Can Bachmeier be average or slightly above? If he can, as long as he steps up in occasional moments of need, his naming will have been not just on point, but downright prophetic. BYU, then, will have its quarterback. The distinct sentences will converge in one name … yeah, Bear Bachmeier.

With that, true freshman Bear Bachmeier was named the Cougars’ starting quarterback for the season opener against Portland State on Aug. 30. Freshman quarterbacks have seen the field early in BYU’s history — notably players like Jake Heaps and Zach Wilson — but none have started the opener as a true freshman until now.

When BYU lost quarterback Jake Retzlaff to transfer in July, it threw a championship-level roster into chaos. Retzlaff wasn't an exceptional player, but he was a pivotal one. During a breakout 11-win campaign,