KSL.com’s PROVO For the season opener against FCS Portland State on August 30, BYU has not announced a starting quarterback.
However, it’s possible that the offensive staff made a big improvement over the weekend.
On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick informed the media that McCae Hillstead, a transfer from Utah State, and Bear Bachmeier, a true freshman, were given the majority of reps with the first and second teams, at least for the time being.
Treyson Bourguet, the redshirt junior signal caller from Tucson, Arizona, via Western Michigan, would appear to be the odd man out if he were to make this move, even though he didn’t totally rule out any of the four quarterbacks on the roster from consideration for the position. Emerson Geilman, a former Bountiful High standout, has also been given backup reps by coaches.
However, Hillstead and Bachmeier received the most of the time with the ones and twos. After attending Stanford for spring practices, he transferred to BYU alongside his older brother, Tiger.
We can no longer maintain equal reps with three players, as I stated on Saturday, Roderick stated. We’re currently at the point where McCae and Bear are receiving the majority of the reps with the ones and the twos.
The choice appears to be straightforward in terms of collegiate experience. As a true freshman at Utah State, Hillstead started four of his eight games. On a 59.5% passing percentage, the former Skyridge High standout threw for 1,062 yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
In addition to setting a freshman passing record by completing 25-of-47 passes for 399 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions versus James Madison, he became the seventh true freshman to start for the Aggies in school history.
Similar to Bourguet, Hillstead sat behind former quarterback Jake Retzlaff for two years while recovering from a lower-leg injury that had prevented him from playing since his transfer.
But he’s not the only choice. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound dual-threat signal caller was born and raised in Springville before his family relocated to Lehi before his sophomore year.
The potential of Bachmeier, a former four-star quarterback by rivals from Murrieta, California, who was ranked as the sixth dual-threat quarterback in the nation in 2025 and who originally selected the Cardinal over offers from Oregon, Arkansas, Michigan, and BYU, among others, has continued to impress coaches.
However, Bachmeier and his brother, a wide receiver and graduate transfer, committed to Stanford after the school fired former head coach Troy Taylor in March so that both could make an impact.
Bear Bachmeier said ESPN when he committed that the prospect of winning games, Roderick’s strategy, and the lineage of quarterbacks they have produced historically and recently are all alluring.
That has always meant sooner rather than later for Tiger Bachmeier, a wide receiver who finished his computer science degree in two seasons while catching 46 receptions for 476 yards and two scores.
The younger Bachmeier, whose older brother, Hank, was a quarterback at Wake Forest, Louisiana Tech, and Boise State, might be in a similar situation.
About Bear Bachmeier, Roderick remarked, “He’s making those throws.” He makes a lot of tosses. One thing is that he is really accurate and doesn’t take sacks.
In order to emphasize his point, he added a lot of completions.
The final decision about the starting quarterback will be made by head coach Kalani Sitake, but Roderick won’t be stopped by the ten-year head coach of his alma mater.
Sitake remarked, “I think A-Rod knows where he is going with everything.” The important thing is that we resolved it on the field. It’s up to the players, not me. The position is up for grabs if you want to get it. For every position, including quarterback, it is our responsibility to place them so they can win the spot.
Although there isn’t a set date for selecting a starter, both coaches would like one to be announced before to starting on August 30. Sitake stated that a week to ten days prior to the start of the season, the team would go from training camp to game preparation versus FCS Portland State. The team was departing for a non-football event following Tuesday’s practice.
According to Roderick, the sooner, the better. We’ll take action as soon as it becomes evident. We will make that declaration as soon as we are certain who it is.
