Arizona State vs. BYU: Cougars Lead Late in Provo After Disputed Opening Touchdown

BYU held a narrow 20-17 lead over Arizona State early in the fourth quarter Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, according to the CBS Sports gametracker, in a Big 12 game that featured another officiating controversy involving the Cougars. The final result was not known at publish time; check the live score links in the sources below for the outcome.

BYU entered at 6-1, ranked in the top 10 (CBS Sports listed the Cougars at No. 8, while USA Today called them No. 9). Arizona State came in at 4-3.

Arizona State vs. BYU: what’s the score?

As of the latest update we checked, with about 11:51 left in the fourth quarter, BYU led 20-17, per CBS Sports. The scoring by quarter at that point:

• First quarter: BYU 7, ASU 0
• Second quarter: BYU 10, ASU 3 (BYU led 17-3 at halftime)
• Third quarter: ASU 14, BYU 0 (tied 17-17)
• Fourth quarter: BYU kicker M. Dunn hit a 45-yard field goal for a 20-17 lead

This post will not guess at the finish. A tight game with time left could still go either way.

Why was BYU’s first touchdown controversial?

Early in the first quarter, officials first ruled that quarterback Bear Bachmeier fumbled at the Arizona State 1-yard line and that running back Sione Moa recovered. After ASU coach Kenny Dillingham called a timeout, officials looked again and ruled Bachmeier had broken the plane for a touchdown, USA Today reported.

Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira said on the broadcast that the touchdown should not have counted, arguing that once the runner was ruled down, officials could award a recovery but not an advance. “The fact is, Kenny’s right,” Pereira said. Dillingham was visibly upset with the officials, according to USA Today. USA Today noted it was the third straight week a BYU game featured a disputed officiating decision.

ASU vs. BYU: who is playing quarterback?

Arizona State turned to third-string quarterback Jake Fette, after starter Mikey Keene left last week’s win over Kansas State with a leg injury; Dillingham had called Keene “questionable” earlier in the week, according to a Field Level Media preview on CBS Sports. Fette led the third-quarter comeback with touchdown passes of 20 yards to O. Miller and 1 yard to A. Miller. Through the early fourth quarter, he was 16 of 33 for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Cardae Mack had 118 rushing yards on 21 carries, per CBS Sports.

For BYU, Bachmeier was 16 of 25 for 172 yards with a touchdown pass to K. Kasper and an interception.

BYU vs. ASU: why this game matters

BYU is coming off a 39-31 double-overtime loss to UCF that ended its unbeaten run, a week after upsetting Notre Dame. The Cougars trailed Big 12 leader Utah by one game entering Saturday and face the Utes on Nov. 7, so a home loss to Arizona State would badly hurt their path to the conference title game.

Arizona State, the 2024 Big 12 champion, beat BYU 28-23 that season. The Sun Devils lead the all-time series 21-8 but have not won in Utah since 1994, according to Field Level Media.

FAQ