BYU upsets No. 2 Notre Dame as Bear Bachmeier cites family disrespect

BYU Cougars defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28‑24 on Saturday night in Provo, Utah, delivering the program’s biggest win in recent history.

The upset ended a 16‑game Notre Dame streak, vaulted the previously unbeaten Cougars to 6‑0 and set up a potential rise in the AP poll as the top‑ten landscape reshapes.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 224 yards, one passing touchdown and an interception while adding 45 rushing yards and two rushing scores. He also caught a short pass for a touchdown earlier in the game, showcasing his versatility.

BYU leapt to a 21‑10 lead by halftime after a trick‑play run and a short‑yard plunge by Bachmeier, forcing Notre Dame to burn a timeout on the opening drive. The Irish rallied in the second half, cutting the deficit to a field goal before Bachmeier delivered the go‑ahead six‑yard TD pass to tight end Walker Lyons with 1:47 left on the clock.

A lingering controversy surrounds the final play. The Big 12 later acknowledged that one second should have been restored on the clock, meaning Notre Dame may have been denied a final offensive attempt. The conference said it will review its end‑of‑game officiating process.

After the win, Bachmeier told reporters the victory was personal, recalling that “Notre Dame disrespected me and my family pretty badly” when he was a high‑school recruit. He said the sentiment fueled his preparation and performance, though he did not elaborate on the specific incident.

Notre Dame now looks to rebound against Navy next week, while BYU travels to Orlando to face UCF, hoping to extend its unprecedented start and climb further in the national rankings.