PROVO — BYU kicked off the 2025 season with an FCS matchup, and they played a complete, flawless game. They dominated Portland State 69-0 and head coach Kalani Sitake moved to 9-1 in season-openers.
Bear Bachmeier became the first BYU true freshman to start a season-opener and he shined with five total touchdowns — two passing and three rushing. Jack Kelly scored the season's first touchdown by returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown, and then the rout was on.
With a 49-0 halftime lead, Bachmeier sat out the second half, but the BYU rushing machine rolled on to 468 yards and an eye- popping 9.8 yards per carry.
BYU goes from hosting one of the worst FCS teams to hosting the worst Power Four team as Stanford comes to LaVell Edwards Stadium in the late window Saturday night (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
Game Grader
(Opponent-adjusted statistical dominance via Pick Six Previews)
3-year average (2022-24): BYU 49.3 (36th of 68 Power 4) | Stanford 26.1 (68th)
2024 season: BYU 70.0 (10th) | Stanford 24.8 (68th)
2025 season: BYU 55.7 (34th) | Stanford 22.4 (68th)
My Game Grader formula is a measure of statistical dominance that adjusts for opponent strength and is a key piece of my preseason and in-season evaluation.
In my annual season preview magazine Pick Six Previews, I selected BYU to finish eighth in a wide-open Big 12 race. Meanwhile, I projected Stanford to finish last in the ACC.
Stanford is dead last at 68th of 68 teams in Power Four over the past three seasons, they were 68th in 2024, and they are again 68th in 2025.
With Andrew Luck serving as the new general manager, they made a spring coaching change and hired former NFL head coach Frank Reich.
Stanford opened up with a Week 0 loss at Hawaii, the same team that Arizona just destroyed 40-6, which only reinforced their last-place ranking.
BYU with the ball
(Rankings out of the 136 FBS teams)
BYU offense (2025): 69 points/game (2nd), 9.2 yards/play (4th)
Stanford defense (2025): 23 points/game (89th), 4.8 yards/play (73rd)
After the game, opposing head coach Bruce Barnum described Bachmeier as a "centaur." Donning the No. 47 jersey, Bachmeier led the offense effectively, hit open receivers, and ran the ball well.
This week, Bachmeier faces his former team. He originally committed to Stanford and then was competing for the starting job in spring before transferring to BYU this summer.
While this will be a step-up in competition compared to Portland State, this is still likely the second- worst defense BYU will face in 2025. Last year, Stanford was in the bottom 10 of all my defensive metrics; and instead of a talent upgrade this offseason cycle, they lost several key starters to the transfer portal.
We only have one data point on Stanford this season, but for reference, Hawaii's Micah Alejado completed 68% of his passes with two touchdowns and no picks against this Cardinal defense; but then against Arizona he was held to 55%, no touchdowns, and three picks.
Look for more "production by committee" from BYU. LJ Martin impressed with 131 yards on just eight carries, receivers Cody Hagen and Parker Kingston both got involved in the run game, and nine different players caught passes.
BYU has a decisive advantage here.
Stanford with the ball
(Rankings out of 136 FBS teams)
Stanford offense (2025): 20 points/game (87th), 3.9 yards/play (122nd)
BYU defense (2025): 0 points/game (1st), 1.2 yards/play (1st)
The term "video game numbers" usually refers to gaudy offensive stats. But what BYU's defense did to Portland State is the defensive version of that term. They held Portland State to just 51 total yards — less than a yard a minute — which was the program's best since 1964 (19 yards vs. Western Michigan).
Thanks to nine tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, BYU put Portland State in the red, rushing the ball for a total of -5 yards.
The 69-0 score was the largest shutout in BYU history, passing the 65-0 win over New Mexico (1988).
Stanford provides a step-up in competition compared to a bottom-tier FCS team, but there are plenty of flaws for BYU to exploit. Ben Gulbranson won the starting job at quarterback but was held to 50% completion, 109 yards, and no touchdowns against a Hawaii defense that just allowed 40 points to Arizona last week.
BYU's front seven will keep this offense contained.
Game prediction
Stanford leads the all-time series 2-1 after sweeping the home-and-home series in 2003-04. BYU won the most recent matchup in 2022 with a 35-26 result, and they will tie up the series with another win here Saturday night.
BYU is the more talented team at every position unit, and this is another favorable test for true freshman Bachmeier before a competitive Big 12 gauntlet heats up.
BYU 35 | Stanford 13
