It’s that time of year again. College Football 27 is released and everyone dives into building their dynasties. But first, fans look at their favorite college team and see how they stack up in the game against other teams. Sure, the ratings of each player are arbitrary and guesses at best. That doesn’t stop anyone from having some fun and comparing to real life.
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At Vanquish The Foe, we did that very thing. We simulated the entire 2026 BYU football season without any interference. Set to nearly the toughest difficulty, we simulated how the BYU season could play out. This is the result of the only simulation we did. And it seems like fans will be happy with the result.
Let’s break it down game-by-game.
vs. Utah Tech (FCS West in CFB 27)
This actually was a bit of a slog. For whatever reason, the passing game was not connecting. Perhaps this is a good game for Bear Bachmeier and his new crop of receivers to work through some kinks and get on the same page. LJ Marin reached 100 yards before being pulled late to protect him. However, just a 21-point win at home over Utah Tech, who went 2-10 as an FCS team last year, would raise some eyebrows in Provo.
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Score: W, 27-6
vs. Arizona
Whatever kinks they had to work out after an underwhelming season opener on offense, they did it. Home crowd was buzzing. The run game was in sync. All of Bachmeier, Martin, and Sione Moa eclipsed at least 50 yards rushing in a balanced rushing attack. They played keep-away from Arizona all game and the Wildcats couldn’t keep up after digging themselves an early hole.
Score: W, 35-14
at Colorado State
Starting the season with three straight blowouts would certainly put Cougars fans in a good mood. Martin rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns to really put his Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year defense into gear. A pick six by Evan Johnson certainly helped the cause as well.
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Score: W, 40-17
at #17 TCU
This is was the first big test for the Cougars and they fell short. TCU is out for revenge after the Cougars embarrassed the Horned Frogs in Provo last year. Fort Worth has always been a tough place to play for BYU and that continues here. Bachmeier threw a late interception and the running game never could get on track.
Score: L, 30-24
vs. Iowa State
Any thoughts of letting the TCU loss linger went out the door quickly when safety Faletau Satuala intercepted a pass on the Cyclones’ opening drive and ran it back for a touchdown. BYU was off to the races after that. Martin reached 150 rushing yards and Kyler Kasper had his first breakout game as a Cougar, with two touchdown catches.
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Score: W, 34-20
vs. #5 Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish come to Provo at No. 5 and BYU was ranked No. 13. A top-13 matchup in Provo for the ages. Notre Dame was able to stifle BYU’s rushing attack, which really put the Cougars in dire straits. The game was close late but the Irish got a late touchdown. In BYU’s attempt to answer and force overtime, they turned it over on downs in the redzone, sealing the dramatic win for the Irish in Provo.
Score: L, 28-21
at UCF
It’s hard to say that the Cougars were feeling the after-effects of the loss to Notre Dame early in this game. UCF jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Then the Cougars woke up and got the run game going. They took a 13-10 lead at the half and didn’t look back.
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Score: W, 27-13
vs. Arizona State
At first, this was looking like the Sun Devils were going to play spoiler again for the Cougars, like they did in 2024. It was a roller coaster affair for BYU, going into halftime trailing 14-10. ASU then took the second half kickoff all the way to the house to make it 21-10 and send Cougar fans into a panic. Kalani Sitake settled the Cougars down with two straight touchdown drives to take a 24-21 lead. Then both defenses locked in. ASU attempted a long field goal with no time remaining to send it into overtime and they missed it. Phew.
Score: W, 24-21
at #20 Utah
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By now, the Cougars were back up to the No. 12 spot in the polls. This was a ranked matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium. And it turned into an absolute classic. Both defenses were on skates most of the game. It was tied 21-21 at halftime. Neither team could pull away. Utah scored a late touchdown to get a 35-28 lead with roughly two minutes left for the Cougars to answer. Bachmeier, in what would be his best moment as a Cougar thus far, led a surgical drive down the field for a touchdown with under five seconds left in regulation. Instead of kicking the extra point and playing for overtime, the Cougars opted to go for two and the win. A read option run for Bachmeier was the call and he bulldozed his way into the endzone, sealing the two-point conversion and the win in Salt Lake. What a classic!
Score: W, 36-35
vs. Baylor
Riding high from their fourth consecutive win in the Holy War, the Cougars started out sluggish against the Bears. Baylor took an early 10-0 lead after two drives. Then Kelly Poppinga’s defense locked in and Baylor didn’t score again the entire game. Bachmeier connected for two touchdowns to tight end Walker Lyons. The Cougars could smell another Big 12 Championship Game appearance brewing, but couldn’t afford another letdown. They came through here.
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Score: W, 24-10
at Kansas
For some reason, the Kansas football team has given BYU fits so far in the Big 12 era. Not this time. Thanks to a pair of interceptions by Satuala and Therrian Alexander, the Cougars were able to capitalize on Jayhawks mistakes.
Score: W, 27-20
vs. Cincinnati
By this time, BYU ranked No. 8 in the country and were not going to let anyone stand in their way from their second straight trip to Arlington. Getting the Bearcats in Provo on the verge of another Big 12 Championship Game was all the motivation the Cougars needed. They laid the wood to Cincy in all three phases for an emphatic home finale.
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Score: W, 38-13
This put BYU at 10-2 and into the Big 12 Championship Game. Their opponent in Arlington? The Utah Utes. For a championship version of the Holy War.
Big 12 Championship Game vs. Utah
If you thought the first matchup of this season against Utah was a classic, this one wasn’t disappointing either. Not much separated these two highly motived teams. A spot in the College Football Playoff was on the line in the Holy War. The game was tied 27-27 late in the fourth quarter. Utah attempted a field goal with two minutes left and missed. This opened the door for the Cougars to take the ball and try to win it. Bachemeier led the Cougars down the field. Matthias Dunn lined up for a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left and the Big 12 title and playoff berth on the line. He nailed it. The walk-off field goal won BYU the Big 12 and sent them to the College Football Playoff. This would be perhaps the greatest win in BYU history since the 1984 national championship.
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Score: W, 30-27
CFB 27 Predicts a Rosy Run For BYU in 2026
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College Football Playoff, First Round vs. Boise State
Wouldn’t that be fun? Hosting a College Football Playoff game in Provo against an old rival. The Cougars got the No. 5 seed in the CFP, which means they had to play in the first round. Luckily, it’s a home game. Imagine the scenes at LaVell Edwards Stadium on a chilly December night playing Boise State in the Playoff. The Cougars take care of business at home. The Cougars had been foaming at the mouth for this scenario and they didn’t let it go to waste. Their win sends them from the cold Provo December air to the warmth of Southern California for a BYU game for the ages.
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Score: W, 23-17
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal vs. Indiana (Rose Bowl)
Yes, the simulation brings BYU to face the defending national champion Hoosiers at the Rose Bowl, the Grandaddy of Them All (imagine the reaction from Utah fans). Certainly, the Cougars would be the underdogs here. Still, getting to play a CFP Quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl Game playing the defending champs? That is the stuff of fairy tales. Unfortunatley, this is where the magic carpet ride ends for the Cougars. The Hoosiers may have lost Fernando Mendoza to the NFL but head coach Curt Cignetti is far from out of tricks up his sleeve. Still, what a glorious end to the Cougars’ season.
Score: L, 30-20
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Overall, BYU finished the regular season 10-2, won the Big 12 title game and even the first round of the College Football Playoff. Cougar fans likely would be ecstatic with a 12-3 season ending in the Rose Bowl.
