Kalani Sitake Issues BYU Verdict as Bear Bachmeier Reveals Locker Room Feeling on 4-Way QB Battle

BYU delivered a dominant performance, crushing Portland State 69-0 in their home opener. Head coach Kalani Sitake was thrilled, praising his team’s effort from beginning to end. The Cougars played with focus, energy, and a clear game plan. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier impressed, though Sitake highlighted the team’s overall contribution to the victory. Special teams, offense, and defense all executed flawlessly. And Sitake lauded both the players and coaches, stating the performance reflected their preparation and dedication.

Now, Portland State got demolished by BYU in their first home game. The Cougars completely dominated the Vikings, with 468 rushing yards and 606 total yards, controlling the game from start to finish. PSU showed some early promise, moving the ball on their first two drives, but a blocked 56-yard field goal returned for a touchdown by Jack Kelly shifted the momentum. BYU then exploded, scoring 35 points in the second quarter and holding the Vikings to only 44 yards by halftime.

While BYU’s QB Bachmeier got a lot of pre-game hype, it was their running game that did the real damage to Portland State. LJ Martin led the charge with 131 yards on eight carries, while Bachmeier threw for 97 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings’ offense struggled, managing only 51 total yards on 44 plays. PSU’s CJ Jordan tried to spark something, completing 8 of 14 passes for 58 yards, but it wasn’t enough. All this left Kalani Sitake nothing but satisfied as he praised his team and staff, saying, “I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of the guys that came in [the] second half and still pitched aside out. So you know, hats off to all the coaches. They got these guys ready and prepared. So I’m lucky. I’m around really good players and really good coaches, and it was a great night tonight.”

And why wouldn’t he be proud? Portland State’s defense struggled to contain BYU’s relentless attack. Isaiah Green spearheaded the Vikings with 15 tackles, supported by Jerome Roberts and Jaxton Helmstetler, who notched nine and ten stops, respectively. PSU’s chances were further hampered by the absence of starters Delon Thompson and Terence Loville. BYU’s advantage in plays and clock control left Portland State reeling, resulting in a 0-2 start to the season. The Vikings will look to bounce back on the road against North Dakota after this tough loss.

On top of that, Portland State just recorded 1.2 yards per play and recorded negative rushing yards in several quarters. Special teams errors, including a blocked field goal returned 54 yards by Jack Kelly for a touchdown, compounded the issues, while defensive breakdowns allowed BYU to dominate the line of scrimmage. Coach Bruce Barnum criticized the team’s inability to find a rhythm against BYU’s strong front seven, pointing out the defense’s failure to adapt under constant pressure from the Cougars’ run-focused offense.

Now, with that, Kalani Sitake’s offense always played a very interesting 4-way QB battle against Portland, and Bachmeier is nothing but excited about it.

Kalani Sitake’s QB1 gets real on 4-way battle

But what turned heads is that Bachmeier was dominant in the first half alone, throwing a 22-yard pass to Carsen Ryan. He also showed off his running skills, with five carries for 32 yards and two rushing touchdowns. In that single half, Bachmeier helped BYU score 49 points, the program’s highest first-half total since 2019, setting the stage for a complete offensive thrashing of Portland State. And despite the 4-way QB battle, he’s pretty satisfied with the situation. “Yeah, it was fun. I mean, those guys are my brothers, and, you know, my sense there versus so in that room is second to none. So it was special watching the play,” he said. That’s the team spirit we are talking about.

That’s right. Quarterback depth also proved significant in the second half. As BYU used four quarterbacks in the blowout—McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet, Cole Hagen, and Bear Bachmeier—spreading the snaps. McCae Hillstead replaced Bachmeier, immediately making an impact with 33 passing yards and 23 rushing yards in his initial plays. This smooth transition highlighted BYU’s strong talent pool, allowing Sitake to manage the game effectively. Hillstead’s performance demonstrated BYU’s ability to develop multiple quarterbacks capable of stepping in without disrupting the team’s flow—a key asset for a demanding season.

So, the team was firing on all cylinders, demonstrating to fans that BYU isn’t just winning; they’re dominating. The 69-0 final score at the end of the night was a clear indicator of a program performing at its peak on both offense and defense. Now, let’s wait and see how this season turns out for the Cougars.