Who is BYU football's starting quarterback? What to know about Bear Bachmeier, who won the Cougars' QB role over McCae Hillstead, Treyson Bourguet.

When BYU lost quarterback Jake Retzlaff to transfer in July, it threw a championship-level roster into chaos. Retzlaff wasn't an exceptional player, but he was a pivotal one. During a breakout 11-win campaign,

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With that, true freshman Bear Bachmeier was named the Cougars’ starting quarterback for the season opener against Portland State on Aug. 30. Freshman quarterbacks have seen the field early in BYU’s history — notably players like Jake Heaps and Zach Wilson — but none have started the opener as a true freshman until now.

Yes, his name is really Bear. Even better, Bachmeier wears No. 47, which is very much not a QB number. He'll be the first true freshman to start a season opener for BYU, per Thamel. Bachmeier beat out a pair of transfers: McCae Hillstead (Utah State) and Treyson Bourguet (Western Michigan).

If BYU starts Bachmeier, and it appears it will happen, it would be historic in Provo. He has a great starting ramp with Portland State and Stanford at home before going to East Carolina, then the Big 12 opener at Colorado.