No. 16 BYU fell to Notre Dame 28-20 in a Shamrock Series matchup at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 8, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite a scoring performance from Kody Epps and Christopher Brooks, the Cougars were unable to overcome the Irish offense in front of a crowd of 62,742.
Scoring Breakdown and Key Plays
The scoring began in the first quarter when Notre Dame's Blake Grupe converted a 26-yard field goal to give the Irish an early 3-0 lead. BYU responded with a touchdown as Kody Epps caught a 2-yard pass from Jaren Hall, though the subsequent kick failed, leaving the score at 6-3.
Notre Dame extended its lead in the second quarter through Michael Mayer, who caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Drew Pyne. Following a safety that brought the score to 12-6, Jayden Thomas added a 30-yard touchdown reception from Pyne, also with a failed extra point, to extend the Irish lead to 18-6. The score remained 18-6 heading into the third quarter.
BYU managed to close the gap during the third quarter when Kody Epps connected with Jaren Hall for a 53-yard touchdown. Justen Smith completed the extra point, bringing the Cougars within one point of the Irish at 25-21. However, Notre Dame regained momentum when Michael Mayer recorded his second touchdown of the game on a 19-yard pass from Pyne, supported by a successful kick from Grupe, making it 25-20.
In the final quarter, Notre Dame's Christopher Brooks secured the victory with a 28-yard touchdown run. Justen Smith converted the extra point to extend the lead to 28-20. BYU attempted a late comeback, but a 20-yard field goal by Justen Smith was the final scoring play of the contest.
Offensive and Statistical Comparison
The offensive statistics highlighted a significant disparity in ball control and efficiency. Notre Dame held the ball for 40 minutes and 55 seconds, nearly doubling BYU's time of possession of 19 minutes and 5 seconds. The Irish offense recorded 24 first downs compared to BYU's 13, and achieved a 68.75% success rate on third-down conversions.
BYU's offense, led by quarterback Jaren Hall, completed 9 of 17 passes for 207 yards, averaging 39.29 yards per completion. In contrast, Notre Dame's Drew Pyne completed 22 of 28 passes for 262 yards, averaging 24.94 yards per completion. While BYU managed 13 first downs, the Irish defense proved effective, limiting BYU to only 171 rushing yards on 29 attempts.
Notre Dame's rushing attack was more productive, totaling 238 yards on 45 attempts. Notable contributors included Audric Estime, who gained 97 yards on 14 carries, and Logan Diggs, who added 93 yards on 17 carries. The Irish also recorded two sacks during the game, while BYU recorded none.
Defensive Performance Analysis
The BYU defense, despite the loss, recorded several significant plays. Max Tooley recorded 11 total tackles, including 7 solo and 4 assists. Other notable defensive contributors included Ben Bywater with 9 tackles, Keenan Pili with 7, and Micah Harper with 6. The Cougars recorded one interception via Max Tooley, while Notre Dame's defense intercepted Jaren Hall twice, with TaRiq Bracy recording one of the interceptions for 60 yards.
Notre Dame's defensive performance was anchored by Brandon Joseph, who recorded 6 solo tackles and 2 assists. Other key defenders included JD Bertrand, Justin Ademilola, Jack Kiser, and DJ Brown. The Irish defense also recorded a total of 24 tackles, including 13 solo tackles, and secured four sacks during the contest.
Historical Context and Future Schedule
The 2022 season saw BYU finish with an overall record of 8-5, while Notre Dame concluded with a 9-4 record. This matchup in Las Vegas was part of the Shamrock Series, a recurring event between the two programs.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, BYU's schedule includes a slate of games starting on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Cougars are scheduled to face Arizona on Sept. 12 and Colorado State on Sept. 19. A rematch against Notre Dame is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Final Summary
The 2022 meeting at Allegiant Stadium remains a significant point in the rivalry, marked by high-scoring plays and a strong performance by Notre Dame's passing offense. The Cougars' inability to maintain time of possession and convert third downs proved decisive in the 28-20 defeat.
