We had the upper hand today’: BYU’s Bear Bachmeier-led offense outperforms defense in 1st scrimmage of fall camp

Scenes from BYU's Fall Camp, August 15, 2026 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU

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Jaren Wilkey/BYU

After BYU football coach Kalani Sitake put his team through a 102-play scrimmage Saturday morning at LaVell Edwards Stadium, he pronounced the offense a slight winner, and neither quarterback Bear Bachmeier nor linebacker Cade Uluave disagreed.

The 11-on-11 scrimmage, which Sitake likes to refer to as “sparring,” was a mixture of “live” plays, in which ball carriers are taken to the ground and “thud” plays, where contact is supposed to stop after the initial hit. Usually, defenses are ahead of offenses this early in camp, but that was not the case in the first scrimmage, apparently.

The scrimmage was closed to the media, and Sitake spoke to reporters via Zoom after the proceedings, along with Bachmeier and offensive lineman Bruce Mitchell from the offensive side and Uluave from the defensive side.

“I thought (both sides) had some moments,” Sitake said. “I probably give a slight edge to the offense today, because I thought the offense had more big plays than I would like to have seen from the defense.

“A lot of big plays came because of guys that made them happen,” Sitake continued. “I know all the questions will be about the receivers. I thought the receivers had a really good day today.”

In particular, Sitake singled out Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper, senior Tiger Bachmeier — Bear’s brother — Snow College transfer Reggie Frischknecht and freshmen Legend Glasker and Terrance Saryon . Frischknecht caught two touchdown passes and Kasper also reached the end zone.

“A lot of it was because the quarterbacks were doing a great job getting them the ball, the timing of everything, and then the (offensive) line did a good job blocking, protecting,” Sitake said. “I was pleased with the way the receivers blocked downfield. That’s why we were able to have a lot of success in the run game. … I have to go watch the film, but I felt like maybe offense had a slight edge.”

My Fall Camp Scrimmage Standouts 🏈 Offense: Reggie Frischknecht Caps off a huge week for him. Came down with a couple touchdowns and proves to be a playmaker Defense: Miles Hall A guy who gives his all every play. Physical, instinctive, and finds his way to the ball #GoCougs

— Treyson Bourguet (@treysonbourguet) August 15, 2026 Sporting a fresh haircut he said was done to “stick to the dress and grooming standards” of BYU’s honor code, Bear Bachmeier seconded the notion

“Yeah, we were gelling pretty well on the offensive side,” said the sophomore from Murrieta Valley, California. “It’s a great deal when you got a great offense and a great defense going at it. But yeah, I thought we had the upper hand today. … We were just in a great rhythm.”

Sitake said the offensive line was at less than full strength, with some guys battling concussion symptoms and other minor ailments, but still described some heated battles along the line of scrimmage, with the defensive line many times holding its own.

Mitchell, the center, concurred.

“We had a really good day today. We’ve had some guys out with just some fall camp hits, early on, some concussions and whatnot, but I think we’ll have everybody back next week and as an O-line unit,” Mitchell said. “I feel like we played really well today. I think we are expected to. We have a lot of guys returning, a lot of experience. It was just good to be back in LaVell and work on that chemistry, making sure we’ve got five guys on the same page.”

Sitake said star running back LJ Martin, who had offseason shoulder surgery, participated only in the “thud” portions of the scrimmage. However, backs such as Sione Moa, Preston Rex and freshman Devaughn Eka made outstanding plays.

“You can tell we have a lot of returners on offense. I think Bear played great today,” Mitchell said. “The pass game, the run game, I felt like we were moving the ball really well. … Our defense has a lot of talent too, and we all know that. They’re still getting some guys back. But I don’t think they played terrible. We were able to see that we got a pretty good team and it is only up from here.“

Defense still awaiting return of Satuala

Sitake said that the defense’s front seven was physical and “answered” some of the physicality when the offensive line “probably got some knock-back on our defensive line” through the scrimmage. He said the defense “has had some amazing moments during camp” and wasn’t concerned.

“It wasn’t because of a lack of execution or lack of strategy or teaching from the coaches. I am really pleased with what the coaches have done in all three phases,” Sitake said. “But (from scrimmage) the mistakes were mostly because guys were actually making plays, and so defensively, I think we might have had a few errors that were missed assignments. But for the most part, I thought (most of the plays) were pretty clean.”

Obviously, the defense is still without one of its best players , junior safety Faletau Satuala, who broke his foot in June. Sitake said Satuala “will be ready to roll” before the opener on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech kicks off in three weeks.

“We will see how it looks in the first week, but he’ll be ready to go. I have a lot of confidence in what he’s doing, and I have a lot of confidence in what (safeties coach Demario Warren) is doing as a coach, getting them ready,” Sitake said. “There are a lot of veterans that know how to handle it.”

One of those veteran defenders is Uluave, the Cal transfer.

“Credit to the offense. They had a great day, and they were getting us in some stuff,”Uluave said. “I think coach Sitake is definitely right that the offense won. But I think the defense played alright. I think there’s definitely things that we could do better on and continue to work on, like the little things.

“The whole defense, me included, has to work on the little things that are going to make a big difference,” he continued. “... Defense is going to bounce back, watch t...

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