CU Buffs opponent lookahead: Unbeaten No. 25 BYU comes to Boulder for difficult Big 12 home opener

The Alamo Bowl rematch has arrived.

We all know what is going to happen in the leadup. There is going to be a lot of praise for the team on the other side, with both Deion Sanders and Kalani Sitake having an immense amount of respect for the other.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, left, and BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, right, meet at midfield following BYU’s win in the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

But when the ball kicks off close to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night in Boulder, both Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) and No. 25 BYU (3-0) will be after a crucial win that may determine which team heads into October as a Big 12 contender.

The Buffaloes got back to their winning ways last week with a solid showing against Wyoming, but they’re already behind the eight ball after losing on the road at Houston in their Big 12 opener, while the Cougars cruised through nonconference play without being tested.

Still, the majority of the BYU team that beat CU 36-14 in the Alamo Bowl last December is back and eager to prove a gap remains between the two programs.

Here’s what to expect from the Cougars:

Last time out

BYU left Provo for the first time in 2025 this past weekend and came back still having yet to face any real adversity.

Although the Cougars didn’t score an offensive touchdown until midway through the third quarter, their 34-13 win over East Carolina was relatively comfortable.

BYU running back LJ Martin (4) runs the ball with East Carolina’s Teagan Wilk (3) in pursuit during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

The BYU defense was the unit that built that lead by a pair of interceptions by Evan Johnson, one denying ECU a touchdown and another scoring one for the Cougars as a pick-6, defined the first half.

In the second half, the offense finally saw the reward after wearing down the Pirates defense on the ground as LJ Martin finished with over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Bear Bachmeier got a touchdown on the ground and through the air to seal the win in the fourth quarter. 

On offense

From the Alamo Bowl to now, not much looks different about the BYU offense — except under center.

After spending the spring at Stanford, Bachmeier arrived in Provo in the summer and won a heated quarterback battle after returning starter Jake Retzlaff decided to transfer while facing a looming suspension for violation of the university’s honor code. That opened the door for a true freshman wearing No. 47 to lead a BYU team with expectations to make the Big 12 championship game after coming up just short last season.

Through three games, Bachmeier has looked the part. He’s completed two-thirds of his passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. But the majority of his job has been handing the ball off to Martin, the Big 12 leader in rushing yards per game and the head of the top rushing offense in the conference.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier warms up against Stanford during pregame of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)

After ending the season with 88 yards and two touchdowns against the Buffs in San Antonio, Martin has rattled off three straight 100-yard games to go with one touchdown and a yards per carry average of nearly nine.

The Cougars don’t run the ball out of necessity, though. They’ve got real downfield weapons in the passing game, too, most notably wide receiver Chase Roberts, an all-conference caliber who leads the team with 11 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown.

On defense

The No. 1 defense in the Big 12 is what the CU offense will face this Saturday night.

Granted, the competition hasn’t been great, but BYU has dominated games with a standout defense through three games, allowing a conference-best 5.3 points and 205.3 yards per game. The Cougars defense has scored as many touchdowns (1) as it’s allowed.

BYU’s Evan Johnson (0) runs the ball away from East Carolina offensive lineman Jimarion McCrimon (62) after his interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

They’re deep and talented at all three levels, led by Logan Lutui and Jack Kelly up front, Isaiah Glasker at linebacker and Evan Johnson in the secondary. 

After winning the starting quarterback job back with an impressive showing against Wyoming, Buffs quarterback Kaidon Salter will have his hands full this week. 

The BYU Cougars file

Record: 3-0

Head coach: Kalani Sitake (10th season, 75-43 record)

Offensive coordinator: Aaron Roderick (8th season at BYU, 5th as OC)

Defensive coordinator: Jay Hill (4th season)

Names to know: QB Bear Bachmeier, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts, TE Carsen Ryan, OL Weylin Lapuaho, LB Isaiah Glasker, DE Logan Lutui, EDGE Jack Kelly, DB Evan Johnson, K Will Ferrin

Betting line: Colorado +6.5 (ESPN Bet)