On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier connected with wide receiver Kyler Kasper for a crucial six-yard touchdown pass at LaVell Edwards Stadium, catapulting the Cougars to a 21-17 lead over the Arizona Wildcats. The play served as the turning point in a hard-fought contest in front of a roaring crowd of more than 64,000 fans, ultimately propelling BYU to a 28-17 victory, as Deseret News reported.
A Game of Inches in Provo
While Bachmeier and Kasper provided the offensive spark to claim the lead in the third quarter, the defensive heroics late in the game cemented the win. Arizona mounted a dangerous fourth-quarter drive, threatening to steal back the momentum and the lead. Facing a crucial fourth down, BYU defenders Tommy Prassas and Cannon DeVries delivered a game-defining stop.
Officials initially spotted the ball on the field and brought out the chain crew for a measurement. The marker indicated a first down by mere inches. However, a video review altered the outcome. Replay officials determined that Arizona receiver Rodney Gallagher came up a few inches short of the line-to-gain, turning the ball over to the Cougars.
“I was standing in the middle of the field, and I wasn’t gonna move until they reviewed it,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said, according to the Deseret News. “I wish I could say I watched it, but it wasn’t until I saw the replay and was like, ‘Yeah, there’s a line right there, you didn’t get it. The ball is in his right hand.’ It is a game of inches.”
Kasper Steps Up for the Cougars
For Kyler Kasper, the game was indeed decided by plenty of inches. The 6-foot-6 receiver, a Chicago native who moved to Arizona at age 13, leveraged his imposing frame to anchor the BYU passing attack. The Cougars managed to score at least one touchdown in every quarter, consistently keeping the Wildcats on their heels.
Reflecting on the tense finish, Kasper pointed directly to the defensive stand by Prassas and DeVries as the defining moment of the afternoon. “That was probably the biggest moment in the game,” Kasper told the Deseret News. “I was beyond excited at that moment, and I knew we were about to go shut the game down.”
With contributions across the roster—including strong plays from fellow receiver Legend Glasker and running back Lj Martin—BYU successfully protected its turf and closed out the 28-17 victory. It was a complete team effort that showcased resilience under pressure.
The Takeaway
Saturday’s victory at LaVell Edwards Stadium highlights the razor-thin margins that often decide college football matchups. When execution meets opportunity, games are won and lost by fractions of the yardstick. How do you see BYU carrying this momentum forward into the rest of the season? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
