Bear Bachmeier is set to take the reins at BYU once again in 2026, aiming to elevate the program to new heights. The Cougars are still chasing their first Big 12 championship and a meaningful run in the College Football Playoff.
What to Expect From Bear Bachmeier at BYU in 2026
Bachmeier exploded in his true freshman season last year, but it was quite expected of him.
“I think just earning like I’ve earned the right to play with confidence and play with swagger and I always had that chip on my shoulder,” Bachmeier said in an interview in the Big 12 Spring Meetings. “Just playing last year I feel like I can just carry that kind of confidence with me. You know when I’m in between the lines.”
BYU put together an 11-1 regular season in 2025 and finished with a strong strength of schedule. Even with those accomplishments, the Cougars narrowly missed out on a College Football Playoff berth. Both of BYU’s losses came against Texas Tech, and the result ultimately hurt its playoff resume.
The Cougars have consistently been among college football’s most successful programs over the past two years. They have finished each of the last two seasons ranked in the AP Top 25. However, BYU has not reached the College Football Playoff during that span.
With Bachmeier returning under center and star running back LJ Martin back in the backfield, expectations are rising in Provo. The sophomore quarterback believes the offense has the potential to take a huge step forward in 2026.
“We’re going to be really dangerous (in 2026),” Bachmeier said.
According to the PFSN College Football Playoff Metric, BYU currently has a 29.7% chance of earning a playoff berth this season.
Nate Church of the Daily Universe recently discussed his expectations for the Cougars on ESPN The Fan and spoke on just how important Bachmeier is to the program’s success.
“Bear is the lifeblood of this football team,” Church said. “The team rallies around him. The fans rally around him. Anytime you talk to a BYU fan about Bear Bachmeier, they light up. I think he’s gonna be a completely different quarterback this year in the best ways possible.
“Like you said, he’s got a full offseason now. If he could learn the playbook during fall camp last year, imagine what he can do with an entire offseason. I don’t know if we’ll necessarily see him air the ball out constantly. That depends on the receivers around him. But I think we’re gonna see a lot of RPOs, a lot of Bear running up the middle like we saw last year.”
Bachmeier threw for 3,033 yards, rushed for 527 yards, and generated 3,560 total yards of offense. His success was hardly surprising considering his decorated high school career, during which he accumulated 6,810 passing yards and 59 touchdown passes while also adding 1,724 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground.
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