PROVO, Utah – BYU football is going to make history when it opens the 2025 season.

The Cougars, who are the first team outside of the AP Top 25 preseason rankings, will be starting a true freshman at quarterback.

ESPN college football reporter Pete Thamel first reported on Tuesday, August 19, that Bear Bachmeier will get the start at quarterback when the Cougars host FCS Portland State on August 30 in Provo .

Sources: BYU is naming true freshman Bear Bachmeier as the team’s starting quarterback, with his debut coming against Portland State on Aug. 30. Bachmeier, who will wear No. 47, will become the first true freshman to start an opener for BYU. pic.twitter.com/ZkgRwjwcqG

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 19, 2025

Bachmeier, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound signal-caller out of Murrieta,

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