 34, Iowa State 27 – 14:21 | 4th

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

Since last season, when BYU gets a momentum-changing play, they have always found a way to build on it quickly.

Fumble recovery on a punt. Three plays later, touchdown.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark for the second time this season.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

BYU safety Faletau Satuala made the biggest play of the game on the next drive when he stepped in front of a Rocco Becht pass and returned it 40 yards for a pick-six.

The stunning series of events shifted all the momentum in favor of the Cougars and put the clock in BYU’s favor.

BYU is now (+3) in turnover margin today.

Rocco Becht has thrown two interceptions today.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025

TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE @faletausatuala

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/Fjwv7Ypwco

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 25, 2025

The Cougar defensive secondary made big play after big play all game, exhibited by two pass breakups as Iowa State was driving to answer the shift in momentum.

BYU corners Evan Johnson and Therrian Arnold came up big repeatedly, sticking to Cyclone receivers and forcing a turnover on downs with 8:14 left.

Therrian Alexander III with a fourth-down pass breakup.

Big time.

BYU takes over after a turnover on downs by Iowa State with a 14-point lead.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 25, 2025