No. 8 BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in a historic victory that propelled the Cougars to a No. 2 national ranking. The win, which marked the highest-ranked opponent BYU has defeated since 1990, was secured by a late defensive stop and a standout multi-touchdown performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Bachmeier Leads Offensive Surge
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars through both the air and on the ground, becoming the first FBS player in 30 years to record a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown against an AP Top-5 team in a single game. The sophomore completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown, which he delivered to tight end Walker Lyons in the fourth quarter to reclaim the lead. Bachmeier also recorded two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown on a double pass, a feat not achieved by a Cougar since Steve Young in the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
In addition to Bachmeier's offensive output, the BYU offense was bolstered by running back Preston Rex, who rushed for 66 yards, and Bachmeier's 45 rushing yards. The receiving corps was led by Kyler Kasper and Legend Glasker, who each totaled 66 yards. Walker Lyons contributed 49 yards on five receptions, including the decisive go-ahead touchdown.
The defensive performance was anchored by linebacker Cade Uluave, who was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 19, 2026. The senior from South Jordan, Utah, recorded a team-high nine tackles, including six solo stops, along with three quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss. The BYU defense held Notre Dame to 115 rushing yards, significantly below the Irish's season average of 195 yards per game, and limited the high-powered offense to 24 points.
Safety Raider Damuni also contributed to the defensive effort, totaling seven tackles in his first game back since the season opener against Utah Tech. The secondary held Irish quarterback CJ Carr to a 55% completion rate and prevented any passing touchdowns. The victory resulted in multiple conference honors, as the Big 12 also named Bachmeier the Offensive Player of the Week and recognized the BYU offensive line as the Offensive Line of the Week.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake expressed satisfaction with the team's performance following the victory, noting that his players embraced the high-profile spotlight of the ESPN College GameDay and ABC primetime broadcast. Sitake acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, stating that Notre Dame made plays when they needed to and that the game came down to the final play.
Sitake also addressed coaching decisions during the game, specifically a failed fake punt that he attributed to his own aggressive strategy. Despite the mistakes, Sitake noted that the statistics showed a tight game with similar yardage in both the run and pass games. The victory marks a significant milestone for the program, as it was the highest-ranked opponent the Cougars have beaten since knocking off No. 1 Miami in 1990.
The matchup was part of a highly anticipated 2026 schedule for both programs. Notre Dame had announced its season schedule on Jan. 23, 2026, which included a series of games against Big Ten and ACC opponents. The trip to Provo on Oct. 17, 2026, marked the 10th time the two programs have met, with the most recent meeting occurring in 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where Notre Dame won 28-20.
Following the win over Notre Dame, BYU's schedule includes an upcoming matchup against UCF on Oct. 24, 2026. The Cougars' season has already included a victory over Utah Tech on Sept. 5, 2026, and a win over Arizona on Sept. 12, 2026.
National Recognition and Rankings
The victory has significantly impacted the national rankings, with BYU jumping to No. 2. The Cougars' offensive line also received recent recognition, being named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll on Oct. 15, 2026. Additionally, Glasker and Mulitalo were named Midseason Freshman All-Americans on Oct. 20, 2026, further highlighting the depth of the BYU roster during this successful stretch of the 2026 season.
