Shreyas LaddhaProvo • The party started early Saturday morning for “College GameDay.”
Who knows when it will end now?
Bear Bachmeier found Walker Lyons in the end zone to put the Cougars ahead with 1:47 left, and the BYU defense did just enough to lift No. 8 BYU over No. 2 Notre Dame, 28-24.
It was just the Cougars’ second win over a top-2 opponent in program history.
The tight finish came after a dream first half for BYU. The Cougars dominated the Irish in the opening two quarters, jumping out to a 21-10 at halftime.
Unfortunately for BYU fans, those dreams turned into a nightmare in the second half. Notre Dame put up 14 straight points — aided by some iffy BYU special teams play — to take a 24-21 fourth-quarter lead.
(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) jumps over his teammate to go in for a touchdown during a game against Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026.
When things looked bleak, the Cougars found a light in the darkness, and put together their best drive of the game.
Bachmeier found a diving Lyons in the end zone to put BYU up 28-24.
And then the Cougars’ defense did the rest, surviving multiple fourth-down conversions to force an incompletion in the end zone.
Bachmeier finished with 224 passing yards, 45 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.
He got the Cougars off to a fast start. BYU opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Bachmeier.
After the Irish responded with two scoring drives to take a 10-7 lead, the Cougars got back on track midway through the second quarter. BYU pulled out a double pass to take the lead.
Bachmeier threw a pass to wide receiver Kyler Kasper, who then threw it back to the BYU QB, who turned it into a 15-yard receiving touchdown.
BYU added another touchdown to end the first half, but Notre Dame had a real chance to score with seconds left.
(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) passes the ball during a game at LaVell Edwards Stadium against BYU Cougars on October 17, 2026.
Carr appeared to spike the ball right at the edge of the goal line to kill the clock, but it was an awkward-looking spike, and BYU’s defense jumped on the ball.
After a review, it was ruled a fumble, giving BYU the ball. At the very least, the Irish lost out on a chip-shot field goal — a missed chance that loomed large at the end.
That proved especially costly since the Irish came alive in the second half, taking advantage of a muffed punt and failed fake punt to score 14 straight points to take a 24-21 lead with 9:31 left.
That’s when BYU found life late.
And earned a place in Cougar history.
Here are three takeaways from BYU’s historic win over the Irish.
Bachmeier and BYU start hot and then do just enough
Notre Dame entered Saturday as one of the nation’s best defenses. In fact, the Irish ranked No. 1 in opponent yards per game (214).
Well, BYU had 229 yards … in the first half. A big reason for that was Bachmeier’s stellar play. He mostly did whatever he wanted — and the Irish were mostly powerless to stop him.
At the half, he had 143 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. He was throwing absolute dots to his receivers.
And he did it all without star running back LJ Martin.
(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs it in for a touchdown during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026.
The first half was perhaps the best Bachmeier has looked this season, especially considering the level of opponent.
The second half, though, was another story.
The Cougars struggled to build momentum after halftime. With about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Bachmeier had thrown for just 16 yards in the second half and had also thrown an interception.
Then he orchestrated a 10-play, 55-yard game-winning drive.
BYU defense makes CJ Carr look ordinary — mostly
The biggest question coming into Saturday’s primetime matchup was whether BYU’s defense could contain Carr and the Irish offense.
Well, the Cougars stepped up early.
Carr never looked comfortable against the Cougars in the first half. It also didn’t help that he missed some routine throws badly.
Other times, he just lacked touch or tried to force throws. The Cougars started to stack the box and dared Carr to make a throw. The Irish QB couldn’t take advantage of the BYU defense outside of one or two throws.
(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) is tackled hard by BYU Cougars linebacker Isaiah Glasker (16) during a game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026.
Carr and the Notre Dame offense found a rhythm in the second half.
That led to 14 unanswered points for the Irish. But the Cougars’ defense got the last stop. Even if it took every ounce of effort.
Carr finished with 261 passing yards and zero total touchdowns.
Mistakes almost prove costly
When the Cougars rewatch this game, they’ll find plenty of mistakes to review.
The most egregious was BYU’s muffed punt. It gave the Irish renewed life in the third quarter, and Notre Dame turned it into 3 points.
Not long after that, BYU made another bad mistake. Deep in their own territory, the Cougars tried to go for it on fourth down by rushing with their punter.
Notre Dame snuffed it out easily. It turned into another 3 points for the Irish.
Up next: BYU will travel to UCF next Saturday. The time and broadcast channel are still to be announced.
