PROVO, Utah – BYU football cruised to a dominant victory over the Portland State Vikings to open the 2025 season.
The Cougars defeated Portland State 69-0, setting a record for the largest shutout in program history, and are now 1-0 on the year.
It was all BYU football in tonight’s opener against Portland State.@BYUfootball https://t.co/IIvC4KWA2P
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 31, 2025
Here are the instant takeaways from BYU’s comfortable victory.
Bear Bachmeier passed his first start with flying colors
The true freshman signal-caller performed at a high level in his first career college start.
Bear Bachmeier accounts for five touchdowns in the first half. https://t.co/AVFG3Qscrm
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 31, 2025
Bachmeier, who had a strong contingent of family on hand at LaVell Edwards Stadium to support him and his brother, was a cool customer at quarterback.
Yes, the opponent, Portland State, is not great as they are going to struggle against FCS competition in the Big Sky, but Bachmeier did what he was asked to do and stayed within BYU’s offense.
Bachmeier only played one half and finished with 97 passing yards on 7-of-11 passing, for a completion rate of 64%. Among his seven completions were three touchdown passes, one of which was a 22-yard touchdown to Carsen Ryan.
Bachmeier also showed his ability to run the football, rushing the ball five times for 32 yards and two touchdowns.
In one half of play, Bachmeier helped guide BYU to 49 points in the first half, the highest first-half scoring total by BYU since 2019.
John Taumoepeau a.k.a. “JT” is ready for a significant role this season
Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa captured all of the headlines this past offseason, and rightfully so. Tanuvasa has the potential to be one of the top defensive tackles in the Big 12 this year.
But with all of the attention that Tanuvasa is going to receive from opposing offenses, it’s going to free up a player like redshirt senior John Taumoepeau.
The former Snow College transfer out of Renton, Washington, helped BYU get on the board after a slow start with a blocked field goal that led to Jack Kelly returning the block for a 57-yard touchdown.
Taumoepeau also had a fumble recovery and an assisted tackle for loss with Isaiah Glasker.
LJ Martin looked like he was ready to be among the best running backs in the Big 12
Junior LJ Martin has led BYU in rushing yards the past two seasons. Despite the success, the potential of Martin, a former four-star recruit from El Paso, Texas, has barely been realized.
The high ceiling was starting to be realized against Portland State.
Martin had four carries of at least 11 yards. He had two runs of 49 yards and 44 yards each.
Like Bachmeier, Martin only played one half and finished with eight carries for 131 yards for an average of 16.4 yards per carry.
Martin is going to be a running back to watch in the Big 12 this season.
BYU football wasn’t rattled after a slow start
The start for BYU wasn’t great. For a brief moment, it gave fans flashbacks to the 2017 meeting against Portland State, where the Cougars only won 20-6.
Before Jack Kelly’s return tonight, BYU’s last blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown occurred in 2001, against San Diego State, by Ryan Denney. pic.twitter.com/iHjzM5lc1M
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 31, 2025
However, that was short-lived.
BYU’s offense opened the game with a punt, then Parker Kingston had a fumbled punt return.
Still, BYU didn’t flinch as the Cougars adjusted to Portland State’s early surprise of starting CJ Jordan at quarterback, along with the 13- and 14-personnel looks they initially employed.
BYU has speed at wide receiver
Back in the spring, BYU offensive coordinator agreed that this was the fastest wide receiver unit the Cougars have had since he joined the staff in 2018.
That speed was on full display on Saturday night with a pair of local receivers standing out in former Corner Canyon High star Cody Hagen and Pine View High standout Dominque McKenzie standing out among the rest.
Hagen took a jet sweep to the house for 57 yards to pull away from the Portland State defenders in the second quarter.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Dominque McKenzie, the son of former BYU standout running back Brian McKenzie, showed off the wheels with a 41-yard run on his first touch of his BYU career.
Hagen will have a greater impact this season than McKenzie, but this isn’t your traditional BYU receiver unit, known solely for its possession receivers. They have athletes who could be a factor in various ways within Roderick’s offense.
Will Ferrin continues to build a case as BYU’s greatest kicker
Will Ferrin tied the program record for longest field goal with a 56-yard make in the third quarter.
Will Ferrin ties the BYU record for the longest field goal in program history.
56 yards!
Ferrin ties Owen Pochman’s 56-yard field goal against New Mexico in 2000. pic.twitter.com/f93YzJTZxB
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 31, 2025
Ferrin made the kick with ease.
Before the season, the former Boise State transfer told KSL Sports that he feels his range is good from 65 yards.
The 56-yard kick tied Owen Pochman, who set the record against New Mexico in 2000. That was 25 years ago.
When the competition gets tougher throughout this season, what a luxury for BYU to have a kicker who can boot kicks through the uprights well into the 50-yard range.
Ferrin was 4-of-5 on field goals from 50+ yards last season. He hasn’t missed a field goal since the Baylor game last September in Waco.
Tight ends were involved in the passing attack
Last season, BYU’s tight ends combined for four touchdown catches. Through one game, BYU is already halfway to that total as Noah Moeaki and Carsen Ryan each had touchdown catches in the blowout win over the Vikings.
BYU football TE Carsen Ryan scores his first touchdown with the Cougars. @BYUfootball https://t.co/Un8UIObCuP
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 31, 2025
Carsen Ryan made an acrobatic catch to haul in the 22-yard completion in the second quarter from Bear Bachmeier.
The former Utah/UCLA transfer was a star in fall camp for BYU’s offense.
Noah Moeaki had a quiet fall camp, but was someone who was earning first-team snaps often during spring ball. Moeaki is a former three-star prospect out of American Fork High School, who was a longtime BYU commit before the Cougars were invited to the Big 12.
Moeaki hauled in his first touchdown grab of his BYU career.
BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick made it a point of emphasis last February to get the tight ends involved in the passing game. Through one game, the tight ends have shown signs that this won’t be a predictable tight end unit, as it has been in the past two seasons since they joined the Big 12 Conference.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
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