No. 8 BYU outlasted No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo, Utah, on Saturday night to secure a riveting victory. Bear Bachmeier threw a go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:47 remaining in the game before the BYU defense stopped the Irish at the goal line to preserve the win.
Bachmeier contributed significantly to the victory with 224 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a touchdown reception. He completed 72% of his passes during the first half. The Cougars' victory marks the first time they have beaten the Irish since 2004. Preston Rex supported the effort with 66 yards on 10 carries, helping BYU start the season 6-0 for the third consecutive year.
Notre Dame, which entered the game with a 16-game winning streak, finished with a 6-1 record. CJ Carr threw for 261 yards for the Irish, while Nolan James Jr. recorded 77 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Irish struggled to finish drives in the red zone, settling for field goals after twice starting drives in BYU territory and committing a fumble in the final seconds of the first half while attempting to spike the ball.
The game saw significant momentum shifts. After Bachmeier's initial scoring plays, Notre Dame cut an 11-point halftime deficit to five in the fourth quarter following field goals. Jonaz Walton scored a 3-yard touchdown run to give Notre Dame a lead with 9:31 left. However, Bachmeier led a 55-yard, 10-play drive, finding Walker Lyons for a 6-yard touchdown with 1:47 remaining. Despite a late drive by Carr that included a fourth-down pass to Micah Gilbert, the Irish were unable to score as his final pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
The result occurred during a significant Saturday in college football where five of the top eight teams in the AP Top 25 lost on the same regular-season day for the first time, according to Sportradar. This included No. 1 Georgia's 27-24 loss to Auburn, marking the first time in the regular season since Nov. 17, 2012, that the top two teams in the country lost on the same day.
Looking ahead, BYU is scheduled to play at UCF on Oct. 24, while Notre Dame is scheduled to play at Navy on Oct. 31.
