BYU Secures Thrilling Victory Over Notre Dame

In a dramatic showdown in Provo, Utah, Bear Bachmeier delivered a decisive touchdown pass with 1:47 remaining, allowing No. 8 BYU to clinch a 28-24 win against No. 2 Notre Dame. This nail-biting match marked a unique occurrence: five of the top eight teams in the AP Top 25 faced defeats on the same day, as noted by Sportradar. Notably, No. 1 Georgia’s 27-24 loss to Auburn made it the first time since November 17, 2012, that the top two teams lost on the same regular-season day.

Bachmeier showcased his versatility, running for two touchdowns, catching another, and passing for 224 yards. His contributions were crucial in helping the Cougars achieve their first win against the Irish since 2004. Preston Rex contributed with 66 yards on 10 carries, aiding BYU in maintaining their perfect 6-0 record for the third consecutive season.

Fans swarmed the field in celebration after the Cougars’ victory over Notre Dame. After Bachmeier’s pivotal touchdown pass to Walker Lyons, CJ Carr made several key throws, advancing the Irish (6-1) to Cougar territory. A fourth-down pass to Micah Gilbert brought Notre Dame to BYU’s 9-yard line, but Carr’s final attempt fell incomplete in the end zone.

The Irish narrowed their halftime deficit with field goals following a muffed punt return and a failed fake punt by BYU. Jonaz Walton powered through with a 3-yard run giving Notre Dame a 24-21 advantage with 9:31 remaining.

Bachmeier led BYU into Irish territory, but Jayden Sanders intercepted his pass at the 15-yard line with 8:05 left. After BYU forced Notre Dame into a three-and-out, Bachmeier drove the team 55 yards, culminating in a decisive 6-yard pass to Lyons.

CJ Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards, while Nolan James Jr. added 77 yards and a touchdown for Notre Dame, ending their 16-game winning streak. Bachmeier’s blend of accurate passing and strong running set the tone early. He completed 72% of his first-half passes.

BYU started strong with Bachmeier’s 5-yard touchdown run. Notre Dame briefly took the lead with James’ 8-yard run. Bachmeier responded by catching a pass from Kyler Kasper and running 15 yards, then diving over the goal line, extending BYU’s lead to 21-10 at halftime.

The Irish reached BYU’s 5 in the closing seconds of the first half, but a Carr fumble, recovered by Isaiah Glasker, maintained the Cougars’ advantage. This turnover was only the second of Notre Dame’s season.

The takeaway

Notre Dame: The Irish faced difficulties in the red zone, turning the ball over once and settling for field goals despite starting promising drives.

BYU: A penalty erased a chance to extend their lead, followed by errors in special teams that allowed Notre Dame back into the game.

Up next

• Notre Dame: at Navy on Oct. 31.
• BYU: at UCF on Oct. 24.