In a dramatic Saturday night showdown, No. 8 BYU earned a 28‑24 triumph over No. 2 Notre Dame thanks to a late‑game heroics by quarterback Bear Bachmeier. With 1:47 remaining, Bachmeier connected on a six‑yard touchdown pass to Walker Lyons, putting the Cougars ahead for good.
Key moments
Earlier in the game, Bachmeier showcased his versatility, rushing for two touchdowns, catching a short pass for a 15‑yard gain, and throwing for 224 yards. He finished with a rare combination of passing, rushing and receiving scores – a feat not seen since Steve Young’s 1983 Holiday Bowl performance.
Notre Dame fought back, driving deep into BYU territory in the final seconds. CJ Carr completed a fourth‑down pass to Micah Gilbert, setting up a last‑second attempt from inside the 10‑yard line. The pass fell incomplete, sealing the Cougars’ win.
Big 12 review
Following the game, the Big 12 conference announced that the final play was incorrectly cleared, noting that time remained on the clock when the ball hit the ground. The league pledged a full review of its end‑of‑game officiating process before next week’s matchups.
Impact on the season
The victory marked BYU’s first win over a top‑10 opponent since 2018 and extended their perfect 6‑0 start for the third straight season. It also contributed to a historic day in college football, as five of the top eight AP teams lost on the same regular‑season day – a first since November 2012.
Notre Dame’s 16‑game winning streak ended, and the Irish fell to 6‑1. Coach Marcus Freeman lamented missed opportunities, especially a red‑zone turnover that could have changed the outcome.
Quotes
“We’re tired of being disrespected,” Bachmeier said after the game. “We know who we are. This was a great win for sure.”
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake added, “We knew our offense could score and we knew they could get us in position to take the lead. We’ve been in these tight games before. It felt normal for us.”
Freeman noted, “We had them on the ropes, and we couldn’t find a way to finish. They found a way to get a stop when they needed it the most.”
Looking ahead
Notre Dame travels to Navy on Oct. 31, while BYU heads to UCF on Oct. 24, looking to build on the momentum from this signature win.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
