The No. 23 BYU Cougars improved to 5-0 to start the season after beating the West Virginia Mountaineers 38-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Friday night.
It’s the ninth 5-0 start in BYU’s history and the fourth with coach Kalani Sitake at the helm.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 18 of 25 passes for a career-high 351 yards in the Cougars’ win. He threw for a touchdown and had an interception. Bachmeier also rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Running back LJ Martin finished with 90 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Receiver Parker Kingston added to the offense with 112 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns.
It was BYU’s first victory over West Virginia, which won the first two games in the all-time series back in 2016 and 2023.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates, scores and highlights from the game. Check it out:
BYU vs West Virginia: Score, schedule and result
BYU vs. West Virginia highlights
Final: BYU 38, West Virginia 24
West Virginia quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. completed a pass to Cam Vaughn for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter. Kade Hensley made the PAT. The touchdown was not enough as BYU improved to 5-0 on the season.
BYU defense stops West Virginia
The BYU defense came up big with a stop on fourth-and-goal for West Virginia. Diore Hubbard was handed the ball out of the backfield but was unable to gain the one yard needed to score. The Mountaineers have nothing to show for a 12-play, 74-yard drive.
LJ Martin scores again
Running back LJ Martin scores his second touchdown of the night with a 1-yard score with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter.
3Q: BYU 31, West Virginia 17
Following a fumble recovery by the West Virginia defense, quarterback Khalil Wilkins ran for 6 yards to score with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The run capped off a five-play, 22-yard drive.
BYU, West Virginia exchange turnovers
BYU safety Tanner Wall caught an interception off a pass thrown by quarterback Khalil Wilkins, after the ball bounced out of the hands of a West Virginia receiver.
Khalil Wilkins helps West Virginia close the gap
West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins had a 6-yard run for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. Kicker Kade Hensley made the PAT. It was a five-play, 22-yard drive.
BYU adds to its lead
BYU kicker Will Ferrin made a 37-yard field goal to increase the lead to 31-10 with 6:53 left in the third quarter. Ferrin missed his first field goal attempt in the first half.
Halftime: BYU 28, West Virginia 10
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the final moments before halftime. The touchdown capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive.
Bachmeier completed 10 of 14 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the first half. He also rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Receiver Chase Roberts had 140 yards on three catches for the Cougars. Receiver Parker Kingston scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in the first half.
West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins completed just four of 10 passes for 20 yards and had an interception. He has 60 rushing yards on 13 carries in the first half. Running back Diore Hubbard had 20 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
West Virginia answers back
The Mountaineers continue to show some fight, converting a turnover into some late points in the first half. Fred Perry swatted BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s shovel pass attempt, resulting in a 12-yard loss and a fumble. Perry did manage to recover the ball and provided the West Virginia offense with good field position.
Diore Hubbard scored on a 3-yard run on the very next play for West Virginia with 1:58 left in the second half. It’s 21-10.
BYU is pulling away in first half
LJ Martin capped off a two-play, 89-yard drive for the Cougars. Martin scored a 4-yard touchdown to increase BYU’s lead to 21-3 with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier started the drive, connecting with Chase Roberts for an 85-yard gain.
Kade Hensley scores for West Virginia
Kade Hensley put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard with a 45-yard field goal with 14:15 left in the second quarter.
1Q: BYU 14, West Virginia 0
Parker Kingston scored his second touchdown of the first quarter after being on the receiving end of a short pass by quarterback Bear Bachmeier with 3:41 left in the opening period. The short pass resulted in a 54-yard gain and the touchdown. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.
BYU takes advantage of mistakes, scores first
BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give BYU the early lead over West Virginia with 9:09 left in the first quarter. Kicker Will Ferrin made the PAT.
West Virginia quarterback Khalil Wilkins threw an interception to defensive back Therrian Alexander III. Alexander returned the ball 47 yards to put his team in good field position. He nearly scored a touchdown before he was tackled by Wilkins, who was called for a penalty because of a horse collar tackle in the process.
BYU misses chance at early lead
BYU kicker Will Ferrin missed a 48-yard field goal attempt. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier helped lead the Cougars within field goal range on a seven-play, 57-yard drive.
What time does BYU vs. West Virginia start?
- Date: Friday, Oct. 3
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
What TV channel is BYU vs. West Virginia on today?
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: FUBO (offers free trial)
- How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here’s how to stream it live)
BYU vs. West Virginia game odds
All college football odds via BetMGM
- Spread: BYU -18.5 (-115), West Virginia +18.5 (-105)
- Money Line: BYU -1200, West Virginia +725
- Over-Under: Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)
BYU vs. West Virginia predictions
- Riley Donald,College Sports Wire: BYU is a focused team taking on a West Virginia team traveling across multiple time zones without an answer on offense. Cougars, big.
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: The Cougars won their first close game of the season in Week 5 against Colorado. Can they move to 2-0 in the conference? We think so. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has moxie.
West Virginia schedule 2025
Here is West Virginia’s schedule and results.
- Game 1: Win vs. Robert Morris Colonials, 45-3
- Game 2: Loss vs. Ohio, 17-10
- Game 3: Win vs. Pittsburgh, 31-24
- Game 4: Loss to Kansas, 41-10
- Game 5: Loss to Utah, 48-14
- Game 6: at BYU (tonight)
- Game 7: at UCF (Oct. 18)
- Game 8: vs. TCU (Oct. 25)
- Game 9: at Houston (Nov. 1)
- Game 10: vs. Colorado (Nov. 8)
- Game 11: at Arizona State (Nov. 15)
- Game 12: vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 29)
BYU schedule 2025
Here is BYU’s schedule and results.
- Game 1: Win vs. Portland State, 69-0
- Game 2: Win vs. Stanford, 27-3
- Game 3: Win at East Carolina, 34-13
- Game 4: Win at Colorado, 24-21
- Game 5: vs. West Virginia (tonight)
- Game 6: at Arizona (Oct. 11)
- Game 7: vs. Utah (Oct. 18)
- Game 8: at Iowa State (Oct. 25)
- Game 9: at Texas Tech (Nov. 8)
- Game 10: vs. TCU (Nov. 15)
- Game 11: at Cincinnati (Nov. 22)
- Game 12: vs. UCF (Nov. 29)
