BYU secured a 28-24 victory against No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday, October 17, 2026, a win described as the largest home football victory in school history. The victory propelled the Cougars to a No. 2 national ranking, placing them behind only unbeaten Miami.
The game featured a matchup between two power conference teams, with BYU representing the Big 12 and Notre Dame competing as an independent. Despite special teams challenges, including a muffed punt and a failed fake punt, the Cougars secured the win through late-game execution. This included a 23-yard punt return by Cannon DeVries and a 10-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier to Walker Lyons.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier contributed significantly to the win by running for two touchdowns, passing for one, and catching a scoring pass. Bachmeier's performance occurred against what was described as the No. 1 defense in the country.
The national ranking for BYU followed a Saturday where several top teams lost, including Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama, and Texas. While the Cougars are currently ranked No. 2, the AP vote showed them with 1,675 points, trailing Miami's 1,675 points and 40 first-place votes.
Ticket costs for the matchup were reported by Vivid Seats as averaging $663, which was the highest in the country.
The win follows previous significant BYU football moments, including the 1990 victory over Miami and the 2004 win against Notre Dame. In 2004, following a victory over the Irish, BYU underwent a restructuring that resulted in the firing of Athletic Directors Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis.
Following the victory, BYU coach Kalani Sitake stated he wants to keep his team humble and hungry. The Cougars will next prepare for their upcoming game against UCF.
