Arizona State Pushes No. 8 BYU to the Limit in Hard-Fought 27-20 Loss.
PROVO, Utah — No. 8 BYU overcame a second-half comeback attempt by Arizona State to secure a 27-20 victory Saturday night, behind a solid performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier and several key defensive stops. Bachmeier finished with 236 passing yards and one touchdown as the Cougars improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play. Arizona State dropped to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference action. BYU controlled much of the first half, taking advantage of Arizona State's offensive struggles and early turnovers. Sun Devils quarterback Jake Fette, making his first career start, lost a fumble on the opening possession that Isaiah Glasker recovered at the Arizona State 29-yard line. The turnover led to BYU's first touchdown when running back Sione Moa recovered a fumble by Bachmeier near the goal line and carried it into the end zone. Following the game, the Big 12 acknowledged that officials incorrectly awarded the touchdown. According to the conference, BYU should have retained possession at the 2-yard line with third-and-goal rather than receiving six points. Despite the controversial scoring play, BYU continued building momentum. Bachmeier connected with Kyler Kasper for a 13-yard touchdown pass, helping the Cougars establish a 17-3 halftime advantage. Arizona State responded with a much stronger offensive showing in the third quarter. Fette found Omarion Miller for a 20-yard touchdown before connecting with Anthony Miller Jr. on a 1-yard scoring pass to tie the game at 17. The Sun Devils benefited from a fumble recovery by Adrian Wilson at the BYU 39-yard line, which helped set up their second touchdown drive. Fette completed the game with 166 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Cardae Mack contributed 170 all-purpose yards. With Arizona State threatening to complete the comeback, BYU relied on its defense and late-game execution to regain control.
Matthias Dunn connected on a 45-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 20-17 advantage.
BYU then delivered its most important offensive possession of the night, putting together an 11-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that included two successful fourth-down conversions.
Facing fourth-and-1 at his own 14-yard line, Bachmeier kept the ball and gained the necessary yardage to extend the possession. On the following play, he connected with Legend Glasker for a 53-yard gain. Later in the drive, Bachmeier completed a 5-yard pass on fourth-and-4 from the Arizona State 6-yard line, setting up Moa's second touchdown from one yard out with 2:09 remaining. The late score helped BYU maintain control and finish with a seven-point victory. Defensively, the Cougars made a significant impact, recording six sacks and forcing a turnover during the first half. BYU also limited Arizona State receiver Reed Harris to just one reception for four yards. Harris entered the matchup leading the Big 12 with 800 receiving yards and an average of 114.3 yards per game. Although Arizona State showed improvement after halftime, its slow offensive start and inability to consistently move the ball ultimately proved costly. The loss marked Arizona State's third road defeat against a top-10 opponent this season. For BYU, the victory demonstrated its ability to respond under pressure and execute in critical situations. The Cougars overcame an Arizona State rally and made aggressive fourth-down decisions that helped preserve the win.
Up Next: Arizona State returns home to face Colorado on Saturday, November 7.
