BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier is off to one of the best starts in the Big 12, but this week the internet is fixated on something FOX Sports analyst Robert Griffin III said about his family's dinner table habits. During the fourth quarter of BYU's game against Arizona, as BYU led 28-17 and cameras panned to Bachmeier's mother, April, in the stands, Griffin told viewers that Bachmeier had informed him his family sometimes eats dinner without clothes on.
The moment, relayed as Griffin's own account of a conversation with Bachmeier rather than a claim confirmed independently, played out in real time on the broadcast, according to Complex. Play-by-play announcer Connor Onion responded to the remark with, “America, it's up to your imagination.” Cleveland.com also reported that Bachmeier had told Griffin he lost 15 pounds over the offseason after his father fat-shamed him at the dinner table, per Cleveland.com.
An Unverified Anecdote, But a Viral One
It remains unclear whether Bachmeier meant the comment literally, whether it originated as a joke during pregame production meetings, or whether Griffin embellished the detail for broadcast.
Griffin also described the Bachmeier brothers more broadly as fun and rowdy during the broadcast, a characterization that fits the family's football lineage. Bear has a brother, Tiger Bachmeier, who also plays for BYU, and another brother, Hank Bachmeier.
The Family Behind the Moment
The family includes four brothers—Hank, Tiger, Bear and Buck—and a sister, Ella, who competed in collegiate track, per the same program bio.
Tiger transferred to BYU in 2025 after two seasons as a wide receiver at Stanford, reuniting with Bear on the Cougars roster. Bear attended Murrieta Valley High School in California, according to BYU Athletics. Hank Bachmeier was at Wake Forest in 2024, per Wake Forest Athletics.
A Secluded Upbringing
Bear Bachmeier has described growing up in the secluded Rancho Capistrano community near Lake Elsinore.
Bachmeier's Big 12 Breakout Season
As a true freshman in 2025, Bachmeier started BYU's season-opening game. Hoodline previously covered Jake Retzlaff's withdrawal from BYU amid legal allegations.
That freshman season ended with a 10-win campaign and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Now a sophomore, Bachmeier has helped push No. 11 BYU to a 3-0 start this season, racking up 642 passing yards, 64 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns. He played his freshman season in 2025. Through three games, he ranked among the top five Big 12 quarterbacks in both explosive play rate and on-target passing percentage, according to BYU On SI.
The Booth Behind the Broadcast
The exchange also drew attention to FOX Sports' broadcast pairing. Connor Onion was the play-by-play announcer alongside Griffin.
