Provo • The BYU Cougars beat the Utah Utes, 24-21, on Saturday night.
It was the Cougars’ third straight rivalry game win.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s 22-yard touchdown run made it 24-14, effectively sealing the victory. The freshman finished 13-for-22 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 64 yards and a score.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier later hit wideout Larry Simmons for a touchdown to make it 24-21 with 1:24 to play.
But the onside kick didn’t go 10 yards, and the Cougars hung on to win.
The Utes hurt themselves with 11 penalties for 72 yards and two turnovers.
BYU stayed perfect, improving to 7-0.
The Utes, meanwhile, are now 5-2 on the season.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) passes the ball during the game between the BYU Cougars and the Utah Utes in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Bachemeier scores
Tanner Wall intercepted a long pass from Devon Dampier.
And BYU capitalized on the other end.
Bear Bachmeier ran for 22 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-14.
BYU 17, Utah 14 — 11:19 4Q
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake as BYU hosts Utah, NCAA football at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Utah star linebacker Lander Barton was ejected for targeting BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Moments later, Cougars wide receiver Parker Kingston slipped past Utah’s defense for a 12-yard rushing touchdown, retaking the lead for BYU.
Utah 14, BYU 10 — 14:11 4Q
Utah freshman running back Daniel Bray broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown run, giving the Utes their first lead of the contest.
Turnover on downs — 8:47 3Q
An insane play — and a lucky bounce — on a fumble from Dallen Bentley to Tobias Merriweather meant 52 yards for the Utes to put them in scoring position… only for the Utes to come up short on fourth down once again. Feels like we’ve already had five “only in this rivalry” type of moments.
Halftime: BYU 10, Utah 7
BYU takes the lead on a 26-yard field goal from Will Ferrin before halftime. The Cougars took advantage of Mana Carvalho’s muffed punt, which ultimately set up the 3-point score.
BYU 7, Utah 7 — 3:24 2Q
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes wide receiver Ryan Davis (9) scores a touchdown as BYU hosts Utah, NCAA football at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
It was all about Devon Dampier on Utah’s first scoring drive. He connected with Larry Simmons for a 24-yard first-down reception. He then scrambled for a 26-yard gain and capped off the score on a pass to Ryan Davis.
BYU 7, Utah 0 - 13:37 2Q
After a scoreless first period, the Cougars got on the board first with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier to Chase Roberts. Once the play was over, several Utah and BYU players got caught in a scuffle that was quickly broken up by both teams.
— Jason Batacao
Bear Bachmeier’s hurdle
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) leaps over Utah Utes safety Jackson Bennee (23) as BYU hosts Utah, NCAA football at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
This game has been all about the defenses.
It’s 0-0 after one quarter. Both teams have turned the ball over on fourth-and-short efforts.
But BYU’s true freshman Bear Bachmeir has provided the first big offensive highlight of the evening.
Both of these teams love running the football — through one quarter, there’s been 23 combined runs and just five combined passes. But both teams have been unable to convert on 4th down, hence the scoreless draw so far.
— Andy Larsen
Extra security at BYU
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU's cougar statue in front of LaVell Edwards Stadium is covered in plastic wrap to prevent vandalism, in Provo on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
BYU said it would be deploying more police than usual for this game and tightening security in other ways, including prohibiting camping.
That’s likely in response to a couple of things.
1) Last year’s rivalry game ended with upset fans throwing water bottles on the field. One of those hit a BYU cheer coach, who said months later that she was still recovering from her injuries.
2) This week, a BYU fan was arrested for allegedly threatening Utah fans on X. You can read more about that here.
A slightly more innocent security measure for the rivalry? The school has wrapped the statues on campus to prevent vandalism.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU's statue of Brigham Young covered in plastic wrap to prevent vandalism, in Provo on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU's statue of Brigham Young covered in plastic wrap to prevent vandalism, in Provo on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
— Aaron Falk
Injury reports
The biggest news from today’s injury report is that BYU safety Raider Damuni will officially miss this week’s game.
But there’s good news for the Cougars, too.
The other question mark from BYU’s availability reports this week, defensive tackle Anisi Purcell, is available.
Meanwhile ... BYU’s best defensive player, Jack Kelly, is out warming up and is set to play today after sitting out last week. He will likely be key to defensive coordinator Jay Hill’s plans for keeping Utah quarterback Devon Dampier in check in the run game. Kelly and Isaiah Glasker helped spy running quarterbacks in the past for Hill.
— Kevin Reynolds
OUT for the Cougars:
OUT for the Utes:
How to watch
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Utah fan awaits kickoff as BYU hosts Utah, NCAA football at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. MT
TV: FOX
Broadcast team: Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst), Alexa Landestoy (sideline)
Radio: ESPN 700 AM and 92.1 FM (Utes); KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM (Cougars)
Pregame reading
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Urban Meyer talks to media on the set of Big Noon Kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.