newsweek
Following a promising first half, the BYU Cougars' offense stalled completely, failing to score in the second half of Saturday's narrow defeat to the Utah Utes.
While many fans directed their frustration at star quarterback Bear Bachmeier, head coach Kalani Sitake took a different stance, absolving his quarterback of blame for the loss.
Bachmeier entered Saturday's game with only four interceptions on the season, but he matched that total in a single game, throwing four picks—three of which came in the second half.
Consequently, Bachmeier faced heavy criticism on social media for his second-half struggles.
Sitake, however, offered a different perspective after the game, praising the Utah defense for making impact plays and calling the Utes "one of the best in the country" on that side of the ball.
"That's what the defense here does," Sitake said. "I grew up in that system too. You want to find ways to create havoc and make things difficult for the quarterback. I think they made some great plays on the ball. I'd kind of look at it and see it from Bear's perspective. I think he's being really hard on himself. It's okay, this defense is one of the best defenses in the country. The scheme and the system works really well. If you are going to be aggressive in the pass game, you're going to have to live with some of the mistakes. They made a lot of really great plays on the ball."
Regardless of who is to blame, the loss is a crushing result for a BYU team that entered the game with hopes of remaining in the College Football Playoff race.
With two losses on the year, the Cougars will likely need a perfect finish to the season, along with some help from other teams, to have a chance at a CFP spot.
BYU will look to get back on track in Week 11 when they host the Baylor Bears next Saturday. Baylor won its Week 10 matchup against Iowa State.
Key Analysis
Sitake's defense of Bachmeier highlights a strategic decision to protect his quarterback's confidence amid external criticism. By crediting Utah's defensive scheme, Sitake shifts the narrative away from individual mistakes and toward the quality of the opponent. The four interceptions not only marred Bachmeier's otherwise efficient season but also underscored the precarious position BYU now finds itself in the playoff hunt. With little margin for error, the Cougars must regroup quickly to keep their postseason ambitions alive.
Originally reported by newsweek.