For Bear Bachmeier, the huddle is more than just a place to call plays. It is a barometer of a team’s culture. Surely, looking at teammates like BYU star running back LJ Martin and veteran center Bruce Mitchell must give assurance to a young quarterback like him.
Bear Bachmeier Praises BYU Teammates LJ Martin and Bruce Mitchell
Bachmeier appeared in a conversation with BYUtv Sports Nation and revealed how the brilliance of his backfield partner and his frontline protector stems from who they are when the pads come off.
“Yeah, very excited,” Bachmeier said when discussing his teammates. “He’s (LJ Martin) not only a great player, but he’s just a great person. And when I’m in the huddle, you kind of just look around.
“And like you look at Bruce Mitchell, you look at LJ Martin, and you just see what they do off the field and just such great people they are and just how much service they do for the community. And it just makes you want to just play so much harder for them. And yeah, going back to LJ, he’s just a special player. But a great person as well.”
Bachmeier’s praise isn’t just sentimental; it’s backed by elite, All-Big 12 caliber execution. Martin is coming off a staggering junior season that cemented him as one of the premier backs in college football. As the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Martin carried the ball 236 times for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging over 100 rushing yards per game.
But a legendary running back is only as good as the space created for him. Enter Mitchell. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound redshirt senior center is the brain and brawn of the Cougars’ offensive line. A first-team All-Big 12 selection and Rimington Trophy watchlist nominee, Mitchell anchored a unit that allowed just 16 sacks all season and paved the way for an offense that averaged 178.1 rushing yards per game.
With Bachmeier under center, Martin taking handoffs, and Mitchell directing the trench warfare, expectations in Provo are skyrocketing for the 2026 season. BYU proved its grit last season. As the Cougars look ahead to the 2026 schedule, the expectations are clear: contend for a Big 12 Championship and secure a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.
However, the road to glory features immense challenges. The 2026 slate is a gauntlet, highlighted by a massive mid-October home showdown against Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium, followed by grueling Big 12 road trips to UCF and a fierce “Holy War” rivalry matchup against Utah in Salt Lake City on Nov. 7.
To survive this schedule, BYU will rely entirely on the chemistry Bachmeier highlighted. Currently, PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter gives the Cougars a 29% chance to make the College Football Playoff.
