BYU is likely starting a Bear at quarterback who wears a linebacker number

KSR likes to deliver you the new is the most ridiculous manner possible. Some could say that this is our overall motto and something that would be dropped in an elevator pitch if we were describing our business plan. So I’m obligated to share this story with you regarding BYU’s quarterback battle.

Why should you care about BYU’s quarterback battle? You should care because this Big 12 program is probably going to start a player that goes by Bear and wears No. 47. This guy could just become everyone’s favorite player this season if he is good.

BYU was hit with a suprise in July when starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff violated the school’s honor code when he was charged with sexual assault. That suit would ultimately be dropped but Retzlaff faced a seven-game suspension and denied all of the allegations. However, he did violate the code. The quarterback ultimately decided to withdraw from the program and transferred to Tulane. Retzlaff threw for 2,947 yards on eight yards per attempt while also accumulating 511 non-sack rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns on an 11-win BYU team in 2024. One of the best returning quarterbacks in the Big 12 will be playing in the American Conference this season.

That meant that BYU had an unexpected quarterback competition in fall camp. On3’s Pete Nakos is reporting that Bear Bachmeier is ahead of Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet and Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead. Both players were on the BYU roster last season.

Bear Bachmeier was a top-500 recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The true freshman joined his older brother, Tiger, — we are not making these names up — on the BYU roster after the receiver transferred to Provo after spending his first two seasons at Stanford. The wideout recorded 36 receptions as a true freshman in 2023. Bear spent the spring at Stanford before entering the transfer portal with his brother and landing at BYU following the sudden coaching change in Palo Alto when general manager Andrew Luck fired head coach Troy Tayor and replaced him with former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich. Hank Bachmeier is the older brother of both Tiger and Bear. A quarterback in the 2019 class, the older Bachmeier played for Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Wake Forest during his career. He finished his college football journey with 11,256 passing yards and 73 total touchdowns. Bear Bachmeier will look to do the same.

Why does Bear Bachmeier wear this unique number? He explained the reasoning after transferring to BYU.

“I used to play running back when I was younger … and when I made the transition to quarterback, I just kept the number,” said Bachmeier. “I don’t know, I like the number and it kind of brings you back to your primitive nature when you’re playing.”

Great name, football family, good enough to start as a true freshman, and a very unique number. This quarterback has a chance to become a true college football character.