No 23 BYU Defeats West Virginia for Third Straight Big 12 Win

West Virginia suffered a third consecutive loss, falling 38-24 to No. 23 BYU, dropping to 0-3 in the Big 12 and 2-4 overall for the season. The game was marked by BYU's true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier delivering a career-best performance, throwing for 351 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for another score, effectively exploiting West Virginia's defense. Despite BYU's victory, the game was criticized for being sloppy on both sides, with BYU committing turnovers and West Virginia struggling with quarterback instability and defensive breakdowns. West Virginia's defense, which heavily blitzes, was unable to pressure Bachmeier effectively, who averaged a quick 2.35 seconds to throw, contributing to BYU's successful passing attack. Statistically, BYU is a more balanced and efficient team, excelling in both offense and defense, whereas West Virginia relies heavily on its running game but lacks consistency in passing and third-down conversions. With BYU undefeated and aiming for a Big 12 title, West Virginia faces a challenging path ahead, needing improvements especially in quarterback play and defensive pressure to compete effectively.