3 takeaways from No. 15 BYU’s rivalry win over No. 23 Utah

Three has come.

BYU earned its third consecutive rivalry win over Utah Saturday night in Provo, coming alive late to remain unbeaten and hand the Utes their second loss of the season.

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3 takeaways

BYU stepped up in the fourth quarter. After surrendering a touchdown with just over 14 minutes left to play to give Utah the lead, the Cougars put their shoulder to the wheel over the next 11 minutes to pry the game back into their grasp.

Here’s how it went down:

• Parker Kingston ran for a 12-yard touchdown to put the Cougars ahead for good.

• Tanner Wall intercepted Devon Dampier to thwart a Utah rally.
• Bear Bachmeier ran for a 22-yard touchdown on a 3rd-and-long — with his teammates all flying in from behind to push him into the end zone — to add an insurance score for BYU.

• Jack Kelly sacked Dampier on fourth down to give the Cougars the ball back.

Utah added a late touchdown to create some final drama, but a failed onside kick ended any hopes of a miracle finish for the Utes.

When the stakes were highest and plays needed to be made, the Cougars made it happen, just like they have all season long.

BYU’s safeties were everywhere. The Cougar defense has been carried by its linebackers throughout 2025, but safeties Tanner Wall and Faletau Satuala played hero on Saturday night.

Satuala led the team with 12 tackles — eight solo — while adding a forced fumble, pass breakup and tackle for loss.

Wall had 10 tackles — seven solo — and intercepted Dampier in the fourth quarter for the defensive play of the night.

BYU’s defense largely succeeded in making Dampier’s life difficult — the Utes failed on four separate fourth down conversion tries — and Satuala and Wall were major pieces to such an operation.

But the safeties’ contributions weren’t limited to defense. On special teams, Talan Alfrey recovered a muffed punt toward the end of the first half to help set up a go-ahead field goal.

It was just a good night to be a BYU safety.

BYU’s defense also recorded three sacks against the highly-touted Utah offensive line, with Kelly, Hunter Clegg and Max Alford all bring Dampier down.

The Cougars made history. For the first time since the Ty Detmer era, BYU has defeated Utah in three straight matchups.

Not since 1989-92 had the Cougars claimed rivalry superiority over the Utes for three years or more. It’s a new era in Provo. The Cougars’ nine straight losses to Utah feel like a distant memory.

Sitake’s squad earned this year’s win by forcing two Utah turnovers, holding the Utes to a 1 of 5 mark on fourth down, winning the discipline battle with fewer penalties, protecting the football and going 4 for 4 on red zone trips.

Bear Bachmeier threw for 166 yards, ran for 64 more and accounted for two total touchdowns — along with a hurdle that will live on in Cougar lore for decades.

LJ Martin continued to make his case to be the best running back in the Big 12, logging 26 carries for 122 yards at a 4.7 yard average per attempt.

Chase Roberts mossed a defender for a touchdown, Parker Kingston and Carsen Ryan combined for 86 receiving yards and Preston Rex flashed once again with a 32-yard reception out of the backfield.

Aside from two sacks, BYU’s offensive line kept Bachmeier out of harm’s way, wore down Utah in the trenches and paved the way for 202 Cougar rushing yards.

And thus, BYU moves to 7-0 on the year as the only unbeaten squad remaining in the Big 12.