BYU Completes Pop-Tarts Bowl Comeback, Takes Down Georgia Tech
Dec 27, 2025, 5:12 PM | Updated: 5:21 pm
Bear Bachmeier finds Chase Roberts for a touchdown to open the scoring in the Pop-Tarts Bowl BYU football vs. Georgia Tech. (BYU Photo)
(BYU Photo)
ORLANDO, Florida – The BYU Cougars were on life support at halftime before waking from a coma and taking down the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 25-21 in come-from-behind fashion.
The win caps BYU’s first 12-win season since 2001.
No. 12 BYU (12-2) wrapped up the season against the Yellow Jackets (9-4) at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, December 27.
Saturday’s game is the 42nd bowl game in BYU’s history. The first bowl in program history was a 16-6 loss to Oklahoma State in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl.
The matchup with Georgia Tech is the 18th time BYU has played a ranked opponent in a bowl game. The most recent was a 36-14 win over No. 23 Colorado in the 2024 Alamo Bowl.
The Cougars are 18-22-1 all-time in bowl games, and 5-2 under Kalani Sitake as head coach. BYU is 1-3 in bowl games played in Florida.
BYU football all-time vs. Georgia Tech
Today’s tilt marks the fifth time these programs have met on the gridiron.
Georgia Tech earned a 28-19 win over the Cougars in 2002. BYU returned the favor the following season with a 24-13 victory in Provo.
The series returned to Atlanta, Georgia, and Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2012 when Bronco Mendenhall led his Cougars to a 41-17 blowout.
Georgia Tech lost its third straight in the series the following season. Tayson Hill, Jamaal Williams, and Cody Hoffman helped BYU to a 38-20 win at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Pregame
First Quarter
Georgia Tech won the toss and deferred until the second half.
BYU received the kickoff and marched into the red zone on the right arm of Bear Bachmeier. The true freshman completed 7-of-8 passes, moving the Cougars within inches of the goal line.
Enoch Nawahine got the call on 4th and Goal, but was stuffed for a turnover on downs.
Georgia Tech punted after a three-and-out.
Bachmeier stayed hot on the second drive. Two completions, including a seven-yard dart to Chase Roberts, gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead.
RELATED: BYU Takes Early Pop-Tarts Bowl Lead Over Georgia Tech
Bachmeier finished the first period with a 35-yard completion to Carsen Ryan that moved the Cougars into Yellow Jackets territory.
Second Quarter
The Bachmeier-to-Ryan combo worked again, taking advantage of a blitz to connect for a 14-yard pass that set up first-and-goal.
BYU settled for a Will Ferrin field goal after a blatant pass interference penalty against Georgia Tech was missed in the end zone.
BYU fell behind for the first time when Haynes King hit Eric Rivers in the flat for a five-yard touchdown and a 14-10 lead.
Disaster struck when Cody Hagen fumbled the kickoff, giving the ball back to Georgia Tech deep in the red zone.
The Yellow Jackets’ second touchdown pass in as many plays put BYU in a 21-10 hole with 5:15 left in the half.
Third Period
The Yellow Jackets looked to add some points on their first possession, but a fortunate forced fumble by the Cougars created a turnover.
Fourth Quarter
