On a hot Saturday afternoon when No. 15 BYU (2-0) and Arizona (1-1) combined for 118 plays in their fight for early supremacy in the Big 12, there were three that impacted the game more than the other 115.
An interception, a fourth-down stop and a touchdown five years in the making highlighted the Cougars' 28-17 victory.
Trailing 7-0 midway through the first quarter, BYU linebacker Cade Uluave intercepted Arizona's Noah Fifita at the Wildcats' 26-yard line and returned it 17 yards to the Arizona 9-yard line. A highlight for sure, but the Cal transfer wanted a lot more.
"Man, that was embarrassing," Uluave said. "The pick was awesome, and then I thought I had the edge, and then I decided to cut back and then I tripped."
BYU cashed the turnover in for a touchdown moments later when Bear Bachmeier ran in from the 6 yards out.
"What made that play was Isaiah Glasker coming off the edge," Uluave said. "He smoked the quarterback, just absolutely smoked him, and the quarterback just threw a cookie to me."
Kyler Kasper was a star at William Field High in Gilbert, Arizona. He caught 73 passes for 1,355 yards and 11 touchdowns in two seasons. Of the 25 scholarship offers, that included Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, USC and Miami, the consensus four-star receiver chose Oregon.
One injury after another clipped his wings with the Ducks. He earned his degree in social science but managed only six receptions for 77 yards in 23 games. BYU snatched him up in the transfer portal as a gamble that he could get healthy and stay healthy.
When Bachmeier hit the 6-foot-6 target for a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter, it not only gave BYU the lead for good, but it put Kasper back in the end zone for the first time since high school in 2021.
"It means everything," he said. "It has been a long couple of years in college, especially the last two years, just banged up and going through that emotionally and physically, pushing through every day and getting back healthy."
With the game still up for grabs in the fourth quarter, Arizona, trailing 21-17, marched from their own 25 to the BYU 21. Facing fourth-and-4, Fifita threw a short pass to Rodney Gallagher III, who made his move toward the first-down marker, but Cannon DeVries and Tommy Prassas delivered a furious tag-team blow to bring him down.
After the initial measurement, Arizona was awarded a first down.
"It was crazy," Uluave said. "I saw the ref looking and gave them a first down and I was like, 'No way!"
BYU challenged the call and the video showed Gallagher did not reach the 17-yard line and the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs and surrendered their momentum.
"They reviewed it and we fired everyone up. I think the whole sideline felt it and the whole crowd," Uluave said. "It was definitely a game-changing moment."
Four plays later, Bachmeier hit Kasper for his second touchdown grab to put the game away.
"They made a good play there right at the sticks," said Arizona coach Brent Brennan. "The only choice you have in that moment is to get back to fighting, because there's still plenty of time left in the football game. That, in my opinion, is where we didn't execute at the level we needed to."
BYU Cougars wide receiver Reggie Frischknecht (18) celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Shane King (8) catches the ball for a touchdown during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars wide receiver Legend Glasker (1) catches the ball during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Shane King (8) dances with his teammate Tre Spivey (12) after scoring a touchdown during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars running back Lj Martin (4) pushes the pile forward as he runs with the ball during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Cole Rusk (14) catches the ball during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) throws the ball to his wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III (84) during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) dives for a first down during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars running back Lj Martin (4) runs with the ball during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake speaks into his headset during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars running back Lj Martin (4) runs with the ball during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Cole Rusk (14) is overthrown during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) makes a leaping pass during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Leroy Palu (95) sacks BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) during a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan encourages his players during a timeout at a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan yells at a referee during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars defensive lineman Tausili Akana (13) sacks Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) during a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Cole Rusk (14) runs with the ball during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats tight end Cole Rusk (14) runs with the ball during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) throws the ball during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Leroy Palu (95) celebrates a sack during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats running back Quincy Craig (24) is then down by BYU Cougars defensive end Braxton Lindsey (30) during a football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Arizona Wildcats running back Kedrick Reescano (3) runs with the ball during a football game against BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars wide receiver Reggie Frischknecht (18) crosses into the end zone during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars tight end Roger Saleapaga II (2) bobbles a pass during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars cornerback Therrian Alexander (1) celebrates after defending a reception during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars tight end Roger Saleapaga II (2) tries to obtain possession of a bobbled catch while defenders prowl to intercept the ball during a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake high-fives fans during the Cougar Walk ahead of a football game against the Arizona Wildcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Two girls sit on their father's shoulders during the Cougar Walk ahead of a football game against the Arizona Wildcats at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
The BYU marching band marches through fans during the Cougar Walk before a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) warms up before a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) warms up before a football game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts "Y's Guys" at ysguys.com and is the author of the children's book "C is for Cougar," available at deseretbook.com.
