No. 8 BYU pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 college football season Saturday night, defeating No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw the winning touchdown pass with 1:47 remaining, and the Cougars survived a final Notre Dame drive that ended amid controversy over the game clock.
The October 17 victory improved BYU's record to 6-0 and handed Notre Dame its first loss of the season. The Fighting Irish fell to 6-1 after rallying from an 11-point halftime deficit and briefly taking the lead in the fourth quarter.
Bachmeier delivered an unusual performance, scoring two rushing touchdowns, catching another touchdown and throwing the decisive six-yard pass to tight end Walker Lyons. His ability to contribute in three different ways helped the Cougars defeat their highest-ranked opponent since beating No. 1 Miami in 1990.
The result also marked BYU's first victory over Notre Dame since 2004. Thousands of fans celebrated at LaVell Edwards Stadium after the Cougars secured one of the most significant wins of coach Kalani Sitake's tenure.
Bear Bachmeier Leads BYU's Offense
Bachmeier completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 45 yards and two scores, demonstrating the versatility that made him central to BYU's offensive approach.
His receiving touchdown came on a trick play, adding another dimension to a performance rarely seen against an opponent ranked among the nation's top five teams.
According to BYU Athletics, Bachmeier became the first Football Bowl Subdivision player in 30 years to record passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns in the same game against an Associated Press top-five opponent.
He was also the first BYU player to accomplish all three in one game since Steve Young did so during the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
Running back Preston Rex contributed 66 rushing yards on 10 carries, helping the Cougars maintain offensive balance. Receivers Kyler Kasper and Legend Glasker each finished with 66 receiving yards.
Lyons caught five passes for 49 yards, but none was more important than his late touchdown reception. That catch gave BYU the lead for good after Notre Dame had controlled much of the second half.
Bachmeier's performance carried additional personal significance. The quarterback said Notre Dame had shown little interest in him during the recruiting process, and he remembered the experience as motivation heading into Saturday's matchup.
His play provided a direct response on the field, although the victory required significant contributions from BYU's defense and supporting offensive players.
Notre Dame Struggles to Finish Scoring Drives
Notre Dame entered the game undefeated and ranked second nationally, but its offense struggled to convert promising possessions into touchdowns.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards. Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse was his leading target, catching eight passes for 125 yards.
The Fighting Irish moved the football throughout the evening but repeatedly encountered problems near BYU's goal line. Notre Dame made five trips inside the red zone and managed only two touchdowns.
One particularly costly sequence occurred shortly before halftime. With Notre Dame threatening to score, Carr mishandled a snap while attempting to stop the clock.
Officials reviewed the play and ruled it a fumble rather than an incomplete spike. BYU's Jayven Williams recovered the football, ending the scoring opportunity and allowing the Cougars to take a 21-10 lead into halftime.
The turnover was significant because Notre Dame had an opportunity to reduce the deficit before receiving the opening possession of the second half.
Instead, the Fighting Irish entered halftime trailing by 11 points despite moving the ball effectively during portions of the first two quarters.
The Irish also faced a defensive setback when Boubacar Traore was ejected for targeting during BYU's opening possession. His absence forced Notre Dame to adjust its defensive personnel early in the contest.
Despite that challenge, the defense improved after halftime and held BYU to just seven second-half points.
Irish Rally to Take Fourth-Quarter Lead
Notre Dame began its comeback by taking advantage of mistakes in BYU's special teams.
A muffed punt return and an unsuccessful fake punt gave the Fighting Irish favorable field position during the third quarter. Notre Dame converted those opportunities into field goals, gradually reducing the deficit.
BYU's defense prevented the Irish from reaching the end zone during the quarter, holding Notre Dame to just 36 yards of offense.
The Cougars maintained their lead entering the fourth quarter, but Notre Dame continued applying pressure. With 9:31 remaining, running back Jonaz Walton scored on a three-yard run to put the Fighting Irish ahead 24-21.
It was Notre Dame's first lead of the second half and appeared to place BYU in a difficult position.
Bachmeier initially attempted to respond, but defensive back Jayden Sanders intercepted his pass at the Notre Dame 15-yard line with 8:05 remaining.
That turnover gave the Irish an opportunity to extend their advantage or consume valuable time. BYU's defense responded by forcing a three-and-out, returning possession to its offense.
The stop became one of the game's defining moments. Rather than allowing Notre Dame to protect its lead, BYU provided Bachmeier with another opportunity to direct a winning drive.
The Cougars advanced 55 yards in 10 plays, overcoming a false-start penalty near the goal line. Bachmeier then connected with Lyons on third-and-goal from the six-yard line.
The touchdown and successful extra point put BYU ahead 28-24 with 1:47 remaining. Notre Dame needed another touchdown to reclaim the lead.
Controversial Clock Decision Ends Notre Dame's Final Drive
Carr led Notre Dame downfield during the closing moments, repeatedly converting important plays to keep the Fighting Irish's chances alive.
A 24-yard completion to Greathouse helped advance the offense into BYU territory. Carr later connected with Jordan Faison on a third-down play to move the ball inside the Cougars' 20-yard line.
With four seconds remaining, Notre Dame completed another fourth-down conversion to reach the BYU nine-yard line. The Fighting Irish used their final timeout to prepare for what appeared to be the last play.
Carr rolled toward the right side and threw a pass intended for Greathouse in the end zone. The pass fell incomplete, and officials allowed the game clock to expire.
BYU players and fans began celebrating what appeared to be a narrow victory secured on the final play.
However, television replays showed that the football struck the ground with one second still remaining. The play should have stopped the clock and given Notre Dame another opportunity.
The Big 12 Conference acknowledged the mistake Sunday, saying its replay officials had incorrectly cleared the play despite time remaining.
Reuters reported that the conference plans to review its end-of-game officiating procedures before the following weekend's games.
Notre Dame is an independent football program, and its contests are generally officiated by crews from the opposing team's conference. Saturday's game was handled by Big 12 officials.
The admitted error raised questions about whether the Fighting Irish should have received one additional play. It does not establish that Notre Dame would have scored or changed the outcome.
The final result remained a 28-24 BYU victory.
Sitake Celebrates a Personal Milestone
The victory carried special meaning for BYU coach Kalani Sitake, who has longstanding connections to the university.
Sitake played fullback for the Cougars before beginning his coaching career. He later returned to his alma mater as head coach, taking responsibility for a program with a proud football history and passionate fan base.
After Saturday's victory, Sitake described the experience as emotional. He reflected on supporting BYU as a fan, representing the school as a player and eventually leading the program from the sideline.
Defensive players also emphasized the importance of overcoming doubts about their ability to compete against highly ranked opponents.
Safety Raider Damuni said criticism directed at the team had provided motivation. Linebacker Cade Uluave expressed similar feelings, noting that BYU had entered the matchup determined to demonstrate its ability against elite competition.
The defensive effort was particularly important during the third quarter, when Notre Dame struggled to gain yardage despite receiving favorable field position.
BYU also recovered from its own mistakes, including Bachmeier's fourth-quarter interception and special teams errors that helped Notre Dame close the gap.
Those moments made the outcome more significant for a team attempting to remain undefeated deep into the regular season.
BYU Climbs to No. 2 in National Rankings
The victory had an immediate effect on the national college football rankings.
In the Associated Press poll released Sunday, October 18, BYU climbed from No. 8 to No. 2, its highest ranking since the program's undefeated national championship season in 1984.
Miami moved into the No. 1 position after a weekend in which five of the previous top seven teams lost. Notre Dame dropped from second to fourth despite its narrow defeat.
The results created a major shift in the national playoff picture, with BYU strengthening its standing among the country's leading unbeaten teams.
BYU's next scheduled opponent is UCF in Orlando, Florida, while Notre Dame has a bye week before facing Navy on October 31.
For the Cougars, the immediate challenge is maintaining their undefeated record after an emotionally demanding victory. Notre Dame must address missed scoring opportunities while preparing for the remainder of its schedule.
The Big 12's review of the final clock error remains an unresolved issue surrounding the game. The conference has acknowledged that Notre Dame should have had one more second, but BYU's four-point victory stands in the official records.