PROVO, Utah — Bear Bachmeier threw a go-ahead landing go with 1:47 left and then No. 8 BYU stopped No. 2 Notre Dame at the purpose line to protect a riveting 28-24 victory Saturday night time.
The thriller capped a wild Saturday in which 5 of the prime 8 groups in the AP Top 25 lost on the same regular-season day for the first time, per Sportradar. Paired with No. 1 Georgia’s 27-24 loss to Auburn, the prime two groups in the nation lost on the same day for the first time in the common season since Nov. 17, 2012.
Bachmeier ran for two TDs, caught another and had 224 yards passing to assist the Cougars (6-0) beat the Irish for the first time since 2004. Preston Rex added 66 yards on 10 carries to assist BYU begin 6-0 for the third consecutive season.
BYU followers storm the area after their team beat Notre Dame 28-24 on Oct. 17, 2026 in Provo, Utah. AP Photo/Tyler Tate
After Bachmeier’s go-ahead rating, CJ Carr accomplished several clutch passes to drive the Irish (6-1) into Cougar territory, including a fourth-down go to Micah Gilbert that put Notre Dame at the BYU 9 with 4 seconds left.
But his closing go fell incomplete in the finish zone.
The Irish minimize an 11-point halftime deficit to 5 going into the fourth quarter after scoring area targets following a muffed punt return and a failed pretend punt by the Cougars. Jonaz Walton plowed across the purpose line on a 3-yard run to put Notre Dame in entrance with 9:31 left.
Bachmeier led BYU into Notre Dame territory, but Jayden Sanders picked off a go at the Irish 15 with 8:05 remaining.
After the Cougars compelled a 3-and-out, Bachmeier drove BYU 55 yards in 10 performs and discovered Walker Lyons on a go-ahead 6-yard seize with 1:47 left.
Carr threw for 261 yards and Nolan James Jr. added 77 yards and a landing on the floor for the Irish. Notre Dame ended a 16-game profitable streak.
Bachmeier used a mixture of environment friendly passing and powerful working to put the Irish on their heels early. He accomplished 72% of his passes in the first half.
BYU offensive lineman Sonny Makasini, heart proper, lifts quarterback Bear Bachmeier, prime, after Bachmeier ran for a landing during the first half of an NCAA school soccer sport against Notre Dame, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Provo, Utah. AP Photo/Tyler Tate
BYU capped its opening drive with Bachmeier’s five-yard TD run up the center.
Notre Dame, who has a purchase before dealing with Navy on Oct. 31, took a 10-7 lead on an 8-yard run from James. Then Bachmeier punished the Irish protection on back-to-back drives. He caught a quick go from Kyler Kasper and rumbled 15 yards to put BYU back in entrance. Then Bachmeier dove over the purpose line from a yard out to lengthen the Cougars’ lead to 21-10 going into halftime.
The Irish drove down to the BYU 5 in the closing seconds of the first half. Carr fumbled while making an attempt to spike the ball, and Isaiah Glasker pounced on it to assist the Cougars keep a two-score lead going into the locker room.
It was just the second turnover of the season for Notre Dame.
The Takeaway
Notre Dame: The Irish struggled to end drives in the purple zone, turning the ball over once and settling for area targets after twice beginning drives in BYU territory.
Walker Lyons (7) of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates scoring the game-winning landing against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half of their sport at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Getty Images
BYU: The Cougars, which will look to keep away from a letdown when they journey to UCF on Saturday, had a probability to go up 28-10 in the third quarter before a decide penalty by Kasper wiped out a 39-yard landing catch by JoJo Phillips. The Cougars then dedicated back-to-back particular groups gaffes that let the Irish back in the sport.
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