Bear Bachmeier has been named BYU’s starting quarterback this season as the Cougars prepare for their season-opening game against Portland State on Aug. 30 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound dual-threat athlete will be making BYU history as he’ll be the first quarterback to start a season opener as a true freshman.
Bachmeier, who will wear No. 47, takes over a program that went 11-2 last year and capped the season with a commanding victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl to finish ranked No. 13 in the country.
In addition, not only is Bachmeier a true freshman, but he’s also a transfer. He spent the spring at Stanford, BYU’s Week 2 opponent, before transferring to Provo in early May. The fact that he won the job speaks volumes about his talent and the high potential that the coaches see in him.
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Initially, Bachmeier was expected to serve as a backup to Jake Retzlaff, the team’s starting quarterback. However, Retzlaff left BYU last month after violating the university’s honor code, that opened the door for Bachmeier and the rest of the quarterbacks — McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet — to step up. After nearly three weeks of fall camp, the Cougars are going all in on Bachmeier now and look to prove all the national pundits wrong.
Adding a personal twist to the story, Bachmeier will have his brother Tiger Bachmeier, a junior wide receiver to throw to as well. Tiger, who also transferred to BYU from Stanford this spring, is expected to be a key contributor this year. The Bachmeier brothers come from a football family with their oldest sibling Hank, playing quarterback at Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Wake Forest. He started as a true freshman for the Broncos and led the team to a 12-2 record, with a season-opening win over Florida State in which he threw for 407 yards in a 36-31 win. The only losses came against BYU and Washington, which Bachmeier missed the BYU game due to an injury.
Coming out of high school, Bear had offers from a number of top programs such as Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M.
Social Media Reacts To Bear Bachmeier Being QB1
QB1. pic.twitter.com/pBVCyEGtOs
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 19, 2025
Bear Bachmeier (#47) just became BYU's QB1 and his aura is on 1000 🔥📈
(h/t @CF_Budge, via @BYUfootball) pic.twitter.com/oaKnB0ehH3
— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) August 19, 2025
Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has been named the starter. He'll be the 1st true freshman to start an opener at BYU. His brother Hank, won the QB job at Boise State as a true freshman in 2019 and led the Broncos to a win over Florida State in their opener. #BYUFOOTBALL #Big12FB #CFB https://t.co/HdcAXOXRMA
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) August 19, 2025
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake on naming freshman Bear Bachmeier as his team’s starting quarterback: “We settle it on the field. We feel like that's the best move, and what we've seen in camp so far and all the practices—he gives us the best chance right now, and also we have a lot…
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) August 19, 2025
Bear Bachmeier will become BYU’s 11th freshman starting QB, and the eighth true freshman.
Each of BYU’s last four true freshman QBs to get the starting nod has won his first start.
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) August 19, 2025
a QB wearing 47 is so college football we’re so back https://t.co/hA6TJEPGJ9
— Max Chadwick (@CFBMaxChadwick) August 19, 2025
A true freshman quarterback wearing 47 is all the things that make college football awesome. You people hate fun
I think is my third tweet about Bear Bachmeier https://t.co/sILw3Q6Uat
— Isaac Streeter (@isaac_streeter) August 19, 2025
Bear Bachmeier rocking No. 47 as a QB is objectively unhinged. But as a "let football players wear whatever number they want" maximalist, this is the price I'm willing to pay for free will. pic.twitter.com/UDUq9zgo6D
— NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) August 19, 2025
Some Big XII safeties about to get absolutely TRUCKED by a quarterback wearing #47 🫨
— Calvy J (@CJRealHoops1) August 19, 2025
Just saw this video of Cam Newton reacting to this viral clip of Bear Bachmeier in highschool 😂
(language warning) pic.twitter.com/E5mZ906JAf
— The Y Nation (@TheYNation_) August 15, 2025
BEAR ANOTHERS BURDEN https://t.co/QBjniv3uM1
— Raider Damuni 🇫🇯 (@raiderdamuni) August 19, 2025
Once upon a time a bear and a tiger went to BYU…#Bachmeier pic.twitter.com/VxNdNyL4Gv
— BYUswag🤙🏽 (@BYUswag) August 17, 2025
Bear witness
— Hayden (@oldmaxhall) August 19, 2025
White smoke over Provo; BYU has chosen a Catholic starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/u8LEkW6RdZ
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) August 19, 2025
Now that the Bear Bachmeier announcement is official….
BYU will take a similar approach/mindset as Nebraska did with Dylan Raiola last season. He is the future. He’s going to make freshman mistakes, but his potential is limitless. BYU will ride with him until injury (knock on…
— Cam (@cthuey1) August 19, 2025
Hank Bachmeier was pretty consistent, but for pure passing efficiency, his best year was actually starting as a true freshman.
Retzlaff put up a 135 last year, and if Bear can be close to that, BYU should have a really fun year. pic.twitter.com/IvvFsIZh3I— Greg Welch (@ArtDirectorBYU) August 19, 2025
Wow, the last 3 of 4 starting QB’s at @BYUfootball have been very impressive and unique…
> Jaren Hall – first African American starting QB
>Jake Retzlaff – first Jewish starting QB
>Bear Bachmeier – first Asian American starting QB https://t.co/mySceKNL7s pic.twitter.com/p4X2N0b5yT
— ALMOST HIGHLY RANKED 🏈 (@TrueBlueBYU1984) August 19, 2025
— Kenneth Cox (@KennyCoxKC) August 19, 2025
Let the Days of 47 Begin! #BYUfootball #BYU pic.twitter.com/XFPNF9jI76
— Locked On (BYU) Cougars Podcast (@LockedOnCougars) August 19, 2025
Starting QB wearing 47 and named Bear? BYU might win it all https://t.co/7o2g3FqQDO
— Walk-On Redshirts (@walkonredshirts) August 19, 2025
Bear Bachmeier said his Oline is so good that he hasn’t been tackled once in fall camp.
— New Sporty (@SportyMcSports) August 19, 2025
When asked about other programs not starting true freshman at QB Kalani said “They don’t have a Bear Bachmeier”
— Andrew Peterson (@Apetey222) August 19, 2025
No word of a lie; Bear Bachmeier has one brother called Tiger (who also plays for BYU), and another called Buck.
Not sure what siblings Hank or Ella did to upset the parents. https://t.co/W8WuMiTGK6
— Simon Carroll (@NFLDraftSi) August 19, 2025
— Go Cougs! (@Cougarwire) August 19, 2025
I call them…
The Bear Necessities pic.twitter.com/g3MSjcnJ9Y
— New Sporty (@SportyMcSports) August 20, 2025
"Brilliant, Poised, Ready for the moment, and Physical"
-BYU Football coaches describing Bear Bachmeier pic.twitter.com/MKsXRFypLd
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) August 19, 2025
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