No. 8 BYU secured a 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The outcome ended a 16-game winning streak for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a streak dating back to the previous season.
BYU established an early lead, heading into the end of the first quarter with a 7-3 advantage. Notre Dame responded early in the second quarter when Nolan James Jr. scored an eight-yard rushing touchdown to take the lead. However, the Cougars responded with two consecutive touchdown drives, entering halftime with a 21-10 lead. This halftime advantage was bolstered by a Notre Dame fumble by CJ Carr while attempting to spike the ball near the end of the first half.
The third quarter saw a series of momentum shifts and mistakes from BYU, including a muffed punt that allowed Notre Dame to score a field goal. A failed BYU fake punt at their own 28-yard line also gave Notre Dame an opportunity to cut the deficit to 21-16. Notre Dame eventually took the lead following a three-yard rushing touchdown by Jonaz Walton. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier responded with a 10-play, 55-yard drive finished by a touchdown pass to Walker Lyons.
In the final moments of the game, Notre Dame attempted a go-ahead touchdown on the last play of the fourth quarter, but CJ Carr's pass into the end zone fell incomplete. Carr finished the game completing 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards. Bachmeier finished with 224 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Notre Dame's scoring included rushing touchdowns from James Jr. and Walton, while BYU's touchdowns came via Bachmeier's passes to Lyons and another unnamed recipient.
With the loss, Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame team moves to a 6-1 record. The BYU Cougars' victory was marked by an offensive performance from Bachmeier and defensive stops, including a pick of Bachmeier that was neutralized by the BYU defense's ability to force a punt.
The game concluded with BYU maintaining their lead to secure the narrow victory against the No. 2 ranked Fighting Irish.
