BYU Holds Off Georgia Tech in Season-Opening Thriller
BYU defeated Georgia Tech 25-21 in Week 1, covering the 3.5-point spread in a game that stayed well under the 55-point total.
The Cougars scored early, with both teams putting up seven points in the first quarter before BYU added a field goal in the second to take a 10-7 halftime lead. Georgia Tech, however, scored 14 first-half points to take a 21-10 advantage, but BYU shut out the Yellow Jackets in the second half while scoring 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the offense with 325 passing yards, while Parker Kingston led all receivers with 76 yards. Georgia Tech's Eric Rivers rushed for 7 yards in the losing effort.
The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter when a Georgia Tech play netted 4.78 EPA, but it proved insufficient as BYU's defense ultimately held firm. The game featured several momentum swings, including a third-quarter interception of Bachmeier and late-game heroics from both sides.
AI-generated recap · Aug 22, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Georgia Tech | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
 BYU | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Georgia Tech | BYU |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 22-40 | 27-39 |
| Pass Yards | 254 | 325 |
| Rush Yards | 131 | 100 |
| Total Yards | 385 | 425 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 4-12 | 5-10 |
| Penalties | 7-49 | 4-49 |
| Possession | 28:49 | 31:11 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
(14:59) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #20 C.Ryan caught at BYU37, for 12 yards to the BYU37 (#31 F.Felton), 1ST DOWN
(14:31) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete deep middle to #11 P.Kingston thrown to GT26
(14:25) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #2 C.Roberts caught at BYU45, for 11 yards to the BYU48 (#31 F.Felton; #9 O.Daniels), 1ST DOWN
(13:48) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT42, for 10 yards to the GT42, out of bounds at GT42, 1ST DOWN
(13:16) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #28 J.Damuni caught at GT39, for 5 yards to the GT37 (#7 A.Stone)
(12:43) Shotgun #11 P.Kingston rush right for 13 yards gain to the GT24 (#8 J.Boyd), 1ST DOWN
(11:58) Shotgun #11 P.Kingston rush right for 4 yards gain to the GT20 (#9 O.Daniels), out of bounds
(11:27) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT13, for 14 yards to the GT06 (#9 O.Daniels; #31 F.Felton), 1ST DOWN
(10:49) Shotgun #3 M.Hillstead rush right for 1 yard gain to the GT05 (#2 E.Lightsey)
(10:06) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier rush middle for 0 yards to the GT05, End Of Play
(09:24) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT01, for 4 yards to the GT01 (#23 Z.Tobe)
(08:44) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 0 yards to the GT01 (#44 K.Efford), TURNOVER ON DOWNS
(08:37) PENALTY GT False Start (#88 J.Byrne). NO PLAY
(08:39) #0 M.Hosley rush right for 7 yards gain to the GT08 (#11 F.Satuala; #16 I.Glasker)
(08:03) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #11 D.Patterson caught at GT14, for 0 yards to the GT08 PENALTY GT Illegal Touch-Pass (#11 D.Patterson). NO PLAY
(07:45) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #3 E.Rivers thrown to GT11 broken up by #0 E.Johnson
(07:45) #47 M.Nichols punt 54 yards to the BYU38, out of bounds at BYU38
(07:44) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #2 C.Roberts thrown to GT47 PENALTY GT Pass Interference (#3 A.Harvey) 15 yards from BYU38 to GT47, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
(07:38) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT48, for 6 yards to the GT41 (#98 A.Bradford)
(07:01) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 3 yards gain to the GT38 (#1 C.Spaulding)
(06:22) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 3 yards gain to the GT35 (#98 A.Bradford), 1ST DOWN
(05:44) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #11 P.Kingston caught at GT22, for 28 yards to the GT07 (#31 F.Felton), 1ST DOWN
(04:59) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT00, for 7 yards to the GT00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:56 #44 W.Ferrin kick attempt good (H: #35 S.Vander Haar, LS: #26 G.Grimes)
(04:56) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #8 M.Rutherford caught at GT40, for 22 yards to the GT47 (#5 N.Taumoepeau), 1ST DOWN
(04:25) Shotgun #10 H.King rush middle for 4 yards gain to the BYU49 (#16 I.Glasker)
(03:51) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush middle for 8 yards gain to the BYU41 (#0 E.Johnson), 1ST DOWN
(03:07) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short left to #11 D.Patterson caught at BYU39, for 9 yards to the BYU32 (#1 T.Alexander)
(02:34) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush middle for 5 yards gain to the BYU27 (#48 B.Schoonover; #96 J.Kirkland), 1ST DOWN
(01:57) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #8 M.Rutherford caught at BYU31, for 19 yards to the BYU08 (#5 N.Taumoepeau), 1ST DOWN
(01:17) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #7 B.Stockton thrown to BYU07 QB hurried by #5 N.Taumoepeau
(01:14) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush left for 5 yards gain to the BYU03 (#28 T.Wall)
(00:29) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #8 M.Rutherford thrown to BYU00
(00:20) Shotgun #22 T.Maddox rush middle for 3 yards gain to the BYU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:20. The previous play is under automatic review - "Short of the goal line". CALL UPHELD #33 A.Birr kick attempt good (H: #47 M.Nichols, LS: #49 R.Thomas)
(00:19) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete deep right to #2 C.Roberts thrown to GT50 QB hurried by #99 J.van den Berg
(00:12) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #20 C.Ryan caught at BYU30, for 35 yards to the GT40 (#27 T.Harris), 1ST DOWN
(14:54) Shotgun #11 P.Kingston pass incomplete short left to #2 C.Roberts thrown to GT26
(14:54) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 6 yards gain to the GT34 (#7 A.Stone; #29 J.Mitchell)
(14:10) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #13 J.Phillips caught at GT26, for 13 yards to the GT21 (#27 T.Harris), 1ST DOWN
(13:29) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush left for 3 yards gain to the GT18 (#44 K.Efford; #27 T.Harris)
(12:46) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush left for 1 yard gain to the GT17 (#24 R.Triplette)
(12:05) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT05, for 14 yards to the GT03 (#9 O.Daniels), 1ST DOWN
(11:21) Shotgun #11 P.Kingston rush right for 1 yard loss to the GT04 (#44 K.Efford; #9 O.Daniels)
(10:36) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 0 yards to the GT04 (#99 J.van den Berg)
(09:56) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short middle to #2 C.Roberts thrown to GT00
(09:52) #44 W.Ferrin field goal attempt from 22 yards GOOD (H: #35 S.Vander Haar, LS: #26 G.Grimes), clock 09:49
(09:39) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short left to #85 J.Allen caught at GT29, for 5 yards to the GT29, End Of Play
(09:20) Shotgun #10 H.King rush middle for 2 yards loss to the GT27 (#16 I.Glasker; #7 L.Lutui) PENALTY BYU Face Mask (#16 I.Glasker) 15 yards from GT29 to GT44, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
(09:09) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush right for 6 yards gain to the GT50 (#5 N.Taumoepeau)
(08:45) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short middle to #8 M.Rutherford caught at GT49, for 7 yards to the BYU43 (#28 T.Wall), 1ST DOWN
(08:14) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete deep middle to #9 Z.Taylor thrown to BYU00
(08:07) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #11 D.Patterson caught at BYU43, for 10 yards to the BYU33 (#28 T.Wall), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
(07:29) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush left for 3 yards gain to the BYU30 (#34 M.Kaufusi; #55 J.Taumoepeau)
(06:49) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush middle for 9 yards gain to the BYU21 (#13 T.Akana), 1ST DOWN
(06:13) Shotgun #10 H.King rush left for 2 yards gain to the BYU19 (#16 I.Glasker)
(05:41) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #3 E.Rivers thrown to BYU25
(05:40) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #8 M.Rutherford thrown to BYU00, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY BYU Pass Interference (#2 J.Kabeya) 14 yards from BYU19 to BYU05, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
(05:31) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #3 E.Rivers caught at BYU01, for 5 yards to the BYU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 05:28 #33 A.Birr kick attempt good (H: #47 M.Nichols, LS: #49 R.Thomas)
(05:18) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short middle to #88 J.Byrne caught at BYU00, for 6 yards to the BYU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 05:15 #33 A.Birr kick attempt good (H: #47 M.Nichols, LS: #49 R.Thomas)
(05:15) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #11 P.Kingston caught at BYU36, for 19 yards to the BYU44 (#3 A.Harvey), 1ST DOWN
(04:29) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #13 J.Phillips caught at BYU50, for 9 yards to the GT47 (#27 T.Harris)
(03:55) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT49, for 0 yards to the GT47 (#16 K.Hill)
PENALTY BYU False Start (#2 C.Roberts) 5 yards from GT47 to BYU48. NO PLAY
(02:59) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #11 P.Kingston thrown to GT47 broken up by #7 A.Stone
(02:51) #35 S.Vander Haar punt 49 yards to the GT03, out of bounds at GT03
(02:44) #0 M.Hosley rush middle for 0 yards to the GT03 (#16 I.Glasker; #3 R.Damuni)
(01:57) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush right for 6 yards gain to the GT09 (#11 F.Satuala)
(01:50) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush left for 12 yards gain (12) to the GT21 (#3 R.Damuni) PENALTY GT Holding (#80 B.Seither) 10 yards from GT21 to GT11
(00:56) Shotgun #10 H.King rush middle for 6 yards gain to the GT17 (#7 L.Lutui; #0 E.Johnson), 1ST DOWN
(00:45) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush middle for 2 yards loss to the GT15 (#57 K.Tanuvasa; #54 S.Esera)
(00:32) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete deep middle to #8 M.Rutherford caught at GT39, for 28 yards to the GT43 (#11 F.Satuala), 1ST DOWN
(00:24) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #3 E.Rivers thrown to GT47
(00:24) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short middle to #85 J.Allen caught at GT49, for 7 yards to the GT50 (#22 T.Prassas; #21 M.Hall)
(00:21) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short middle to #8 M.Rutherford caught at BYU45, for 5 yards to the BYU45 (#1 T.Alexander), 1ST DOWN
(00:07) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete deep right to #3 E.Rivers thrown to BYU11
(00:00) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete deep right to #80 B.Seither thrown to BYU00 broken up by #11 F.Satuala
(14:51) Shotgun #10 H.King rush left for 18 yards gain to the BYU49 (#48 B.Schoonover), 1ST DOWN
(14:19) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush right for 8 yards gain to the BYU41 (#5 N.Taumoepeau)
(13:43) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush right for 0 yards to the BYU41 (#55 J.Taumoepeau) PENALTY BYU UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (#55 J.Taumoepeau) 15 yards from BYU41 to BYU26, 1ST DOWN
(13:17) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #3 E.Rivers thrown to BYU22 QB hurried by #11 F.Satuala
(13:13) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short left to #8 M.Rutherford caught at BYU22, for 4 yards to the BYU22 (#11 F.Satuala)
(12:36) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #0 M.Hosley caught at BYU25, for 13 yards to the BYU09 (#15 T.Beasley), 1ST DOWN
(11:56) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush right for 2 yards loss to the BYU11 (#7 L.Lutui)
(11:16) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #9 Z.Taylor thrown to BYU00
(10:52) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #28 J.Damuni caught at BYU29, for 7 yards to the BYU38 (#9 O.Daniels)
(10:16) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 4 yards gain to the BYU42 (#2 E.Lightsey), 1ST DOWN
(09:43) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT45, for 18 yards to the GT40 (#31 F.Felton), 1ST DOWN
(09:08) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass intercepted by #3 A.Harvey at GT00 #3 A.Harvey return 25 yards to the GT25 (#21 E.Nawahine), out of bounds PENALTY GT Pass Interference (#3 A.Harvey) 15 yards from GT40 to GT25, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY
(08:31) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short middle to #13 J.Phillips caught at GT15, for 17 yards to the GT08, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN
(07:47) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #20 C.Ryan thrown to GT09
(07:44) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GT04 (#31 F.Felton; #16 K.Hill)
(07:03) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass intercepted by #6 R.Shelley at GT00 #6 R.Shelley return 2 yards to the GT02 (#11 P.Kingston)
(06:54) #10 H.King pass complete short right to #3 E.Rivers caught at GT17, for 15 yards to the GT17, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN, PENALTY BYU Holding declined
(06:34) #1 J.Haynes rush middle for 0 yards to the GT17 (#57 K.Tanuvasa; #54 S.Esera)
(05:57) #10 H.King pass complete short left to #1 J.Haynes caught at GT25, for 14 yards to the GT31 (#2 J.Kabeya), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
(05:27) #10 H.King rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GT32 (#55 J.Taumoepeau)
(04:51) #10 H.King pass complete short left to #8 M.Rutherford caught at GT30, for 8 yards to the GT40 (#94 A.Purcell)
(04:19) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #17 J.Beetham caught at GT45, for 3 yards to the GT43 (#3 R.Damuni; #21 M.Hall), 1ST DOWN
(03:46) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush middle for 15 yards gain to the BYU42 (#11 F.Satuala; #15 T.Beasley), 1ST DOWN
(03:05) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short middle to #3 E.Rivers caught at BYU29, for 16 yards to the BYU26 (#11 F.Satuala), 1ST DOWN
(02:25) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right thrown to BYU16 QB hurried by #7 L.Lutui
(02:12) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush middle for 3 yards gain to the BYU23 (#21 M.Hall)
(01:42) Shotgun #10 H.King rush middle for 5 yards gain to the BYU18 (#54 S.Esera)
(01:01) #33 A.Birr field goal attempt from 35 yards NO GOOD blocked by #57 K.Tanuvasa (H: #47 M.Nichols, LS: #49 R.Thomas), clock 00:55, out of bounds at BYU20
(00:54) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush left for 12 yards gain to the BYU32 (#27 T.Harris), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
(00:18) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short middle to #20 C.Ryan thrown to BYU32 broken up by #96 S.Jones
(00:15) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush right for 19 yards gain to the GT49 (#27 T.Harris), 1ST DOWN
(14:58) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #11 P.Kingston caught at GT50, for 1 yard to the GT48 (#15 T.Butler; #2 E.Lightsey)
(14:28) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT30, for 18 yards to the GT30 (#16 K.Hill), 1ST DOWN
(13:49) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GT26 (#99 J.van den Berg)
(13:06) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #28 J.Damuni thrown to GT27 QB hurried by #8 J.Boyd and #95 J.Moore
(13:00) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #2 C.Roberts caught at GT20, for 7 yards to the GT19 (#1 C.Spaulding), 1ST DOWN
(12:21) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT17, for 13 yards to the GT06 (#44 K.Efford; #2 E.Lightsey), 1ST DOWN
(11:32) Shotgun #11 P.Kingston rush left for 4 yards gain to the GT02 (#2 E.Lightsey)
(11:13) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush left for 2 yards gain to the GT00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:13 #47 B.Bachmeier rush attempt Successful
(11:11) Shotgun #0 M.Hosley rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GT26 (#55 J.Taumoepeau)
(10:39) Shotgun #3 E.Rivers rush right for 7 yards gain to the GT33 (#16 I.Glasker)
(09:56) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #80 B.Seither thrown to GT50 QB hurried by #5 N.Taumoepeau
(09:50) #47 M.Nichols punt 56 yards to the BYU11 #11 P.Kingston return 34 yards to the BYU45 (#47 M.Nichols)
(09:35) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush right for 5 yards gain to the BYU50 (#16 K.Hill)
(08:58) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush middle for 1 yard gain to the GT49 (#88 A.Hoffler)
(08:20) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #20 C.Ryan thrown to GT45 broken up by #9 O.Daniels
(08:15) #35 S.Vander Haar punt 40 yards to the GT09
(08:07) PENALTY GT Illegal Snap 4 yards from GT09 to GT05. NO PLAY
(08:05) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short right to #1 J.Haynes caught at GT01, for 0 yards to the GT05 (#5 N.Taumoepeau)
(07:27) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete short left to #8 M.Rutherford caught at GT04, for 12 yards to the GT17 (#28 T.Wall)
PENALTY GT Illegal Snap 5 yards from GT17 to GT12. NO PLAY
(06:33) Shotgun #1 J.Haynes rush middle for 6 yards gain to the GT18 (#28 T.Wall; #16 I.Glasker)
(05:53) #47 M.Nichols punt 56 yards to the BYU26 #11 P.Kingston return 4 yards to the BYU30, out of bounds at BYU30
(05:44) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short right to #11 P.Kingston thrown to BYU31
(05:38) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass incomplete short middle to #2 C.Roberts thrown to BYU43 broken up by #2 E.Lightsey
(05:32) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #11 P.Kingston caught at BYU34, for 13 yards to the BYU43 (#6 R.Shelley), 1ST DOWN
(04:59) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #13 J.Phillips caught at GT43, for 14 yards to the GT43 (#6 R.Shelley), 1ST DOWN
(04:29) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short left to #11 P.Kingston caught at GT28, for 15 yards to the GT28 (#3 A.Harvey), 1ST DOWN
(03:56) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #20 C.Ryan caught at GT26, for 8 yards to the GT20 (#1 C.Spaulding; #2 E.Lightsey)
(03:21) Shotgun #21 E.Nawahine rush right for 9 yards gain to the GT11 (#44 K.Efford), 1ST DOWN
(02:40) Shotgun #47 B.Bachmeier pass complete short right to #28 J.Damuni caught at GT05, for 7 yards to the GT04 (#9 O.Daniels), out of bounds
(02:04) Shotgun #28 J.Damuni rush middle for 4 yards gain to the GT00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 02:00, 1ST DOWN. The previous play is under automatic review - "Runner broke the plane". CALL UPHELD #44 W.Ferrin kick attempt good (H: #35 S.Vander Haar, LS: #26 G.Grimes)
(01:56) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #11 D.Patterson thrown to GT35 QB hurried by #5 N.Taumoepeau and #7 L.Lutui
(01:48) Shotgun #10 H.King rush for 5 yards loss to the GT16 fumbled by #10 H.King at GT16 recovered by GT #10 H.King at GT16, End Of Play
(01:04) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #3 E.Rivers thrown to GT30 PENALTY GT Illegal Touch-Pass declined
(01:01) Shotgun #10 H.King pass complete deep right to #3 E.Rivers caught at BYU45, for 66 yards to the BYU18 (#0 E.Johnson), 1ST DOWN
(00:35) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short right to #1 J.Haynes thrown to BYU00
(00:28) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short left to #1 J.Haynes thrown to BYU00
(00:19) Shotgun #10 H.King pass incomplete short middle to #11 D.Patterson thrown to BYU00
(00:14) Shotgun #10 H.King pass intercepted by #0 E.Johnson at BYU00, Touchback
(00:03) Kneel down by BYU at BYU19 for loss of 1 yard