BYU defeats Arizona 28-17 in Big 12 opener
The Cougars beat the Wildcats 28-17, securing their first conference win of the season.
The Brigham Young University football team defeated the University of Arizona 28-17 on Saturday, earning its first victory in the Big 12 conference. BYU took a 14-10 lead in the first quarter after quarterback Bear Bachmeier scored on a six-yard run following an interception. Arizona responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Noah Fifita to Shane King to regain the lead before halftime.
In the third quarter, BYU engineered a 75-yard, nine-play drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from Bachmeier to transfer Kyler Kasper, giving the Cougars a 21-17 advantage. Kasper, playing his first season for BYU, also caught a 61-yard pass earlier in the quarter. The team extended the lead in the fourth quarter when Bachmeier connected with Kasper again for a 12-yard touchdown, finalizing the 28-17 score.
Key performances included Bachmeier, who recorded both a rushing and passing touchdown, and Arizona quarterback Fifita, who completed 16 of 20 passes for 141 yards and added a rushing touchdown. The game was broadcast on FOX and streamed via the Fox Sports app.