BYU is 5-0 for the fourth time in the Kalani Sitake era.
The Cougars bested injury-riddled West Virginia 38-24 Friday night in Provo, never trailing in the contest and now moving to 2-0 against Big 12 foes on the year.
3 takeaways
The turnover bug finally bit BYU. Aside from one fumbled punt in Week 1, the Cougars had yet to give the football away in 2025 entering Friday night.
Such a trend changed in a major way.
BYU coughed up three turnovers against West Virginia — a Bear Bachmeier screen pass attempt was intercepted, a speed option pitch was deflected and recovered and running back Jovesa Dumni fumbled on a carry as well.
The Cougars deserve their flowers for having protected the football so well through the season’s first month, but losing the ball three times in a game — in conference play, no less — is beyond problematic.
BYU could overcome three turnovers against a team like West Virginia, but such repeating such sloppiness in future Big 12 matchups is almost guaranteed to spell disaster.
BYU’s offense was explosive. Aside from the three turnovers, there was still plenty to like from the Cougars offensively.
Aaron Roderick’s unit racked up 516 total yards at an average of 7.7 yards per play, producing six passing plays of 15+ yards along with five runs of more than 10 yards.
Bachmeier set a new career high by throwing for 351 yards. Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston combined for 272 yards on eight catches, with both Kingston and LJ Martin finding the end zone twice.
Sam Vander Haar only punted once — though he did pick up 11 yards and a first down on a successful fake field goal.
The turnovers obviously need to be cleaned up, but Bachmeier has continued to get better and more comfortable with each week. This version of Bachmeier is good enough to keep the Cougars in the thick of the Big 12 title chase.
Additionally, BYU has now scored in 31 consecutive quarters dating back to November of last season — the longest such streak in program history.
Jack Kelly’s injury is brutal. BYU’s defense did some good things — interceptions from Tre Alexander and Tanner Wall standing atop the list — but the Cougars potentially lost one of their most valuable playmakers in the process.
Senior linebacker Jack Kelly, BYU’s leading tackler and sack-getter entering Friday, left the game late in the first quarter with an upper body injury and never returned.
He was later seen on the Cougars’ sideline in street clothes and with a sling on his left arm.
Kelly’s linebacker counterpart Isaiah Glasker also exited midway through the night, though his condition appeared better than Kelly’s.
Kelly and Glasker have proven to be one of the best linebacker duos in the country, and losing one or both of them for extended time would be a massive blow to BYU’s defense. Once the pair left the field, the Cougars immediately struggled to put pressure on Mountaineers quarterback Khalil Wilkins.
While nothing is certain yet, if Kelly and Glasker do miss time, Siale Esera, Max Alford and Miles Hall will be tasked with stepping up in the linebacker room, while the rest of defensive coordinator Jay Hill’s group will need to adapt and adjust to overcome the newfound adversity.